The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-04

rectors to establish county homes fol
the care and treatment of persons suf
fering from tuberculosis, such board
TO consist Of three members, each re
ceiving a salary of $1,000 a year and
his travelling expenses. They were au
thorized to appoint a secretary, to be
paid $1,000 for his salary and ex
penses.
Our whole system Of Departmental
administration seems to me, and / be
lieve to the people Of the state gener
ally, to be marked by an unnecessary
multiplication of public agencies and
of positions carrying salaries or of
fetal fees so considerable as to make
them eagerly sought for as rewards
for party services.
We have nine single commissioners
or heads of departments and more
than forty boards of commissioners OF
directors to manage other depart
ments and institutions or to deal with
some particular subject. In some cases
the fields of these various agencies
overlap. In others one could readily
and better perform the work now com
mitted to several.
1.-THE governor here recommends that
the office of factory inspector be
abolished and that the duties be per-
formed by the commissioner of the
bureau of labor statistics; that the of
flee of building and loan commissioner
be abolished and the work be done by
the bank commissioners; that the Of
fees of dairy and food commissioner
and the commissioner Of public ami
mails be combined; the abolition Of the
board of examiners of BARRIERS and the
performing of such duties as are
deemed essential by the board of
health.]
1 also recommend to your considera-
ton the propriety of broadening the
powers of the state board of health,
the state board OF, charities and the
state board Of agriculture and making
some of the present commissionerships
and minor boards, instead of independ-
emit agencies, bureaus of that one of
these state boards deemed most appro-
pirate.
Now that the board OF directors TO
establish county homes for the care
and treatment Of persons suffering
from tuberculosis has tablished three
Of these, which accommodate all the
patients who have yet applied for adj
mission, with room to spare, think
the task of maintaining these homes
and of building any further ones that
may hereafter be needed could be
safely intrusted to the state board Of
health.
Not Many New Laws Needed.
Connecticut has long been known as
the land of steady habits. It's con-
trolling industry is manufacturing. It's
people have been making laws for
themselves for nearly three centuries,
but our general statutes are still con-
tanned in single volume. In such a
community there can be comparatively
little call for new legislation. It's main
government is by well settled public
sentiment. and no statute not support
ed by that sentiment will be likely to
prove of any substantial benefit.
Few laws and short legislative ses-
sions go together. Long legislative
days go with short sessions. 1 believe
it to be the general opinion that the
general assembly, by proper effort and
Decentralization, could accomplish its
business and adjourn before the end
of April. This can only be attained
by the prompt action of committees
upon all matters referred to them,
and that, in turn, must rest largely on
the manner in which thefr chairmen
conduct their proceedings. 1 ask every
one who may be placed at the head of
a. committee to keep in view the de-
STABILITY of a short session, in saving
both the time of the members of the
assembly and the money of the state.
The Drafting of Statutes.
Every statute. being the expression
Of an act of command by sovereign
state. ought to be so phrased as to
make its meaning clear and unmistak-
able
To secure this there was created in
1882 public acts, page 215) the Office
Of clerk of bills, with an annual salary
of $500. In 1896 public acts. page $500
each session of the assembly, and his
duties are particularly and plainly
specified in our general statutes (sec-
ton 3D. If those duties were properly
performed by competent lawyer land
only a lawyer would. in my opinion
be competent TO perform them, ques-
lions of statutory construction or con-
fiict could seldom arise.
Defects In the Election Law of 1909.
Several election contests have al
ready arisen turning on the construc-
ton to be given to the act of 1909
concerning the preparation, form and
use of ballots ON several points as to
which its meaning is somewhat d
scure. To avoid future contests it is
desirable to replace the uncertain
phrases by such as shall be plain and
clear
Direct Primaries.
The general assembly of 1905 ap-
pointed commission to report on the
subject of regulating by law nominal
tie,ns at party primaries. It report,
in 1907 and again in 1909. The bi
which 1t recommended had been mad
the subject of long Investigate ion an
study by competent men, and the mea.
ures so recommended merit your cart
full consideration.
Their adoption would seriously il
crease the expenses Of candidates fc