Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-05-16
ExPELLING A MEMBER,
Action by the Connecticut House in
 an Attempt Along That Line.


 an Attempt Along That Line.
 One of the judges of the supreme court in talking of the idea of expul- sion of member by a Legislative body said one day this week that he could not recall case of the kind in the history of the general assem- bly,, says the Hartford Times. The practice has not been favored in the state of Connecticut. The case of James P. Pigott, who was member of the house from New Haven in 1885, was not attended by expulsion. But there were men in the house who were anxious that that course should be taken. Hon William Ed gar Simonds was speaker and it was against him and the appointment of committees that MT Pigotts intem- perate language was directed on the | floor of the house during the session of Thursday, February 5. MT Pigott had introduced a resolution requiring the railroad commissioners to obtain and furnish information concerning passes issued to members of the house. In the discussion that took place MT Pigott said: II state with out fear of contradiction that the committees of this house were made up in part by an attorney of one of the gigantic railroad corporations in this state.'
 | Calvin H. Carter of Waterbury was on his feet in an instant and in- quired if the language of MT Pigott i was in order. Speaker Simonds de- directed the clerk, Sidney E. Downes, to make record of it. On motion of Samuel Frisbie of Pennington MT Pigott was required to apologize. MT Pigott asked that the apology be deferred until committee had in vestigated the truth of the statement which he had made. At this point a motion was carried with only one dissenting vote that MT Pigott should be deprived of the privilege of speak ing or voting, except by way of ex- cuse, until he had made satisfactory apology.
 On Tuesday, February 10, reso lution was adopted, appointing Hen ry G. Newton of Durham, General | Charles M. Joslyn of Hartford, Lu- cius M. Slade of Bridgeport, Philip Corbin of New Britain and Samuel Frisbie of Pennington a committee to hear and report upon any change, which any member might make of corrupt or improper influence exer- cised in the appointment of any mem- Der or members of the house upon any committee or committees of the house or of the general assembly. On Tuesday, February "A, this con- mittee reported that no charges had been made before it. On Tuesday, March 3, MT Troup, who was MT Pigott's colleague in the house, pre- sented a petition, signed by George F. Holcomb ct al citizens of New Ha- ven, in favor of Mir Pigott. He offer ed resolution raising committee tion. The resolution was tabled on motion of MT Frisbie and the peti- tion was referred to the house mem- bers of the judiciary committee. These were Henry G. Newton, Gen eral Charles NJ. Joslyn, l.. M. Slade, i Elias M. Steele of Newington; Will l liam Wallace Lee of Meriden; James Forbes of New Hartford; Charles Phelps of Rockville, and George NJ Gum of Milford. A public hearing was given and the committee report ed, Friday. March 13, that no reasons were shown why the prayer of the petitioners should be granted. The report was tabled until Tuesday, March IT, when it was taken up, discussed by Representatives Troup and Phelps, MT Frisbie being in the chair. The previous question was 1 ordered on motion of Mir Gum and the petitioners were granted leave to withdraw. On the same date Repre- sentative Phelan of Bridgeport pre- sented by request the resignation of MT Pigott as a member of the house That body on motion of Mir Corbin of New Britain refused to receive the communication. On Wednesday, April 22, the resolution relating to passes issued to members and the Pigott petition was indefinitely post poned. At no time. while the action of Mir Pigott was under consideration by the house, was deliberate pur- pose entertained to expel him. Ex- pulsion would have made his seat va cant as member from New Haven. The vacancy was not the object sought after. Denial of the privi- leges of the house was a greater pun ishment than expulsion. MT Pigott was made member of congress from the second district and served two years from 1893.