Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-01-25
The Connecticut
Senate and House
SHOW DISPOSITION TO MAKE
SESSION OF 1911 SHORT.
STACKS OF NEW BUSINESS
Including Some Freaks-Four Day
Session Agitation Resumed-Hear-
ing on Removal of Damage Limit.
Especial to The Bulletin. }

came back to the capitol Tuesday with
manifest spirit for speeding up the
business of the general assembly and
making the session as short as the
impression is they want it to be- Both
house and senate We're called to order
at noon. Both sittings were short and
busy ones, occupied principally with
the Introduction of new business of
which there were stacks and then some
more. However short the session may
be made, there are going to be just
as many matterS+conSidered as ever.
Members came in Tuesday loaded with
measures of greater and lesser import
ance and of exceeding variety, soma
of such unique character as to cause
laugh when Observation-Disclosures latter
of the vcharacteristically freak type.
But the members got down to bust
ness. During the sessions there were
many announcements for committee
meetings Immediately after adjourn
ment- At these meetings matters re-
ferred were taken up and dates assign
ed for hearings, which will be in full
swing next week, the judiciary COM
mittee, which already has a heap of
business before it, commencing at
once.
Four Day Sessions Likely.
The agitation for four days sessions
was resumed in the house Tuesday.
The outlook is that after February 2.
when the time for fling new business
expires. that it will be four days a
week at the capital. Leaders on both
sides are strongly urging this. The
house was not ready Tuesday to com
nit itself to the policy however, Mr..
Banks, although hea rtily in favor of
the plan and even urging it, making il
clear that nothing can be gained by
introducing the policy while business
is coming in.
Representative Dunn of Windham
precipitated the discussion by moving
that his resolution calling for sessions
four days each week be taken from the
table. This action was not taken,
though, and settlement of the matter
was deferred until a later date.
Limitation of Damages-Final Hearing
FEBRUARY z.
The first hearing during the present
Legislature was commenced after ad-
journment of the house for the day. the
committee on the judiciary meeting in
the old supreme court room to hear
arguments on the removal of the $5,-
00adeath damage limit.
There was a large attendance at the
hearing. On the surface there was no
opposition, but one man requested that
the committee not close it's hearing on
this subject until some time in March
in order that the Manufacturers asso-
citation might be able to formulate its
views and present them to the COM
mittee. The speaker did not represent
the manufacturers, but he said he felt
that employers of labor ought to have
the opportunity to say something be-
fore anything as radical as proposed
was decided. Up till this time the
hearing had shown that those who
spoke were in favor of the removal OF
the limit of $4,000. Not all We're agreed
that there should be no limit but all
did wish to believe the present Law
changed. The committee did not as
sent to delay until March, but fixed
February 7th as the time for the clos
ing arguments. The committee at q
conference seemed to believe that there
should be no delay in getting to work
on the proposed bill for enactment.
Representative Chandler of Rocky
Hill first inquired if it were practical
to have some law passed which would
place an estimate te-upon the value OF
human life, basfng the estimate upon
scientific finding of a rule of law.
Senator Judson said that there were
statutory limitations.
Representative Meltzer of Bridgeport
upon whose bill the hearing in effect
was being held. explained why he fav-
ored a limitation of $4,000 as a max
in1un. He did not believe human life
could be valued in the market sense
dS >
placing a maximum limit on damages
one on fictitious basis and the other
on the idea of compenSating those who
are left in need by reason of the bread
earner's death, through negligence
Dependency in this case might mean =
widow and several children A limit
of $4,000 would provide an interest
account of about $500 or 5000 a year
The ward of damages should not be
left to judges. in his opinion.
f. G. Terry of New Haven repre-
senting trainmen. said he did not be-
lieVe juries should have the right tc
/ say what damages should be paid in
event OF the death through negligence
of an employe of railroad company
Under the present law $4,000 can b.
recovered. He did not believe $4,000
was enough, but $4,000 might be q
reasonable amount.
Timoahy M. Crowley of the Hart
ford Central Labor union committee
told of polling the legislative members
and finding them in favor of a new
law.
Peter O'FIeaIm of the Brotherhood OF
Railroad Trainmen said that az tbs
prices of commodities have advanced
the value of human life should be
raised. Fe believed in placing q. max
inlum figure.
Rev G. f. Turner said that the Fed
GRAFTON of Churches favored the re-
moval OF the $4,000 limit. but he hopef
that all the burden of fixing the
amount should be taken from the jur-
les He had served on juries and hop
ed that some of the spectators coul6
finish their legal education by serv-
briefly.
SENATE