Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-20
' COMMENT ON
 GOVERNOR The Members of the Legislature Are Inclined 10 Resent His
 Criticism
LOBBY IS WEAKER
Than in Previous Years, IL is Claimed Many of Reform Matters Are Not Yet Reported : What Some
 Legislators Say.

Hartford, April Ex-Governor Woodruff's plain talk in New Haven Thursday night proved interesting reading to the members of the gen. eral assembly, and some of them complained that it came before many 1 important matters have been acted on by the legislature. Most of the members seen assert that the lobby is less formidable than in former ses- ions. A consensus follows:
 When Senator Luther was asked yesterday if he had any comments to make upon Governor Woodruff's ad- dress he replied: T have no comment to make I have, however, this to say; have voted against every meas ure which I thought ought not to pass and have voted for those which I thought ought to pass. expect to pursue the same policy for the rest of the session"
 Senator Spellacy said: T have read Governor Woodruff's speech with a good deal of interest as most demo- crats ought to be interested in the prospects of contest in the repub- lican ranks. It seems to me that Governor Woodruff did well to sug- gest certain legislation as ne did in his message. That was his business as it is the business of the general assembly to consider it. He has done his duty and 1t is now the part of the legislature to pass upon these measures. think some of the sug- gestions he made were excellent md that some of them may not be. I expect that his recommendation con- cerning jury trials in damage suits will be adopted. If 1t is it will be a great thing for the governor and the legislature"
 Representative Ernest Walker Smith, while admitting that he had opinions on the subject. declined positively to express them.
 Speaker John Q. Tilson of the house of representatives, said at q dinner of. the Wethersfield Business Mems association ten days ago. that he believed in Governor Woodruff and in most of his recommendations He believed that eventually most of them would be adopted. The fact that they had not been was due to the members of the legislature being like the governor in having think tanks" under their hats. Speaker Tilson believed that the members of the legislature of 1907 would do what they believed to be right.
 Senator Isaac w. Brooks of Tor rington, chairman of the finance committee and a former speaker of the house: T don't quite like the governors speech; I think he is all together too severe and l don't think he is justified in saying what he did. I. don't know anything about the lobby; it lets me alone" Senator Brooks, while disciaiming any knowledge of an actual lobby, thought that there were people about the Capitol who were inter- ested in measures before the legisla- ture.
 Senator Archibald McNeil of Bridgeport: T have not yet read carefully the governors speech. but 1 gather from what I have heard said about 1t that he is rather severe re- garding certain men in Hartford. I rather think Bryan's speech had something to do with the governors. believe that Governor Woodruff is trying to give the people a clean, business-like administration, and some of us democrats are with him."
 Senator Jeremiah Donovan of Nor walk. chairman of the committee on federal relations, said regarding the charge of Governor Woodruff. that legislation was controlled by the lobby: "I believe it to be so." He didn't believe that measure could go through the legislature which the lobby opposed. Senator Donovan was a speaker at the meeting at which Governor Woodruff made his much talked of speech.
 George M. Gum of Milford. house member of the Judiciary committee and leader of the minority in the house-"Nobody in the lobby has spoken to me. The lobby in tue past has been corrupting influence. but I don't see it around now. I think 1t is roosting in the commission now. I believe 1t is at work. hut I think its members at present are holding ofii- cial positions" Representative Gunn believed that as far as the house was ii was remarkably free from lobby influences. He couldn't speak for the senate There were many new men in the house who had come to the capitol with the intention of doing the best they could. Mir Gum thought that the reason sou,e of the governors recommendations had not been received with greater favor was because they were in the line of novelties to q great many. IL had not been the. custom for a gover- nor to promulgate any thing. and the