Putnam patriot., 1911-08-18
Especial Correspondence


 of weeks. Yesterday afternoon there was held meeting Of the chairmen Of committees. whirh was almost eli tirely attended by house ehairmen of joint committees only because tue sell ate was still in session. After con siderable discussion of the situation and the refusal to vote final adjourn ment Aug. 24, 2 week from tomorrow, because f was reported that The com mission which has been building the new Old Lyme-0 Old SaybF9ok draw bridge at the mouth of the Conneetl- cut river intended opening the bridge on that day and Inviting the whole general assembly down there, 1t was finally voted 10 adjourn tfa next day, Aug 2j
 The condition of business showed that there WIS uU reason whatever why this shouldn't go through, but when the Democrats heard of the nc ton of the meeting they offered To bet that adjournment wouldn't como Oh tlle date specified because il couldn't without throwing overheard many matters, and thls thcy would strcnn= ousy oppose.
 Train Crew Bill Again.
 The real fight on the tfaiu crew bill, which specifics the number of brake men to be employed on passenger trains and which Che senate discussed at length last week came in the sell ate yesterday morning soon after II assembled Senator Fem led i'll fa= vor of enactiug this general legisla tion and offered m amendment which went further Into detail than the orig inal bill This amendment WIS the bone of contention, and after very long debate it was defeated by vote of 1s 10 Il, the senate voting as fol. lows:
 Yeas Senators Spellaey, Fem, Al sop, Halloran. Marlowe, Dickerman. Mitchell. Shauley. Eawior, Lounsbury, Bartlett, Paddock. Donovan and Mea- ra-14
 Nays Senators Hooker, Marsden. Parker. Woodruff, Platt, Mahan. AY- cry, Park. McNeil. Jr, Peek, Judson. uammond Elliott. Barnum. Brins made, Frisbie, Wright and Leonard IS.
 Absent or not voting. Senators Pierce. Bailey and Foster ,,
 Then the amendment If Senator Marsden, which gave the public utili- ties commission the power to handle questions of this sort, was passed and the bill passed
 The house spent fully as long on the Australian ballot law as the senate did on the matter referred to above and finally passed amendments to it. as at present on the statutes, which will simplify its operation and nuke II more certain that the real intention of the voter shall be registered. The important amendments are those of Judge Tingier, the Democratic leader, which provides that the voter who doesn't wish to vote q straight ticket need put no cross In the party circle In contradistiuction to the voter who does wish to vote a straight ticket but shall make crosses against the names of the candidates he wishes to vote for. and the Thoms amendment. which provides that any party which has town committee may apply to the registrars for the appointment of counters from that party who shall serve with the other counters.
 Australian Ballot Stands.
 Both these amendments were pass cd and then the general hll. which contained in addition several other largely technical amendments, was passed During the debate there de veloped considerable sentiment iu favor of doing away with the NuStra lian ballot aud the return te the old paster ballot ana envelope. but this was by no mcauS 8s strong in votes as lt waS iH noise, despite tbe predie tions which have been freely made during the la~t few weeks.
 Last week the senate asain teek vacation. adiouWue "Wednesday after noon until this Wcck Tuesday. hut he fore it did SD tt pretty wei cleared of lts calendar. theurh that means lttle us toward the dnat adjournment If the session The house Sut Thursday and really got through its calendar far better than has been its habit If late. Tue senate k uNu- this week to finish up an the business so thut adjournment can come early next week, but + remains to he ~rpu wbeth CT that win he ~uccessfut There are those who 4elieNe that the session wlt not end until well into September
 Wednesday morning the senate had up measure which lS of great inter- est all over the statr that requiring the placing of more brakemeu on pas senger trains on the steam raads. which the railroads eommItter had re ported unfavorahly on the -found that the matter should go Jo the public utilities commission. Senator ludson seemed of the opinion that it shou'f do this. but stated that the judiciary committee had before it measure which would cover matters of tht' lind hy giving the commission greatei powers and would hold hearing on ! today. Senators Donovan ana rem and others insisted that this was no q matter for the commission, but sus ceptible of legislative regulation. hu it was finally made the order oi th' day today.
 Corrupt Practices Act Amended
 u-ban tba senate nassed amendment
 Fighting Blood"