Connecticut western news., 1909-05-20
IMP PORTANT BILLS
 IN LEGISLATURE
OF INTEREST TO EVERY CITIZEN
Review of Legislation up to Date Arranged so That He Who Runs May Read Advanced Ideas For So- ciaI Improvement in This State.

CiaI Improvement in This State.
 Owing to the fact that matters of general importance to the people of every portion of the state have trauspired i'll the state legislature during the past few days THE NEWS takes this opportunity to enlThten it's readers briefly HS tu these more recent happeuIngs in the legislature and also, in general and brief manner, as to the bills of especial importance which are now before the legislative committees for consideration It is hoped that the trend of state legis- lation will be so simply and comprehen- sively outlined in what follows as to make it possible for the readers of THE NEWS to take an intelligent interest in as they may be recorded i'll these colums. THE NEWS further hopes to be able to treat each question individually in future issues of this paper, thus keeping our readers informed as to questions in which it is fitting and proper that they should take an interest.
 A bill of large importance to all laborers liable to be injured while at work is the bill providing for the abro- gation of the "fellow servant" law and for the liability of employers. This bill is the subject of discussion in the legis- lative chambers at the present writing and, while it is favored by the great majority of working people and others who have the greatest good of the greatest number at heart, bitter fight is being made against it by manu- lecturers, corporations, and others who would be subject to temporary financial loss thereby. The present fellow ser want" law, So-called, makes, not the employer, but the fellow servant respon. ysible for any injury which may befail a workman through another's $ oarelessness.
 While it can hardly be expected the present legislature will agree i'll passiuA the direct primaries law the discussion of the subject is sure to bring fruits sooner or later. Only a few days ago Judge John H. Perry explained and de- tended the proposed law. The purpose of the bill is to allow the voters of each party to nominate their candidates for office directly in their party caucus, thus registering their own wishes without acting through the medium of the present party conventions, which, it is declared. give the greatest opportunity for the party bosses to run politics however they may zee fit. Every voter would be required to register at least 60 days before the primary and would cast his nominating ballot directly for his choice instead of voting that power to a convention delegate who might yield to bribes or other improper influence before or during the convention.
 The public utilities bill which has been in the hands of a committee and subsequently, before the legislature fo consideration during the past two years and more has, within the last few days, been referred to special joint commit tee through the acceptance of the Chandler resolution. This bill which, by the way, is extremely voluminous, would have all corporations in the state which furnish public utilities be placed under the control of the state, whose authority would be exercised through a | public service commission, none of whose members, according to the provisions of the bill that has been dis carded, could own stock in any public corporation.
 The opposition to the public utilities bill was able to secure reconsideration of the Chandler resolution few days ago, and then passed resolution providing reference to joint committee. Amend ments providing that the members shall be friends of the measure were defeated and the speaker was not limited in his selection. The vote taken on the reso- lution to reconsider was of especial interest in that it gave the friends and foes of the present measure and oppor tunity to line up and show their colors It is the natural conclusion that those who voted in favor of reconsidering tue Chandler resolution are not in favor of the bill as it now stands. The Litch- field County representatives who voted in favor of the resolution were Messrs, Williams, Coe, Allen, O. B. Humphrey Wilcox, Eckert, Watson, D. D. Kyle, Marsh, Norton, Scott, Eggleston, Everett, R. P. Strong, Dougal, Dor mitzer.
 Representatives fromLitchfield County who registered their voters against reconsideration of the Chandler resolu.