New-York tribune., 1901-04-21
CONNECTICUT TOPICS.
THE WORK OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
ITS COMMITTEES.

Hartford. Conn., April 20 (SpeciaD-While the
hearings before the legislative committees have
taken up much more attention than the action OF
either of the houses there has been some important
work dore by the legislature itself Most important
OF this weeks appropriation legislation has been the
action taken toward the practical rehabilitation Of
the State Library. for which s2s,00 has been set
aside for the purpose of reshelving modern
plans and for cataloguing-the great mass of books
having been without a catalogue since it's begin
ming. The intention is TO put in new steel book
racks, which, while they may occupy more floor
space, will give the library cheerful
aspect and at the same time make 1t much more
accessible for those who consult it. The ant-pool
bill amendment has been rejected, and the attempt
OF the sporting TO sell pools under authority
OF officials for twelve days in the year goes
by the way. This strongly pushed at the
start, but opposition stronger than had been
anticipated. and the bill had no chance of passage.
Motor vehicles been restricted to fifteen miles
hour highways outside of cities and to
twelve miles In cities. This is concession. the
rate Of speed for vehicles fixed by law is six
miles One OF the minor acts of the House. which
will have considerable effect throughout the
State II concurred In by the Senate, the pas
sage of bill providing penalty OF 500 and i'm
prisonment for years for chicken stealing This
petty crime has been prevalent in the rural dis
trcts and poultry breeders have been sufferers,
we'll the ordinary farmer who keeps a few
hens for eggs and chickens TO market. The men,
bers from the farming districts were particularly
strong in their desire for the of the bill,
and member advocated shooting chicken
thieves the spot
The important hearings this week have been the
final sessions Of the special constitutional reform
committee, which has closed it's hearings and gone
into executive consideration of the measures sub
mitted to 1t. The hearings have developed many
different schemes and there has been much spir-
tied argument that the committee will have hard
work TO make a report that will be accepted The
plan OF reducing by eighteen the representation of
the smaller towns and adding that the cities
and larger towns. which had many supporters
the start. seems to have held its very we'll
and, II is OF the plans suggested by Chair
man Fyler OF the Republican State Committee II
may appear in the House. There will be substitute
measures. and possibly nothing will be done. which
will be a misfortune for the Republican party. IL
Is very likely. however. that the plurality amend
ment will be submitted the people
The battle of the Connecticut Western road for
its extension from Tarifrville TO the State line
north has been again this week. The road has
put In It's testimony and the opposition has begun
its work. Ii will be Ions fight. and a hard one.
In this connection II Is interesting the ac-
ton OF the City Council of Hartford In relation
resolution instructing the City Attorney 10 ap-
pear In opposition to the extension. 1t passed
by the Council. which has just completed It's term
as a municipal body. The new Council, which has
just come into existence. has already made prog
with resolution Withdrawing the City Attorney
from the hearing. the lower board having passed