The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-08
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL,
Issued Thursday. One Dollar a Yea
THE CONNECTICUT SYSTEM.


The government system Of Con-
necticut has actually fallen under in
telligent consideration, not, however,
as consequence Of the restlessness Of
theorists who would forever change
in order to improve, but rather as a
consequence Of the prolonged session
Of the General Assembly Of 1907. So
much was promised when the body
was organized and so little compare
lively had been accomplished when
the curtain was drawn that men have
been forced to- ask themselves if the
Connecticut system is adapted to the
legislative needs Of the State.
We have already considered in
these columns the suggestion made by
Senator Luther that we abandon the
legislative system we have for gov
eminent by expert commissions. we
were obliged to reject that, first be-
cause the Connecticut disposition
takes slowly to delegated power and
second because it is not clear whence
the experts are to be recruited. We
should hesitate to suggest to the peo-
pie Of the State Of Connecticut that
appointment to commissions be made
a matter OF birth, as would be ac-
ceptable under monarchical form of
government, and yet in the absence of
some such favored clause in the con-
stitution the responsibility for the Sc
lection Of the expert commissioners
must rest with some one and that
some one might not be and probably
would not be sufficiently an expert
to improve upon the prevailing order
of things. We have also considered
Governor Woodruff's cure, which Is for
the towns Of the State to send repre-
sentatives for longer terms in order
that they may accumulate experience
and hence speed in legislating. 1t is
a good idea and ought to be acted
upon favorably, but the towns have al
ways had that power and instead Of
using 1t they have preferred to pass
the honor Of seat in the house and
senate around among the faithful A
thfrd c1,uoautlon boo hoav ,1V,,,o 4o1,,
made that the control of things be
avowedly passed over to the New Ha-
ven RAILROAD company instead Of tacitly
relinquishing 1t. We need not discuss
that, made as 1t obviously is in the in
terest of larger sense of humor.
The Hartford Courant adds Its
suggestion which is that annual ses-
sions be revived, each session to be
limited to say four months. We are
not sure that we know what this
would accomplish In the way Of the
experience needed to do the peoples
business. We do know that biennial
sessions were welcomed on account of
the everlasting slowness Of the annual
meets and we also know that every
prediction made in their behalf has
been belied. Perhaps therefore be-
cause we have gained nothing by the
change no harm can come from re-
yiving the faith OF the fathers, pro.
vided we make impossible the tricks
which originally brought annual ses-
sions into disfavor The Bridgeport
Farmer sees something in the scheme
provided the constitution is made tc
forbid special legislation which is af.
ter all the real cause Of the trouble
complained Of. Even the present re.
markable General Assembly, with its
genius for procrastination, would
have found itself foiled in its determ-
nation never to go home If the power
to legislate for special interests had
been taken from it. The more at.
tractive program of reform and i'm
provement is in the estimation of the
Farmer a constitutional revision by
means of which truly representative
s form of government shall be establish
ed. 1t contends that so long as the
control of the State rests in the hands
of small and constantly dwindlin,
towns legislative efficiency is out o
the question. Given a Representative
system of government with genera
laws for the control of corporate in
terests and the elimination Of all spe
cial legislation and it sees hope TO
the future.
We naturally agree with the Bridge
port Farmer, for the reason that W
have never been able to find tn
slightest justification for the deliber
ate suspension of the original schem
Of government. Had the existin