The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-25
Vote Of Senate Is 81
TO 3 TO Confirm
Appointment
ISBELL'S FUTILE EFFORT
TO DELAY FINAL VOTE
Three Republicans Cast
Their Votes Against Con-
frmation of Governor
Baldwin's Appointments.

(By Our Staff CorresO
Hartford, Feb. 5-By a vote of 81 to
3. Charles J. Bennett, Superintendent
of Streets of Hartford and civil en-
gineer of standing and repute was to-
day confirmed by the Senate as the
successor to James H. Macdonald as
State Highway Commissioner for the
four years term beginning July, 1911.
There were two reports from the
committee on executive nominations.
The majority report in favor of the
Governors nomination was presented
by Senators Landers of New Britain
and Mccarthy of Ansonia. The min
ority report also favored the confir-
nation of Mr. Bennett was presented
by the Republican member of the
committee, Senator ISbe1I OF New Ha-
, ven. The minority report while at
testing to the fitness and competency
of the Governors nominee contained
many recommendation for the con
eideration of new laws to govern the
depar tment of highways which would
necessitate the further postponement
of the question of confirmation Sem
ator Isbell was at great pAzns to ex-
plain his attitude.
Senator AIcDonough of Naugatuck,
replying to Senator IsbeII's long and
was a criticism of the Democratic
party for it's attitude towards the
State Highway department, said the
warning so generously given to the
majority by Senator Isbell was more
needed by the minority He recalled
that two years ago what is now the
minority had been the majority They
had their warning then, and failed
to take advantage of it. They then
had an opportunity to make a change
in the department of State Highways
but failed to do SO. The people OF
Connecticut, ever watchfuI of their
interests decided this question on
NOV s. last, when the minority OF
? years ago became the majority OF
today.
Senator McDonougn added that the
question of Mr.. Benefits confirna-
tion was SO vital and open that with
all due respect to the committee on
Executive Nominations he believed it
never should have been referred to
that committee at a1l-that the Sem
ators themselves were well able to
have taken up the nomination of Mr..
Bennett the day it was presented by
The governor, and that 1t could and
should have been confirmed without
any delay. Every possible attempt
had been made he said to drag it
along an, no doubt, in hope Of de-
ferrfng action that the present in-
cunbent might longer repose in that
office Senator McDonough said
there had never been an audit of the
state highway department under the
present incumbent, that 1t had been
run in q rampant sort of way for 1S
years. The speaker said that he had
not made any attack upon the in
tegrtty of the present highway COM
missioner but he believed that the
conditions were such that an immedi-
ate change in the personnel of the
commissioner is required
Senator Mcdonald said that no man
in Connecticut has any right to say
that Gov. Baldwin has preferred any
charges against Commissioner Mao
donald and emphasized the fact that
no one in Connecticut had any Of
Acial knowledge that such was the
case.
Senator Purcell of Hartford said
that Senator KsbeIl could have ascer-
tanned all that his report contained,
last week, and the Senate could have
been SO much further ahead in It's
business. He chided the New Haven
senator for attempting to still further
delay the question, He paid a high
tribute to the ability of Mr.. Bennett
as an engineer, road builder, an exc
cutive and a citizen and said he had
the confidence of the civil engineers
of Connecticut.
He said that while historically Mr.
Bennett was a Republican he is not
a politician and that under his guild
auce politics, which has played a
prominent part in the conduct of the
department for many years will dis
appear entirely. He said that like
many of his type he is in accord with
the true progress of the times and
this fact accounts for his having sup
ported in the recent elections the wise
leaders of the Democratic party.
Senator r. A Johnson of UncaSville
New London county was one OF
the Democratic senators to oppose the
confirmation of Gov. BaldWin's first
choice. William H. Caldwell of New
britain. spoke highly of Mr. Bennett's
qualifications and said he was glad
TO be in a position to support him and
said he hoped that the new man would
reorRanize the department. He be-
Iieved however that the system OF
laws governing the highway depart
meut should be changed to strenghther
the new commissioner in the admins
tratfon of his duties.
Senator Keeney of Somers, Rep.
said he would have to vote against
Mr. BENNETT not because he regarded
him as inca pabIe but because he be-
ueved that there should be a three
headed commission instead of a, single
headed commission
Senator j. MacA1pin Johnson OF
Hartford paid a high tribute to Mr.
Panuett He said he had known him
for a great many years and had bus
mess relations with him when he was
IN the employ OF the New Haven load
ana that he was regarded, at that
Ccontinued on Page Two)