Waterbury Democrat., 1901-02-08

First Report of Attorney General
 Phelps on Business of New Office.

First Report of Attorney General
 Phelps on Business of New Office.
 Attorney General Charles Phelps of Rockville has submitted to the gen- eral assembly his first report showing the business. of the office, which was created in 1897. The report is for the two years ending January 5, 1901.
 AIr Phelps, ill the opening of his re- port, refers to the perpleXitleS usually incident to the administration of a new department. The object of the depart ment was misapprehended. as appear ed from numerous requests for advice, for written opinions and for aid in the prosecution of private claims, the in VeStigatien of titles, securing of pen sions and settlement of disputes with local authorities. Generally, the de partment has given aid, but has ire quently been obliged to remind the ap- plicant that an opinion upon a private or local matter would carry with it no special weight Of authority, and per sons have been referred to local coun- sel. A large part of the work is de- voted to the construction of statutes, many of which are ambiguous, others inconsistent or confusing. MT Phelps refers to the valuable work of the clerk of bills. Too much special legis- lation is the cause of many peipleXing questions. When statutes capable of conflicting interpretations are under discussion, effort is often made to ob- tain by a forced construction the bene- fits accorded by special laws. It is I sometimes difficult to explain to in i terested parties the distinction be- | tween special and general legislation, and the reasons which justify special | legislation in one case and not in an | other.
 1 A stenographer is employed in the | office. Some old cases have been con- tinued in the hands of attorneys who 1 instituted the proceedings, and in fore 1 closing school fund mortgages in West 1 ern states local counsel are employed. 1 The office is open during the week and the attorney general is in attendance on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thurs days.
 The report gives list of volumes in the library. The cost of. assistance within the state during the two years was $2o7.1O, and in western states for foreclosure of mortgages $SS3. 60.
 The actions within the state man. aged by the department were: State vs Travellers Insurance company; yer dict of $7,5S6.S9 for the state; carried to the supreme court of the United States. State Treasurer Mersick vs the Hartford and West Hartford horse railroad company, claim for taxes action pending. State ys Henry A and Elizabeth Cooley, for foreclosure of Westbrook property; property re deemed. Insurance CommisSiOnel Betts vs Connecticut Life Insurance company of Waterbury, for appoint ment of a receiver; decree passed. In surance Commissioner vS Wooster In suranoe company of Danbury for ap pointment of q receiver; decree passed Cologne Reinsurance Company V: State Treasurer Mersick; application granted. Also fourteen foreclosures O.
 school fund mortgages.
 The actions outside the state wer' thirteen foreclosures of school funt
 mortgages in the west.
 Following the precedents establish ed by attorneys-general of other states 1 Mir Phelps includes in his report som of the more important opinions pre-
 pared for state officials. These are Invaluable part of the report for refer
 ence, and include the opinions on tn
 succession tax; duties of the adjutant
 general in the distribution of volume of records; opinion on insurance brok ers' licenses; on special assessmen and improvement bonds as invest