Waterbury Democrat., 1903-01-07
GOV CHAMBERLAIN'S MESSAGE

siresentatives, and that the same ratio of population be observed as to addi- tional representation from larger towns, would, it seems to me, be a Iplan of representation which would lsafeguard the interests of all towns and provide sufficient representation for the people of each town.
 | The people of the state adopted in 1901 by an impressive majority the Unconstitutional amendment which pro- lvides for a readjustment of senator lial districts. and an enlargement of their number. It is your immediate duty to carry into effect this mandate of the people, and to create senatorial districts as nearly equal as may be in lpopulation to such number as will best satisfy the popular demand, and meet the requirements of the amend ment with respect to county lines.
 Revision of or Amendment to Constl-
 tuition.
 The constitution itself provides a Esafe and I think the best plan for max ling revision of, or amendment to, or }ganic law. -
 Finance.
 It is my duty to inform you as to the financial condition of our state. At the close of the last fiscal year the amount of bonds outstanding was $1, ,663. 100. from which should be de- ducted the civil list funds in the I treasury, leaving $1,091, ,402.1 10 as the net debt of the state.
 For five years past the treasurer has shown a surplus on the years busi- ness in his reports, and for the last ,iS hat forY1 1oro+ of . states condition was more than S6OO,- GOO.
 During the last three fiscal years he has bought and retired $1.577, ,O00 of Connecticut bonds, and during the present fiscal year, commencing in Oc- tober. he has made further purchases amounting to S375.00O. Perhaps at no previous time in the history of the ' state has so extraordinary a financial showing been made as during the last five years.
 After paying the bonds due the first of January, 1903 the balance and the receipts for the year will probably not be in excess of annual expenses and
 necessary appropriations.
 Tax Commissioner.
 The office of tax commissioner was ' of the commissioner should receive
 your attention, as it relates to an inn iportant subject in which the people have ever taken a keen interest While
 the goal of justice may never be
 reached, we must strive to attain that end, in order that the burden may if possible be made equal as it rests at , present on many of our people who fS yynrJ for E,J justment.
 State Board of Charities E This board has submitted an elab- crate and carefully prepared report
 containing many important reconmen-
 dations concerning state paupers 7 almshouses, county homes, Hospital
 for the Insane, town hospitals, blind deaf, dumb and imbecile. The follow
 ing recommendations of the board merit your serious consideration: l. That a system of suspended sen tences with supervision by probation officers, be adopted for the treatment of juvenile offenders.
 2. That all the county jails be [ brought under the control of state Q commission of prisons.
 3. That a state reformatory be es- ,, tablished for offenders between 16 and : 80 years of age.
 : 4. That a system of district or - county almshouses be legalized te 5 take the place of the present town I almshouses.
 l g. That new institution be estab- : lished for the purpose of state aims 7 house.
 It is my belief that the State Hospi
 tai for the Insane at Middletown. the State Prison at Wethersfield, and the e State School for Boys at Meriden are we'll conducted From annual reports ' and other sources of information. an satisfied that all the interests and in. y Istitutions of the state under the su = pervision of the state board of chari ties are wisely managed. b Judiciary
 Your attention is called to the over e crowded dockets of our higher courts e and the expense and delay of trials | which result from this condition. |, The excessive expense for probation ;- and administration of small estate: s- should be corrected.
 }. National Guard The National Guard of Connecticut t in drill, discipline and duty has pro II gressed from year to year toward tn v standard of the army of the United ;, States. In uniform, armament ant : equipment, our military force, in thu = different branches of the service. tn !, infantry, coast artillery, field artillery = machine gun battery. cavalry and sig ,e. nal corps. now substantially conform t7 to the requirements of the regula ,o army, excepting as to the infantr, s, rife, and the recently adopted uniform ,s. regulations, which have not as ye :, gone fully into effect. Our genera ,o system of military discipline is base' , upon that of the army; the articles 0 ,f war of the United States, in harmon. ,e withsour state law and regulations " are made part of our military cod T and are in force in our administrator t- of military affairs.
 Before the senate of the Unite ,d States is pending a new militia law