The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-12
GOOD ROADS LEGISLATION
IT IS COMMANDING VIDE
 SPREAD INTEREST.


 ings Bank Tax-Its Discussion Next
 Wednesday.
 Hartford, June 10.-The good roads legislation now in hand in the senate is commanding widespread interest. The bill from the committee on appropria- tions contemplates the expenditure Of five hundred thousand dollars by the good roads department during the two fiscal years beginning September 3O. The bill from the committee on roads, rivers and bridges, Senator William H. H. Wooster, of Seymour, chairman,
 makes a total appropriation of $65l, ,OOO for the department for the two years. Senator Wooster's bill makes important
 changes in good roads law as it now stands on the statute book calling for
 the increased expenditure provided for
 in the measure which he has recom-
 mended. The special features of the
 bill relates to independent surveys by
 the highway commissioner, repairs of
 roads in the state at his discretion and
 the connection of trunk roads in the
 state by the construction of connecting
 lines. Under the system of through
 trunk roads there will be necessary
 considerable filling in of Impressions in the old roadways that now connect state roads in different towns. Senator Paige is in agreement with Senator Wooster in regard to the advisability of making through trunk lines. This fact was brought out forcibly in the debate on the two bills Wednesday. It is more than likely that Senator Jud-
 son will favor the same course, his po-
 sition in the debate indicating favora-
 ble tendencies in that direction. Sena-
 tor McGoyern of Hartford will also
 support Senator Wooster's side. It will
 not be surprising if the bill, supported and advocated so ably by Senator Wooster, is carried through the senate.
 In the house it will find hosts of friends, the farmers in that body being in favor of good roads on general prin- ciples. There is only one feature of Senator Wooster's bill that will excite opposition in the house. The measure gives large discretionary powers to the highway commissioner, allowing the construction of connecting links of road and surveys by the department
 without the consent of the. town au- thorities, In the end the towns will be required to pay the expenses of such construction. The bill appropriates
 s50,000 for this kind of work to be" car ried out at the discretion of the com
 missioner Eventually the money will come back to the state treasurer from
 the towns. The changes in the law
 asked for by Senator Wooster's bill
 are needed. The connecting of trunk lines of state roads must come sooner. or later as Senator Paige puts it. If
 half of the expense could be shoul-
 dered by the state the bill of the sena-
 tor from Seymour would win the day
 in the house hands down. The senate
 will begin the week Tuesday with the order of the day on the governors veto
 of the board of pardons bill. Discus sion of the veto has been postponed two or three times in order that it may take place when there is a full attend ance of the senators. Senator Paige, who is thoroughly familiar with the legislation that terminated in the board of pardons, will be heard with great interest Tuesday in the debate on the veto. He has made no sign as to what his course will be concerning the veto itself. As chairman of the ju- dietary committee he reported it in the senate. The measure has friends in each house, who believe that it will en- sure justice and humanity in dealing with questions of pardon. The senate has made the reduction of the savings bank tax order of the day for Wednes- day. Senator Bicknell of Meriden, chairman of the finance committee, will take the stroke oar in sustaining the committees adverse report. In the senate few days ago Congressman E.. Stevens Henry, of the First district, in talking of the reduction of the tax with Senators Bartlett and Baker, took the ground that the course is inadvisa- ble. In his view the savings bank de- positors would not reap any important benefit from the reduction. Congress- | man Henry spoke as a savings bank man in making these remarks. The congressman is an acknowledged au- l thority on financial matters While he was state treasurer in 1889 he secured l the passage of a bill allowing the sus- 1 pension of the state tax. His practical ] information and experience as finan- cial manager were depended upon by | the leaders of the legislature in 1889. l Treasurer Henry suspended the state | tax and from that time till now there l has been no occasion for it's re-enact- | ment. Senator Bicknell, who will have l charge of the bill in the debate, has 1 shown special aptitude for financial | legislation through the session. He has been sound and clear-headed as l chairman of the finance committee and has ably supported the committed | recommendations on the floor of the senate. Every one has the fullest con- 1 fidence in his convictions. He is 6 man of recognized influence in the sen. ate and an honored representative oi I the city of Meriden. Senator Frank H l Baker, of Stafford, has become chair.
 man of the committee on education 1 taking the place of Senator Hammer of Branford, who will start on his Flu. 1 ropean trip June 15. Senator Baker is chairman of the woman suffrage com. mittee and a member of the committed on new counties and county seats. He is thoroughly acquainted with the ed.