Norwich bulletin., 1909-03-26

Hartford, March. 25.-Hearings were
held this afternoon ON various pro-
posed measures dealing with the refor-
nation of boys, before the legislative
committee on judiciary. One Of the
most important of these. which was
favored by a number of Roman Catho-
lies who were present for that pur-
pose, provided that the courts might
commit boys to chartered schools
throughout the state. This was OPP
posed by Francis II. Parker of Hart
ford, trustee and president OF the
Connecticut School for Boys. He out
lined the aims Of that institution and
protested against 1t being made jul
venile Jail by statutory regulations
which would hamper IL In its work.
He stated that IS per cent. of the boys
who have been trained there turn out
to be good citizens. He thought that
the state ought to care for those who
have been committed by the courts
and that the whole thing was wrong
In principle. The bill in question pro-
vides that boys might be committed
up to the age of IS years. while the
present law puts the limit at Is years,
and pointed out that the bill would
provide for the support Of minors and
that the state should not allow private
chartered corporations to dip into the
state treasury In that way.
Irving l.. Holt of Meriden also
spoke in opposition to the measure.
Those who favored the measure said
there are many boys who have way
ward parents and that as matter OF
fact the children would be better off II
sent to a school to be educated rather
than allo wing them to remain at home
and the purpose of the bill was to look
after the best interests Of such chill
dren and that they had no desire to
xsf% rryhf ha Hatrf-
mental 10 any of the state institutions.
Regarding Tenure Of Office of Town
Clerks.
The proposed law which would give
to town clerks the right to hold office
for life during good behavior, and
which was drafted by a committee
made up Of the town clerks of various
towns of the state, was taken up and
vigorously supported by a number of
the town clerks. The measure pro-
vides that the governor shall appoint
a commission of three who shall ex-
anime all persons desiring to be ap-
pointed under the act and shall from
time to time hold examinations, and
shall find there eligible men for such
appointments the final selection to be
made by the secretary Of the state,
the appointee to be known as the state
recorder. The town clerks who are
at present in Office shall continue to
serve in that capacity but their titles
shall be recorders of deeds" and they
will be under the control, in a meas
ure, OF the state recorder.
The duties of the recorders would
practically be the same as those which
now devolve upon the town clerks.
When any vacancy occurs in any Of
the offices. examinations shall be held,
and IL there is no suitable eligible per-
son in the town the commission can
advertise the place open to every cit
izen Of Connecticut who desires to
take the examinations.
Those in favor of the measure COM
prised William r. F'oote Of Branford,
who thought that the offices of town
clerks ought to be kept open at stated
hours during the day and that the pay
should be adequate to the work. He
found on investigation that In the state
there are thirty town clerks who get