The Newtown bee., 1902-05-23
TOWN TOPICS.
DELEGATE NoRTHRoP's VIEWS.

DELEGATE NORTHROP'S VIEWS. REPLIES TO AN ARTICLE BY DANIEL
 DAVENPORT IN THE FARMER.
 Editor THE BEE: It was with feel ing of surprise that read the article of MT Davenport in the FarmerofSatur- day last and remarked that if the wri- ter had for moment paused to re- fleet on the manifest superiority of the proposed new constitution over the old, that the article never would have been written, much less given to the press for publication. ".5a ... :. ~,.,,
 First: All towns having d population under POGO are placed upon an equality in regard to representation, that. is, each town having such population will be entitled to only one representative. Under this plan 30 towns having two representative will have but one, nine of which towns are in Litchtield coun- ty, viz: Barkhamsted, ColebroOk, Corn wall, Goshen, Harwinton, Norfolk, Sharon, Washington and Woodbury, while only three towns gain one each, viz: Plymouth, Thomaston and Water town. In Fairfield county only Red- ding will lose representative, while Bethel, Darien, New Canaan, Strat- ford and Westport will each gain one, and so throughout the state.
 It will be particularly noticed that while Litchfield county gains only three she loses nine. Under the pro- posed plan, New Haven will have a representation of nine in the General Assembly while at the present time she has only three, and Bridgeport will double, having six instead of three.
 As the delegate is undoubtedly aware there was large number in the con- 'yehtion totally opposed to recognizing population as basis for representa- tion in the lower house, many of whom maintained this attitude until final adjournment. AS population was f. nally recognized 1t seems to me we have taken long step in the right direc- tion and that if we do not improve the opportunity, we may not again have one for a century to come.
 Second: The incorporation into the proposed constitution of the clause: "No person shall for the same offense be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb" Under thls clause based on the one in the Federal constitution no person If once tried and acquitted by;a jury can again be tried for the same offense, a constitutional right which should be guaranteed every resident of Connecticut. This provision no where appears in the old constitution.
 Third: Granting the General Assem1 bly, authority to create a new court for revision of questions of fact. This will be of decided advantage to liti- gants especially in hearings in dam ages in which heretofore the decision of a single judge on question of fact has been final and no appeal could be had therefrom, however unjust the decision.
 Fourth: Prohibiting members of the General Assembly from receiving ap- pointments in this state from the gov- ernor or General Assembly during the term of office for which they have been elected.
 Fifth: Prohibiting the General As sembly from authorizing the issuance of bonds for municipalities unless ap' proved by a majority of the electors o1 the municipality voting thereon.
 Sixth: Permitting selectmen and officers of local police to be elected an. nually or bienniallX.
 Seventh: Permitting amendments to the constitution to originate in either branch of the General Assembly and passed by majority vote. Under the present constitution amendments can originate oply in the House of Repre- sentatives and must be continued tC the next session and then passed by q two-thirds vote. =
 The delegate from Bridgeport will bear in mind that when we first voted on the question of representation in the convention in the Committee. ol the Whole," 1O8 delegates voted for one from town and that many of the ablest men in the convention voted for the plan adopted, notably Ex-Chiel Justice Andrews, Ex-Governor Waller Ex-Congressman Sperry Ex-Judge John II. Perry, Hon T. M. Maltbie Hon James II. Webb and others.
 I can but feel that if the proposed constitution is rejected, that it will b. a dark day for representative govern ment in Connecticut; that we vii be relegated to the constitution O 1818, and that Union with it's pOpula tion of 42s will still retain the sam' representation in the lower branch o the General Assembly as New Have, with its 1Oe, ,OOO, and that no change will be made for ages to come. Ina If the proposed constitution is adopte' that it will be the longest step for ward that we have taken for quarte of a century. and that it will be but few years before we have representa- tive government in Connecticut not withstanding the defects, and inequa ities of the proposed instrument fo the reason that amendments can muc more easily be placed before the pet ple, and when once before the peOpl they can always be relied upon to rem edy defects an inequalities. In orde to properly advance representatlv government "Pity Historic Litehfiel County" instead of "Hurrah' ft Her." -[Charles H. Northrop, Ne" town May o1 19O2