The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-17
THE STATE CON YEN TION.
DOINGS AT TESTER
 DAYS SESSIONS.

| Resolutions Presented by Delegst
 Davenport-Debate eResumed--Addres
 by Colonel N. G, Osborn-Other speak
 ers-Adjourned to Next Tuesday.
 Hartford, Jan 16.-Representa ation il
 the general assembly was again to-day
 the chief subject of debate in the con
 stitutional convention. Several of the
 prominent of the prominent delegates
 including ex-Governor Thomas M Wal
 Ter of New London and Colonel N. G
 Osborn of New Haven, were expected
 to speak to-day and their remarks were
 awaited by the delegates with more
 than usual interest.
 After President Andrews had called
 the convention to order, and prayer
 had been offered, a number of resolu-
 tions were introduced, among them one
 by Delegate Davenport of Bridgeport
 This resolution was in effect as fol-
 lows:
 Whereas, two resolutions are now
 pending in this convention, one giving
 each town of the state only represen-
 tative in the lower house of the general
 assembly and the other giving each
 town only two representatives; and
 Whereas, seven towns, New Haven, | Hartford Bridgeport, Waterbury, Mer-
 iden, New Britain and Norwich, have a population of 991,00 and are increasing
 in numbers and seven other towns,
 Marlboro, Andover, Union, Warren,
 Bolton, Salem and Scotland, have a population of 2,963, and are decreasing, l therefore
 Resolved, that the inherent right of
 the people of the state to form a gov
 ernment upon principles of reasonable
 representation shall be recognized, and 1 that the representa- ton in the lower ! house of the towns first mentioned shall not be restricted to an equality with that of the towns last mentioned 1 Rev. MT. Smith offered memorial l from the Women's Christian Temper ance union which asks that their com mittee be heard in regard to the ques- ton of allowing women to vote. This { was laid on the table,
 The delegate from Chester offered d resolution providing that the constitu- tion be amended to provided for the senate of not less than twenty-four or 1 more than thirty-six members in ac- cordance with the provision of the con- stitutional amendment recently adopt ed, and for house of representatives consisting of one representative from each town and one representative elect ed by the voters of and from the ter ritory comprised in each senatorial district.
 Mir. Phelps of Vernon spoke against an increased representation. He urged that the delegates get to work at once and decide the question for which they were sent to Hartford He said: "I do not fear that there will be rioting and bloodshed as suggested by the gentle man from New Britainot believe that town representation should remain in- violate, Two representatives and even three could not possibly be used by some of the towns. The resolution in- troduced by the gentleman from Sails bury which provides for equal represen- tation in my opinion comes right to the pith of the convention. It would be unwise to give every town two repre- sentatives. It is not along the proper line. Therefore it comes down to logi- cal lines and if you make a change I cannot see how you can give them but one representative. If you do that then comes the question of change in the senate. It is not for us to say that we will take the responsibility of making the senate larger. The people have done this themselves"
 Colonel N. G. Osborn of New Haven was the next speaker. In opening his address he said as follows: There seems to be peculiar interest to every body at such time as this as to the age of this constitutional convention l controversy. In the year 1856 a resolu- tion was introduced in the general as- | sembly by General Kellogg of Water l bury calling for just such a convention | as this, We are now here after fifty | years and for the first time in this cen -ury to consider the sweetest of every thing American-Fundame Law and we have presiding over LIS on of the most able and distinguished men in the state"
 Coming to the point of representation he speaker said he would take up the different resolutions touching this question in their order.
 Regarding MT. Vances resolution inown as the district resolution" MT Osborn said: "I have not the heart to oppose this measure even if I were in lined to do so. We have fought this battle of constitutional reform for over Wenty years and have been held up to public ridicule for so doing. We are low on the firing line but I feel that have q moral responsibility resting lpon me and therefore I mean to do what seems to me the best
 The scheme of the gentleman from confuses me. What is the in having one representative , cter? There is nothing like it in the 'hole world. The gentleman from Sal sbury's resolution is an act of denial nd we are not here to deny. If we adopted the resolution offered ( y MT. Clark of Haddam the first thing | hat we will have to do will be appoint committee on architecture l am not 'ith him to fasten or couple this ques- q on with legislative jobbery. If I am c flowed to use slang before so dignified | body would say Co way back and 1t down. f Like the gentleman from Vernon I S m not in fear of bloodshed if we do | V ot get justice here" t To illustrate his point Colonel Osborn d