The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-07
THE STATE CON YEN NTION.
RLGHTS OF TOWNS GET AN AIR
 ING.

Chandler on ReprosentatiOn-Ed Editor
 Clark Tells of the Feeling in Hartford
 Delegate Osborn's PIea-Vote Next
 Tuesday.
 Hartford Feb. 6.-The constitutions
 convention was called to order at Il
 o'clock to- day by President Andrews
 Prayer was offered by Chaplain Brown
 of Bloomfield.
 A resolution was introduced by MT Groesbeck, of Chaplin, providing for two representatives from each town and
 for a senate of forty-five members
 elected at large
 A memorial was presented by MT.
 Clark, of Hartford, from the Hartford ] Central Labor union, as follows:
 That a special committee of two be
 appointed by the chair to wait upon l Charles Hopkins Clark, delegate from
 Hartford to the constitutional conven- | tion, requesting that he present the | following plan: That each town in Con- necticut be represented by one member and one additional representative for | each 10000 of the population in every | city"
 Both were referred to the committee of the whole
 MT. Clark of Hartford, also introduc- ed by request a resolution for one rep
 resentative for each town of less than 5000 inhabitants; two representatives from 5000 to 10000; three from 10000 to 20 GOO; four from 10000 to 40,o0O; five from 40.000 to S0,000, and six from 8O,OOO
 to 160.000.
 Mir Woodward, of Bethany, introduc- ed a memorial from Tyler D. Davidson, of Bethany, concerning transfer of e'ec-
 tors. He desired a provision whereby an elector moving from one town to another should be given certificate Of transfer from the registrars that would enable him to vote for state officers without six months residence
 The convention then went into com mittee of the whole, with MT. Perry presiding.
 MT. Chandler, of Thompson, was the first speaker. He said that the prob lem had resolved itself into a question of conditions. The feeling that the populous cities needed fair representa- tion came from the press of the state, from many leading citizens and from organized labor When there is such an insistent demand for recognition of the cities is 1t not wise to grant that recognition? He had been very con- servative, but the prevailing conditions ought to be recognized. For the first time Windham county is now divided on this question, and many leading men from that county are now writing him to favor larger representation from the cities
 MT. Clark, of Hartford explained the sentiment of Hartford He spoke only because he felt it his duty to speak of the local sentiment house of 16S which would take away half of Hartford's present representation, would be highly unsatisfactory He did not believe if would be ratified and it would leave the situation worse than it is now. He expressed his love and for the small towns, He ad vocated the Bennett plan as being the best He thought that county lines should be ignored in the matter, and he regretted to hear of county caucuses being held. MT. Clark spoke with great and he was loudly ap- plauded
 MT Brown, of Norwich, said the ques tion had come down to a discussion of what the people would approve. He the danger of adopting an that the people would reject. A very moderate concession to the cities now will ensure approval.
 MT. Osborn, of New Haven, said that after the vote of yesterday he felt as though he was facing the continuation of twenty years of hard work He de- sired to protest against the possible adoption of a programme that was re- actionary and revolutionary. The cities will give to the small towns and will protect them, but they will not be ,obbed. The speaker then explained why New Haven would not be satisfied with eight senators and one representa- i've. New Haven had not asked for tight senator's The convention was not called to reapportion the senate. but to 'evise the house. Tn closing he made i. m eloquent plea for intelligent and pro- sressive action on the part of the con Jention.
 MT Smith, of Winsted, said that large from the cities was needed The question was whether the increase should be in the senate or in he house. The increase should go to he body in which population is repre- ;ented. That body is the senate. He rgued for popular senate and alluded o the action of the recent senate in de eating the Tariffville extension.
 At this point recess was taken until ). m.
 MT. Smith of Winsted, continued his peech after recess. He said that he would give the cities all the representa- ion they asked for in the house, but no increase in the senate He contended hat the country towns were the safe bsolutely unwise to give the cities nough power to control the two houses. MT Warner, of Salisbury, followed nd spoke in the same strain as he did ome days ago. favoring one represent tive from each town and an increased , enate. He said that the delegates were esponsible for any action they took, nd that they must do what they bought was right, regardless of what ' he people wanted T MT. HCtchkiss. Of Prospect, spoke . rief1y in favor of an increased senate nd equal representation in the house. Ie said that it depended upon the dele tAe, .