The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-11-14
FEE SYSTEM IN THE STATE
COMMISSION OF LEGISLATURE
 TO RESUME INQUIRY.

by Town Clerks, Judges of Probate,
 Clerks of Common Pleas Courts and
 County Sheriffs-State ArmOry and
 Arsenal Commission Approves Chap
 man Plan for Removal of Military
 Offices from Capitol-BattIe Flag Cor
 ridor a sHubbub" Place-Lack Of
 Respect for Its Sacredness.
 Hartford, Nov. H.-The commission that was appointed by the legislature last winter to investigate the fee sys- tenn in the state has been at stand still for months, but will take up the lines of inquiry again after New Years. The commission is composed of Senator Arthur L. Clark of Winsted and Representative William H. War ner of Woodbridge and Frederick A. Scott of Plymouth. The investigation will deal with fees received by town clerks, judges of probate, clerks or common pleas courts and the county sheriffs in the state. The commission has authority to send for persons ana papers, having been given ample pow CT in prosecuting the investigation. Considerable work had been taken up by the commission at the time of ad- iournment in July, and this will form the basis for further inquiry. The farmers alliance in the legislature was at the bottom of the agitation relat- ing to fees, taking decided grounds against the continuance of the system. Its uprootaI would no doubt be Of great public benefit. The payment or salaries, which would be definitely fix ed, would be preferable from every point of view, except from that of the officeholders' pocket. Public agitation of the subject has gone so far that the legislature of 1907, which will receive the report of the commission, will ne- cessarily enact legislation which will be in favor of reform.
 The state armory and arsenal com- mission has taken ground in support Of the Hon. M. s. Chapman's plans for relieving the congestion in the state capitol by the removal of the military offices now in the building to the new armory that will Joe settled on two years from now. Senator Chapman was the author of this plan and its adoption by the armory commission, which con- sists of Governor Roberts, Adjutant Jya. rtoI1 foYl A pa ttfsnY of Simsbury, c. M. Jarvis of New Brit ain and Frederick L. Ford of Hartford, is proof of it's utility. The removal of the military department from the cap~ itoI would do away with the necessitH of a state library building on capitol avenue, where the commonwealth has acquired big frontage. The two state armory commissions that have made reports in the past left opt of consider ation the advantages that would be re- aIized by incorporating the state mill itary department in the arsenal struc- ture. The present commission requires the architectural plans to be made with reference to this idea. This is a step in advance that will meet with general approbation.
 The battle flag corridor in the cap itol has become sort of "hubbub'' place in the building. There is not the slightest sign of reverence from the visitors who daily frequent the spot where the Civil war flags are de- posted. When these flags were taken from the old state arsenal and placed in the new capitol, September r, 1879, in the presence of the war veterans it was expected that the corridor in which they were deposited would thereafter become sacred in the thoughts and hearts of the citizens of Connecticut, and that it would be vis- ited with heads uncovered. Instead or becoming Mecca to be visited in si- 1ence and reverence, it has developed into sort of business thoroughfare. That was not the intention when the flags were transferred from the old state arsenal twenty-six years ago. It was hoped then, and it is not too late now, to carry out the notion that the corridor would be sacredIy guarded. It was not intended that it should be- come 8 commonplace spot. It is al- most unheard of that men stand with heads uncovered in the presence of these symbols of heroism and loyalty. There should be a strong public senti- ment aroused on account of the neg Iect and lack of respect. to be seen every day in the battle flag corridor.
 The people of Massachusetts do not treat their battle flags in the capitol in Boston as the people of Connecticut have come to treat in thoughtless and unref1ecting ways the tattered flags that were carried through hundred battles in the Civil war. It may come to question in the end, whether these flags should not be removed from the capitol and assigned to 8 place in the new state arsenal, where they can be safeguarded from the indifference now shown them. In the state house in Bos- ton, where the Old Bay State flags ol the Civil war are located, the strictest reverence is required of visitors while capitol and assigned to place in the Such an eXaction should be made of visitors in a battle flag hall to be set apart in the new state arsenal.
 The commission having the dedica- tion of monument at Andersonville in charge will visit the old stockade in that place for the purpose of selecting a suitable site. The monument which will be erected in memory of the Con- of uo twill C