Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-24
WEEKS WORK
Election of Senator Platt the
 Most Important.

The Rush of New Business Is Not
 Large-Proposed Changes in Manner
 of Representation Two of the I'm
 portant Measures Thus Far Present
 ed
 Hartford, Jan 24.-While there were several new bills of importance pre- sented in preliminary form to the gen eral assembly this week the election and subsequent reception and address of United States Senator Orville H. Platt made the week less productive of new legislation than was expected. There has been an unprecedented de- lay thus far in getting new measures introduced, hardly more than fifty bills having thus far been presented. As the final date for new business, Feb ruary 6, is a week earlier than usual this session. the result yill necessarily be tremendous rush of new business this coming week and the next. Tn order to expedite matters the next two weeks may be filled to their limit with sessions, and Friday committee hearings will probably be started
 The most important measures from the public standpoint introduced this week were the two propositions that came out of the constitutional con- vention in. the best condition-both measures arranged and introduced by Representative Chatf1eId of New Ha- ven. One of them is the old plan for a sliding scale of representation start ing with one representative to a town It gives a less number of legislators in the lower house than the governor S proposition, and like 1t will change with each United States census. The other plan starts with one representa- tive for each town and adds to that one from each of the senatorial dis tTicts hereafter to be decided upon. This Rlan will virtually give each town two representatives, as each will have to vote for at least one senatorial district man, while at the same time it gives to the large centers of popu- lation a prOportionate representation. 1t makes a house of 204 members i'm stead of the present 255, and does not expand with the census, merely read justing itself to the re-arranged sena- torial districts. Next week it is ex- pected that the governors plan will be introduced, providing also. for a sliding scale of representation, as we'll as several other methods. e- There seems now to be no doubt that a strong effort will be made at this ses- sion to pass a constitutional amend ment which will then go over to the next legislature for final action and then be referred to the people.
 In view of the importance of the in this session the argument in the senate this week between the minority and majority over senatorial represen- tation on that committee was of more than ordinary importance. That con- mittee has but one senator upon it, who is a republican and chairman. The democratic senators made a strong fight this week to add to that committee a democratic senator, and after a heated argument the motion was lost. The incident was unusual, as it forecasted to some extent fur ther arguments along the same line.
 When the two branches of the leg islature reconvene on Tuesday at 12:3O o'clock the main rush of new legisla- tion will begin in earnest. Most of the committee chairmen will send in the bulk of their new measures this coming week.