The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-02-22

 gings of Coventry, chairman of the house committee. It provides for offi- cial visits to the Connecticut Institute for the Blind in Hartford by the state boar of education. It is understood that the bill is the outgrowth of trouble aris- ing from objections made by officials Of the institutions to the exercise by mem bers of the state board of charities of an alleged right to inspect the institu- tion. A similar bill presented by MT. Peck of Waterbury was heard before the committee on education. The hu- mane institutions committee also con- sidered a bill providing for visiting by the state board oS charities to all pri- vate institutions for the blind receiv- ing appropriations from the state and third bill providing for a pension of $10O annually to every blind adult res ident of the state. Officials of various institutions appeared in support of these bills.
 A hearing on proposed amendments to the charter. of the New England Navigation company was held before the committee on incorporat ti0ns. This company is the holding concern for all the Long Island sound steamer proper ties of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company. One of the proposed charter amendments gives the right to purchase holdings of any railroad corporation. D. B. Robbins of Hartford who appeared in favor of the measure said that no special privileges were being asked, but members of the committee expressed the opinion that the powers asked for were somewhat broad. Mir. Robbins suggested that if any of the minor features Of the char ter were objected to, he would revise them, and the hearing was accordingly adjourned until next week. a5i
 NOTES.
 The Hon. Lynde Harrison Of New Haven, whose corrupt practice act is now in the hands of the Judiciary com mittee, expects to start for Thomas vile, Ga, on or before the first of March, If possible he will be heard be- fore the committee in regard to the bill some day before he leaves for Georgia, giving an explanation of the measure, which is based on the English corrupt practices law. Judge Harrison is an ardent friend of the English statute, and his bill adapts itself to the needs of American politics and methods. He has been detained almost a month in carrying out his plans for joining his family in Georgia, but will stay here until the last of the month, if the op- portunity can be given him for the hearing.
 The Hon. H. Wales Lines of the com mission on fire proofing the state capi- tol informs the correspondent of the Journal and Courier that the most ser ious defect in the construction of the state capitol as it relates to the safety of the library is the supports of the li- brary floor; the beautiful polished gran ite columns and the twin marble col umns on the main floor, which cary the library floor, and it's substructure, would doubtless disintegrate and allow the floor to fall if a fire occurred which got beyond the control of the fire de- partment. There should be no question as to the security of the library and this defect is vital He sees no way in which it can be corrected except by a very radical reconstruction which would involve large expense and entire. Iy change the design of the lobby at the main entrance.
 There is not the least likelihood that the bills now before the general assem- ply providing for a reduction of the state tax on mutual life insurance com panies will be passed at the present session. The bills were Introduced by Senators McGovern and Lake of Hart ford and provide as an ultimate result that the tax on the business of the mutual companies shall be reduced to one eighth of one mill, the state tax at present being one-fourth of a mill, The effect would be to cut the amount re- ceived by the state treasury from the companies in the middle, largely reduc- ing the states income.
 The measures which Frank Cheney, jr., of Manchester has before the com mittee on cities and boroughs providing for department of finance in that town, has decided merit in 1t. The town has population Of 16,000 or so, and a grand list reaching into the millions in consequence of the great Cheney silk industry, which is located there. The outIays of the town, which have been increasing rapidly during the last few years, have been in the hands of the selectmen. By the creation of a board of finance the administration of the public funds will be. materially i'm proved. &
 The bill Of Major Tflson of New Ha= ven concerning homestead exemptions, which provides that the value of prop erty exempt from attachment and exc cution shall be $5,000 instead of $1,0O0 as now regulated by the general stat utes will be of interest to large num- bers of people. no matter, what fate awaits in the general assembly. There is much to be said for it, and a good many homes would be placed on a safer basis if the enactment contemplated by Major Tilson's measure could be adopted.
 --------------------------- DEATH FOLLOWED OPERATION.