Connecticut western news., 1907-05-09
LEGISLATIVE NOTES
THE DoINGs AT THE CAPITAL

Law-County Commissioner Bill
 Reports of Various Committees
 Much Remains to be Done.
 Public attention has been called to the fact that in the four months sitting practically only two laws of public nature have been enacted. These are financial in scope, one placing trust companies under mutual savings bank restrictions as regards investments of deposits, and the other prohibiting private banking.
 Before the session closes, the members will be obliged to act upon more radical legislation than ever before was pro- posed ill Connecticut.
 Among the bills to be reported are those providing for right of trial by jury ill actions in damages which Is now denied citizens of Connecticut; regula- tion of telephone companies by com, mission or the opening mp of the field to independent companies, an employers liability law; bill to prevent stock watering in quasi public corporations by limiting stock to one class, such stock to be issued at not less than par value; a bill establishing free trade schools in cities and towns; public option bill; another to compel public service corpor- ations to make returns of real value of property for purposes of taxation; bill to popularize the Sabbath, and bills for high license and limitation of saloons proportioned to population. Favorable reports are expected on many of these and the entire state awaits eagerly the prospect of struggles between the ele- ments which already have made the present general assembly unlike in many ways any of it's predecessors.
 The senate considered the unfavor- able report of the committee on fisheries and game on the bill increasing the bounty on foxes to $2. The house re jected the report of the committee and passed the bill. Senator Briggs said that fox skins are now worth from $S to $5. If the bounty is increased to $2 it will be necessary to appropriate $15.000 or $16,- 900 to pay bounties. The men who trap foxes are satisfied with the present bounty of $1.OO The dissatisfied ones are few farmers who lost chickens
 A motion was made for @ reconsider kl, of tl jecting the bill authorizing towns to pay a bounty of $3 on each raccoon killed in the state. The motion to re- consider was lost by rising vote of 94 to 66. Later the bill was recommitted. The house concurred in recommiting the bill providing for examination of drinking water once year by the state board of health.
 Bills which provide for change in the present system of electing county commissioners were the subject of long debate in the house. The subject came up in the form of reports on bills from the committee on the judiciary. Two reports were submitted. The bill was house bill No. 312. which provides for the election of county commissioners by the people. The bill was finally re- jected by vote of 154 to 53.
 Seven-Inch Trout Bill
 The bill to make seven inches the minimum length of trout which can be legally caught was taken from the foot of the calendar. The bill had been passed by the house, but next day the action was reconsidered. Two of the members brought specimens of trout which they exhibited. MT. Quintard of Norwalk moved that the bill be passed. Mir. Gum of Milford said he did not favor the bill, as 1t might get some people into trouble, who ought not be gotten into trouble, and the bill would not do any real good. He stated that it is not the farmers boys or the fishermen who are depicting the streams by catch destroys more trout than do several fish ermen. Sawdust, dye stuffs and cold weather also destroy trout. Besides, how is fisherman to know when he throws in his hook whether he will draw out 6 six-inch or seven-inch trout? Once trout is taken out, if pierced through the gills, it dies. Upon a rising vote being taken the bill was passed, 98 to 87 and the following day was again taken up and rejected.
 Reports
 udiciary-Favorable on bill regulat- ing the appointment of commissioners upon the estates of deceased persons; calendar. Favorable on bill authorizing admission of testimony as to the general character of the accused in proceedings to disbar attorneys-at-law; calendar.
 FisberiaS and Cyama-ITpIa Ia vora bfa op