The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-21
LEGISLATIVE
OUTLOOK IN
CONNECTICUT
House and Senate Clerks
May Precipitate Trouble
Over Spafford's Throw
Down p
DEMOCRATS MAY NOT LOSE
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Interesting Question Involv-
ed Which May Give Gov
ernor Power to Name
Commissioners McDon-
AIDS Chance to Stay at
Head Of Insurance De-
partment
Especial to The Farmer)


Hartford, Conn.,, Jan. 21-One Of the
recommendations in Governor Bald
wins inaugural message will receive
consideration from the Republican
Legislature, but rather by way OF
placemaking for Republicans than in
a spirit of accord with the Demo
cratic Governor. In connection with
Of Shelton as engrossing clerk and G.
E. Hinman of Willimantic as clerk
of bills there is to be reported by the
Judiciary committee some plan for a
combination of these two offices in
one permanent official.
However, the final result was some
what in doubt, today, for the plan is
opposed not only by the other legis-
lative clerks and their friends on the
grounds that they have entered the
clerkship with every right to assume
that usual progressions would con-
tinue unless interfered with by a
Democratic Legislature, but by friends
of John A. Spafford of Bridgeport,
last sessions clerk of the Senate, who
was unceremoniously disregarded.
Both Hinman and Baldwin favored
Lake and Bulkeley and that fact will
have its bearing on the situation.
If a permanent place is made the
probable reason will be to secure a
Republican clerk against the possible
election of a Democratic Legislature,
for underneath the surface the Re-
publican leaders are never forgetting
that their party is on the defensive
and must look to the next State cam
paign.
A recommendation of Governor
Ba1dwin's which is to be, ignored, even
TO h. int nf oavsn al ocI. in, fIn
course of which the Governor would
refuse to sign the appointments, is
that favoring a change in the method
Of appointing county commissioners.
The county caucuses have already or
ganiZed in some cases and next week
will meet to name candidates who
will be nominated to the General AS
sembly in the usual resolutions. These
will be acted upon in the House and
Senate as though nothing had ever
been said on the subject and the
leaders are figuring that Governor
Baldwin will not be in a position to
make the request for delay which was
made by Governor Woodruff under
similar circumstances in 1907.
The Democrats have ready to intro
duce bills giving the appointment of
county commissioners to the Governor
and bills providing for their election
by the people; but the majority pro-
poses to proceed to elect the commits
sioners in the customary way. If
Governor Baldwin refuses to sign the
appointments, the present commits
sicners will merely hold over.
In such case there will arise the
question already considerably debated
privately, has the Governor the pow
er to fill offices after the end of the
session upon which he and the General
Assembly fail to agree? The statute
on the subject says that the Governor
may fill any vacancy, however aris-
ing, in any office to which he has the
power of appointment, while the Gen
eral Assembly is not in session. Many
politicians hold that If the Senate re-
fuses to confirm the appointments of
Democratic State commissioners, as
the Republican Senators are said to
have privately decided to do, Cover
nor Baldwin in some instances can
make valid recess appointments to
run until the third Wednesday of the
next legislative session.
In assigning hearings on the public
utilities commission question begin
ming Feb. 2. the Judiciary committee
merely intended to begin work at the
earliest possible moment. If the
final date for the introduction Of new
business is set forward. which is like
ly, the committee will set forward it's
hearings.
The proposition to have a special
committee on the public utilities COM
mission bills is in allegiance awaiting
the fate of Senator Spellacy's effort
to get a special committee ON work
mems compensation acts. The unta-
vorable reception accorded this sugges-
ton is likely to prevent favorable ac-
ton. The Judiciary committee has
privately agreed that it can handle
the employers liability bills and it's
position is that the two subjects
workmen's compensation and employ
ers' liability-belong together. Spell
lacy maintains that they are entirely
separate and the labor unions will
committees. It Is likely that the plan
to have the Labor committee meet
with the Judiciary committee at hear
ings on these matters will be fol-
lowed.
House Chairman Banks has come
out strongly in an interview for a
public utilities commission bill and he
in his stand. But it is said that not
all on the Judiciary committee are in
harmony on his subject. The varied
opinions as to just what sort of bill
is best. coupled with the well known
opposition ofs some members to any
bill is likely to prolong deliberations
on the matter.
Insurance Commissioner Theodore
H. Macdonald believes he is certain
to succeed himself. Probably no
other appointment within the gift of
the present Governor. save that Of
Highway Commissioner. has been the
ground for so much speculation. BY
article 34S6. Chapter 204 of the gem
eral statutes of Connecticut. revision
1902. the Republican General Assem-
Continued on Pogo %