The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-04-03
LEGISLATIVE DOINGS.
EARLY ADJOURNMENT NOT A
PROBABILITY


State-Attempt of Teachers Guild to
Obtain Pensfons-Other Notes.
Hartford, April 2.-The fourth month
of the legislative session of 1905 will be-
gin Tuesday, when both branches of the
general assembly will resume the work
of the winter. The desk of Governor
Roberts has not been crowded up to
the present time with bills and resolu-
tons for his approval. But that is a
satisfactory exponent of what has been
going on since the SESSION opened, show
ing that only a fraction of the hundreds
OF bills that have been cons. dered in
committee have been able to run the
gantlet. That is proof of the good re-
suits that have been accomplished. On
Tuesday there will be a conference of
committee chairmen in the supreme
court room, when the situation in the
different committees will be disclosed.
The judiciary committee is we'll ad-
anced in its work. The same is true
of the committee of interpretations. The
work of the committee on appropria-
tionsisso we'll in hand that the final ad-
|journment will not be retarded by that
committee. The committee on rail-
roads still has long and important hear
ings to be assigned. But Senator
Bradstreet, the chairman of the COM
mittee, is a ''pusher,' and will be ready
he Ipr. ,4eFr s1P
the committees that have had less
work. There is no reason at present
for expecting what is called an early
adjournment. The months of April and
May will be spent by the legislators at
1.-THE old stand" If the session is con-
cluded in June that will be all that can
be asked for by the public. 45 e, ..'I
Much time will be required for the
examination of the fee system by the
joint special committee, which has been
appointed for that time of inquiray. 1t
is possible that no effective legislation
will be reached in the present general
assembly ON the subject, owing to the
difficulties in making abrupt changes
from fees to salaries. 1t is believed,
"
one that will finally be settled upon.
The appointment of a commission,
charged with the examination of sal
aries paid by the state to the clerical
corps and employees in the capitol, will
bring out some interesting disclosures.
Generally speaking the state of Con-
#necticut has been a liberal payer for
In Jae
salaries of the dairy commissioner and
the deputy commissioner have been held
up temporarily at least in view of the
examination of salaries paid in the cap
itol. Both bills We're starred on the
senate calendar last Thursday. r.. -.
The feeling that is cropping out here
and there against the continuance of
certain courts in the state, for instance
the city court Of Hartford and the
criminal court of common pleas in Fair
field county, has led to the view that
a commission should be authorized by
the general assembly to investigate
the entire system of minor courts in
Connecticut and report recommends
lions to be acted on by the legislature
of 1907. Senator Bradstreet has ex-
pressed himself ais being warmly in ia
vor of such course. The attempt to
abolish any of the courts this year will
be futile. Such action cannot be car
ried out on the spur of the moment.
The examination by a commission
would have weight with the legislature.
With regard to the city court of Hart
ford it looks as if important modif1ca-
lions will be made in it by the general
assembly, taking the selection of the
judges out of the common councils con-
troll. The court will also be given a
larger field by the adoption of the
changes which have been reported by
the judiciary committee, The state
teachers guild which has been turned
down by several legislatures in its eff
forts to secure state appropriations, is
again before the general assembly for
$4,000 The guild is composed of
teachers who desire state aid as age
comes on. Its rules exclude the ad-
mission of teachers whose years have
exceeded the arbitrary number fixed by
the guild. Probably one half of the
really deserving teachers in the state,
deserving from long periods passed in
teaching in the public schools Of Con-
necticut, would not be benefited in any
way by the state aid that is sought
The guild is a private institution, deal
ing out money to its members. Its
coming to the legislature for public
funds could only be matched by the
Masonic home at Wallingford or the
Odd Fellows home at Groton coming on
the same .errand. If the guild would
admit all of the able bodied and sound
minded teachers in the state who are
now old, and the state should be will
ing to begin a system of pensioning
teachers after so many years in the
public service, the course Of the insti-
tuition would appear in a different
light. Under its present attitude the
state is to become the benefactor of
teachers who happen to belong to the
guild, while the large number of teach
ers outside of its membership will not
receive the slightest benefit. The legis
lation proposed is not only against pub
lie interest, but is impertinent and I'M
desirable.
There are a number of young men in
the house this session who are doing
themselves decided credit. New Lon
don is represented by two of the young
est members that the city has sent to
the legislature, Charles B. Waller and
Daniel NJ Cronin. Both are lawyers