The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-20
LOBBY BILL FIGHT CRAVE CHARGES MADE Senator Atwater Willing to Mention Names in Ex-
 ecutive Session.

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 Hartford, June 19.-A fight was de- Veloped on the bill concerning the em- ployment of salaried state commissions CTS, sheriffs, county commissioners and capitol employees as legislative agents, in the senate to-day. The bill is term ed the lobby bill. A statement made Dy senator AtWater that state officials uaVellng on free railroad passes were gettlng money from the comptroller for mileage caused some sharp replies from senators McGovern and Donovan. This was brought about through the intro- auction of an amendment by Senator AtWater providing that no empoye of the state, or any state commissioner, snail receive railroad pass, whether Tor services rendered or not. In speaking on this amendment he said it was in the interest of decent legislation. Every state officer, commissioner or employe as ne understood it. rode on free pass es and therefore were under obligations to the Consolidated railroad He then mentioned the fact that he knew of one man, at least, who received $175 from the state for mileage, when he had a Tree pass in his pocket. The attorney general was the only one to return a pass, and he was to be commended.
 Senator Middleton opposed the amendment, saying 1t would work a hardship on certain employees.
 Senator Judson favored the bill and the amendment, but thought the amendment would imperil the passage of the bill, and therefore was not sure how he would vote upon it.
 Senator Donovan cited the case of two years Nago, brought out in the sem ate, that certain sheriffs charged the state 25 cents 8 mile and rode on a free pass. and said that that was almost a criminal offense. If any state official now rides on a free pass and puts a bill in to the comptroller, that is also a criminal offense.
 Senator McGovern then said it was his opinion that there was no such per son in the state, but if Senator Atwater knew of one he should investigate and the senate should appoint a committee and hold a hearing. He advised post poning action on the bill until thor ough investigation of the various charges was made.
 Senator Atwater said that if the sen ate would grant an executive session he would mention names.
 Senator McGovern then spoke again, pointing out the serious charge, and the final speaker was Senator Judson, who thought the trouble came, not from men holding lowly positions, but from those holding responsible state offices, who carried Influence. and whose in- fluence was oftentimes used in further ing legislation.
 Senator Atwater then moved that the bill be tabled until an amendment was drawn up.
 In the house the unfavorable report on the Danbury and Northern Electric railway bill was turned down and the bill passed.
 The bill relating to admission of att torneys to the bar was rejected in con currence.
 Tho bill to incorporate the New Canaan Power company was rejected IS to 10
 The senate concurred in reference of the employers liability and master and servant matters to the next general assembly
 The bill to allow Bridgeport to buy the Bridgeport Hydraulic company was passed with the amendment added by "a Thic ton on this matter.
 The Smoke nuisance" bill was amended and passed The first of fense is to be punished by a fine of from $1O to $10O and each day of main- tenance of the nuisance Is to count as separate offense. The bill applies to railroads and other corporations.
 The amendment to the charter of Wesleyan university was passed.
 In the house favorable reports were made on the following matters:
 Increasing the salary of the chief clerks of the secretary of state and the state treasurer; making an appropria ton for purposes for which no specific appropriation has been made for the ensuing two years; unfavorabIe con- cerning salaries of states attorneys. unfavorable concerning the purchase of additional land for the Connecticut az riculturai college, and minority and ma Jority reports on the bill providing for an eight-hour day for labor
 The house passed the bill providing for a civil service board in the city of Hartford, with an amendment reject ing the referendum clause.
 When the bill was taken up for con- sideration at this afternoons session Senator Atwater moved the rejection of his former amendment and offered a substitute providing that no commis- sioner or deputy commissioner shall rel ceive a free pass for travel on any rail- Road or streetsrallway in the state, Ar ter short discussion the amendment was lost, IS to 5. An amendment of fered by Senator McGovern was also lost, Senator Judson then made a strong speech in the interest of the bi1l and said that the bill was of the great est importance to the state He could not see how any senator could oppose it honestly. He compared it with the general utilities bill recently passed in New York state and said that if the bill went through there would be little danger of corruption on the part of well paid representatives of big corpora tions. It was all right for corpora tion representative to appear before committees but it was wrong for them 10 use the rooms in the capitol 10 fur