Putnam patriot., 1913-03-07
The General Assembly
Members Much Wrought Up About the Matter-Defeiency Appropria- tions Put Through--Rebste for
 Transportation Difference.


 Especial Hartford Correspondence.
 Mileage for members was the principlpe topic of the session Of the House. 1t has been the principal topic of all sorts of impromptu meet ings since the assembly came to- gether Two reports were brought in, one signed by ten members of the railroad committee, favorins Senator Perry's suggestion that the difference between the constitutional and the actual mileage be rebated from the railroad companies taxes and the other, signed by Senator Peck, frank ly declaring for amendments to the railroad charters compelling the com panies to carry the members al the constitutional prices. Both were laid upon the table for printing. So urgent has become the matter of mileage with some of the members that a group of them seriously discussed the adYisability of offering resolution Edjourning the House until June ,. the last legal day Of the present session and then as they put it. If they want us 10 come together again 10 do the business of the State they can pay our mileage
 Bill Revokns Railroad Taxes.
 After the two reports had been sub miued in the house-the majority re- port containing nothing about the re- batting of the taNes-Mr 'tyce of West Hartford said he was credihly in- formed that Senator Perry bin was only par af nator Perry g propoal- ten After iis passage he was in- formed the fallread committee will res perl another bill that will revoke taxes of the railroad to an amount cor. responding to the loss from transport ation Mir. Enc of simsbury said there vas an intention in some proper | legislative form 10 present Evassrs ! that would compensate che railroad company by a tax rebate.
 constitutionsllty the Rub. Mir, kopplemann said that Senator | Perry had explained that if both pro visions came in under one bill 1t would be unconstitutional. The arrangement l was that certain sum tSl0.000l l should be given the railroad. and as Iayman he believed that the gov l erncr would regard 1t as nneonstjtu- tional. MT Masee of Watertown said the members are wasting too much time in talking about the matter | There was valid statute on the looks. and up 10 the present time it had not been declared unconstitutional by competent authority, he declared l Why not ask the comptroller 10 com. ply with this statute. he said. and r. any one desires to take the matter 10 tho superior court he may do so.
 Attorney-6eaerai DisapproVes
 Mir Kopplemann said the couiptroll- CT would not furnish transportation under Section 142 without the apnrov- al of the atterney-general. and the at. torney- general would not sanction the arrangement. Colonel Hall said the matter should not be acted upon under suspension of the rules, In his opin- lon the Perry bill Is as unconstitu. tionAl as the original statute. He had interviewed the Governor and the ex- ecutiye was much surprised that Judge Perry should offer such a rem edy So long as you take a cent out of the treasury to pay for this mile- age no matter how you get al 1t, il is unconstitutional. the Governor had de- clared The Peck proposition, wise or unwise. was constitutional. added Col onel Hall The power that creates a charter has the power to amend 1t. He moved tahling the reports for printing
 Mir Stoddard of Woodbridge asked 1 Colonel Hall fl the Governor had ex- | ---~ss...