The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-03-10
HEARING BEFORE TRE
JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
ON CORRUPT PRACTICES IN
POLITICS.

The Address in Full Delivered Yester-
day at the Capitol by Rev. DIR. New
man Smyth of This City-Dr. smyth
Spoke Also in Reference to Suitable
Amendments to, Secure Enforcement
of the Law on the Subject.
The interest in the hearing before the
legislative judiciary committee yester-
day on various matters relating to cor
rupt practices in politics, centered in
the appearance of Rev. DIR. Newman
Smyth of New Haven. DR.. Smyth ask
ed in the first place that all bills before
the committee on the subject be con-
sidered in a group as what he had to
say was german to the subject of cor
l1lpt practices at elections. DR.. Smyth
said that his remarks applied TO the
corrupt practices during the last sena-
toriaI election, and also as regards
practical amendments to secure the en-
forcement of the law on the subject,
and for this purpose introduced bill
drafted at his request by States At
torney Williams. S. p. Thrasher,
George L. Fox, w. s. Pardee of New
Haven and others appeared to be heard
on various phases of the matter DIR.
Smyth made a lengthy statement to the
committee.
DIR. Smyth's address in full follows:
State of Connecticut,
General Assembly, January Session.
1905.
An Act Concerning Investigation of
Criminal Offences.
Be it Enacted by the Senate and
House of Representatives in General
Assembly Convened.
Sec. /. Any commissioner of state
police, appointed under the provisions
of chapter 141, of the Public Acts of
1901, may upon the written request of
any states attorney, prosecuting attor-
ney of any court of common pleas, or
of the district court of Waterbury, or
of any city, town or borough court, or
upon the written request of any cleo
tor, approved in writing by the states
attorney of the county within which
such elector resides, conduct an inqui-
ry as to whether any crime has been
committed concerning any matters
mentioned in such requesD within the
jurisdiction Of such states attorney or
prosecuting attorney making such re-
quest, or within the town wherein
such elector resides, and shall have
power by subpoena issued by him to
compel the attendance before him of
any person as a witness, and such per-
son having been sworn as a witness by
such commissioner. or other competent
authority. to examine, or cause to be
examined such person relative to any
matters under investigation by such
commissioner; and such commissioner
shall also have power by subpoena
duces tecum, issued by him, to compel
the production before him for exami-
nation, of any books or papers of any
kind, or of any other thing which he
may require in the conduct Of such in
quiry; such commissioner shall have
the power by capias issued by him to
cause any person who shall neglect or
refuse to appear before him as such
witness having been duly summoned,
to be brought before him, and may
punish for contempt any person refus.
ing or neglecting to appear before him.
having been duly summoned, and any
person in attendance as a witness who
shall refuse to be sworn as a witness
or being sworn, shall refuse to answer
with the approval of such commission
er, to the same extent as justices OF
the peace may in criminal cases. T.