The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-04-26
Vote Against Governors N0mi-
nation For Highway Commits
sioner is on Strict Party Lines
Committee ON Executive NOmi-
nations CIOaks Real Motive i'm
Report That Nominee is In
competent
Retention of James H. Mac
Donald as Highway Commits
sioner Remaining as Holdover,
Seems Certain-Other NOmi-
nations Confirmed
Especial to The Far1ner.A


in The Farmer yesterday. by a strict
party vote with one Democrat and
one Republican absent each Of whom
was paired, however, the Senate to-
day turned down Governor Baldwin, 8
nomination of william H. Caldwell of
New Britain to be highway commits
sioner to succeed James II. Mcdonald
of New Haven, the retiring cornmis-
sioner.
This partisan action on the part Of
the Republican Senate most likely
means that Mcdonald will hold over
until the next session of the General
Assembly. unless some way can be
found whereby the statute can be
amendedsto permit his election by the
General Assembly.
This is the first of Governor Bald
wins appointments to be rejected.
Inasmuch as it is the most important
office within the gift OF the Governor,
the Republican machine decided that
in view of the facts that 1t had the
votes, it would use them TO protect its
own interests.
The Senate went into executive ses-
sion at noon Without debate the NOM
nations of George G. Waldo OF Bridge
port, Republican and Andrew r.
Broughel of Hartford Democrat, for
firmed.
The nomination of Norris L. Lippett,
Republican, as banking commissioner
was also confirmed.
Senator Woodruff, Republican Of
Orange, in reporting for the commit
tee on Executive nominations said that
the committee decided to recommend
TIE rejection of the name of William
a Caldwell, for highway commission
er on the ground of incompetency. The
report caused a smile to pass over the
features of the Democratic Senators,
all of whom were well aware that the
Republican Senators knew full well
that Mr.. Caldwell is capable, but for
political reasons were against him.
The Democratic Senators. in caucus
prior to the executive session, voted
unanimously to stand by all of the
Governors nominations and expected
Senator Halloran of New Britain to
present the name of Mr. Caldwell. Sem
ator Mcneil was delegated to explain
to the Senate the views Of the Cover
nor in the matter of his appointment
of highway commissioner.
Senator Halloran stated that Mr..
Caldwell is one of the foremost engin-
GERS and architects in the State,
tried and proved official who had had
much experience in road building, and
who is recognized throughout Connec-
ticut as an engineer OF the highest
standing.
He said that no finer selection could
possibly be made, and he warned the
Republicans that if they should take
advantage of their superior numbers
to administer a rebuke to the Cover
nor by refusing to confirm such a ca
pable man as Mr.. Caldwell they them
selves and their party would be the
losers, for public opinion would never
sustain such a display of unreasonable
partisansl1ip. He said it was absurd
to listen to a report which stated that
Mr.. Caldwell was Incompetent. He
said that such a statement is a slur
upon. the Governor Of our State, who
has spent months thoroughly inquir-
ing into and weighing the capabilities
of a. number of able engineers whose
names had been presented to him for
consideration for this office.
Senator Mcneil, in affirming the po-
sition of the Governor, said: II am
authorized by his EXcellency, the Gov
efnor. to say that he has no complaint
nor criticism to make of Commissioner
Macdonald's honesty. The Governor
however feels that Mr.. Macdonald is
from further service an his
position because it is the opinion of
many competent experts that Macdon-
aid is not a, good road builder. The
Governor has been Informed that the
highway departments Of Rhode Island
and Massachusetts, do not consider
Macdonald's roads good and service
able The Governor has received
many complaints from officials in
many towns In the State declaring the
condition of some of the highways
constructed by and supposed. to be
maintained by the highway commits
sioner. The Governor has learned
from reliable sources that Mr.. Mac
donald has been requested by town
officials to have Oil used upon their
highways and has refused to do so
because of certain opinions of his own.
and as a result these roads have de-
ruined, at a great loss of money to the
taxpayers of the State.
s"The Governor has received many
letters from leading Republicans re-
questing him not to appoint Macdon-
aid because of his lack of efficiency.
The Governor has carefully considered
Mr.. Macdonaid's qualifications; has
conscientiously reviewed his record in
Office and has decided that it is for
the best interests Of the State that he
should not be retained
Senator Mcneil went on to show
that in all of his appointments the
Governor has eschewed politics and
that wherever he found deserving Of
ficials. he had not disturbed them un-
less there were good reasons for do
ing 60 He mentioned the Governors
reappointnent of a number of Repub-
licans to the Judiciary of the State;
also his reappcintment of Mr.. Waldo
Lippett as Bank Examiner; all Of