The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-27

Again
Turned
Down
Governor Sends Special Message
Nominating Alfred Howe
Terry a Republican Engineer
of New Haven
Especial to The Farmer }

Especial to The Farmer.)
Hartford, April 27.-The Senate to-
day for the second time on a strictly
| party vote turned down an appoint
| ment by Governor Simeon Baldwin,
for highway commissioner. Yesterday
the name submitted by the governor
and which was rejected was William
H. Caldwell. an eminent civil engineer
Of New Britain, q Democrat. Today
the governor submitted the name of
Alfred Howe Terry, Of New Haven, a
Republican, and one of the foremost
civil engineers of the state.
Mr.. Terry's name like that. of Mr..
Caldwell was rejected, the vote being
Is to- 10. The absentees were; Nc
Neil Of Bridgeport, for; Holioran of
New Britain and Stanley, and Fos-
ter.
The first three were paired with
three Republicans. Senator Foster
had expected to be on hand and did
not arrange for pair but it would
not have made any difference had he
done so. Senator Paddock of Bridge
port secured Senator Bailey as a pair
for his colleague, Senator Mcneil, who
had expected to be present but was
unable to do SO.
The consideration of the nomina-
ton was made in executive session at
noon today. There was no debate up
on the merits of the nomination, as
the Democrats knew that the party
whip had been used by the Republ1-
cans with the result that whoever the
governor would name was certain to
be defeated.
Preceding the executive session. the
Governor addressed the following
communication to the Senate:
'eTo the Honorable Senate:
"In view of the action of your hon
onable body ON the nomination of high
way commissioner sent In on April
25th I deem 1T proper to call to your
attention the considerations which, as
it seems to me, should govern in de-
termining who should be entrusted
with the administration OF that office
I do this with the more freedom, be-
cause in our constitutional system, the
Senate of Connecticut exercises the
function not of legislative house. or
an electoral body, but of an executive
council in passing ON nominations
made by the Governor.
'"The responsibility of making
proper selection is his; that of approy
ing or disapproving it, is theirs; but
they proceed always in the capacity
of the executive councillors, acting up
ON communications made by him.
81 have thought deeply the respon-
a man capable Of doing the best SER
vice to the State in the great work
of expending and maintaining our
highway system. Millions haFe al
ready been spent, and millions more
will be, in the endeavor to make and
maintain State roads adapted to the
! use Of heavy, fast going automobiles
and capable of supporting the strain
thus thrown upon them. All this
money, in my opinion, has not been
expended wisely and one reason has
| been a want of sufficient scientific
study of the engineering and chemical
problems involved. Unless there is a
change in our present methods of road
construction andarepair, millions more
will. in my opinion be spent without
obtaining the best result Such a
change cam only proceed from the ap-
pointment of a new highway commits
| sioner
'In my Judgment no one is suited
| for that office who has not these four
Cd A thorough training in the art
| of engineering.
(2) A considerable practical expert
ence in building roads and keeping
them in good condition.
90 Much executive ability in dealing
with contractors and handling gangs
of men.
"a Tact and good judgment in deal
| ing with town and municipal authori-
! ties.
II have spent some months in look
| ing over the State with care, to find
| the men best answering this descrip-
| ton and have successfully offered the
nomination to four of our engineers,
| none of whom has suggested himself
| for the position, and each of whom
would have made a pecuniary sacrifice
| by accepting it.
'"Three of them declined a nomina-
| ton, though for other reasons than
those of such "a sacrifice. The NOM
ination of the fourth your honorable
body has, after taking one day for
| consideration, declined to confirm.
Unwilling that the State should re-
main longer without a highway COM
missioner possessing all the qualifica-
| tions above mentioned, and believing
that the man / am about to nominate
does possess them, 1 have the honor
| to appoint subject to your advice and
consent, Alfred Howe Terry of New
Haven to be highway commissioner
| for the term of four years from the
| first day of July 1911
| The Senate in executive session pro-
| ceeded to reject the name of Mr.. Ter
ry This is the last day for the Gov
| ernor to make nominations for this
| office and the understanding now is
| that the present incumbent, James H.
/ Mcdonald will retain his place until
! the next SESSION Of the General AS
! sembly, when his successor may be
| named by the next Governor of Con-
| necticut