Norwich bulletin., 1913-01-30

feet matter of bills and resolutions in
 troduced in the general assembly today
 was secondary to the interest created
 by the action of Governor Baldwin in
 certifying to the attorney general 21
 charges involving improper conduct of
 the state highway department by Com
 missioner James H. Macdonald No
 light was thrown upon the specific na-
 ture of the charges either from the
 governors office or by the attorney
 general, the latter declining to say any
 thing whatever upon the matter. It is
 expected however, that a public state
 Inent will be issued when the charges
 are brought before judge of the su-
 perior court sitting in Hartford, in due
 tine should the action proceed to that
 point. The nomination of MT. Caldwell
 of New Britain for highway commits
 sioner was sent to the senate A eau
 GUS of the democratic senators will be
 held tomorrow afternoon, when the en- tire matter of the highway commission
 ership will be discussed.
 A Question of Legality.
 The democratic and republican views
 of the action of the governor in pre- ferring charges are radically different. The republican legislators who were at all familiar with the controversy over the highway department were disposed to believe that the governor was doubtful if confirmation of MT. Cad well, which seems likely, would put MT. Macdonald out of office owing to the phraseology of the law They also be-
 
 confirmation an injunction would be asked for by MT. Macdonald to prevent the newly confirmed commissioner from taking the office. and on the question of making the injunction per manent would come the court proceed ings which would lead to interpretation of the law as it stands
 Unusual Wording of Communication.
 The democrats, however, took the | view that Governor Baldwin had prob | ably waited until he had an accumula- | tion of evidence against MacDonalds g | management of the department, and brought the charges, irrespective of the fact that he had sent in nomination, as a means in securing justi6 cation of the attitude he had taken and claims he had made that MT. Macdonald was democrats did not believe that Govern Baldwin entertained any doubt as to the law giving him the right of nomination Of commissioner at this session of the general assembly. The wording of the communication to the senate in presenting MT. CadwelPs name was unusual. in that it pointed out that a vacancy existed in the of flee at the last session which was not filled and which still exists. MT. Cad wells nomination was for the unexpir- ed term of the four year period.
 New London Appropriation Involved.
 Before the legislators separated for the day ruInors were current among them that the highway commissioner ship was in some way linked with the movement to repeal the one million dollar appropriation for New London harbor. It was said that the governor had found things not to his liking in the New London project, and in trying to ascertain the facts had found that certain men were alleged to be inter ested in various contrscts calling for state money. Then came the report that Commissioner Macdonald was to resign at once, but the commissioner -,< hi off fnT- a fiT7aa l had left no confirmation or denial of the rumoT.
 Alleged Complaints to Governor.
 It was reported that a number of men in various parts of the state had complained to Governor Baldwin that they had found it difficult to secure payment for work done for the high way department, several claiming that the interval was much as two years to get pay for roads built
 New London Bill Referred.
 The McNeil bill to repeal the New London harbor appropriation has gone to the committees on appropriations and roads. bridges and rivers for a joint hearing. Senator 11cNefl is chair man of the first named committee, and Senator F. A. Johnson of MontviIe chairman of the committee on roads, start at variance with each other. The joint committee has only four New ( London men on it. An effort will be made to prevent the repeal measure l from becoming a purely party one Senator McNel having received assur ances from democrats and republicans l in both branches that they will give him support if politics are kept out of t the matter. The opposition of Govern [ or Baldwin to continuing the work of l surveying New London harbor is said I to be based upon alleged conditions ex- istfng the harbor front, wherein op- |, tions had been taken on property which it was thought the state might need for docks and terminals and for which property high prices were set. (
 May Drop Mileage Question
 The limit for the time of introduc- tion of new business is set for next measures has been extremely light. More committees organized this after : noon, and the appropriations committee inspected the tuberculosis sanatorium at Meriden. It did not act upon the q salary list for officers of the assembly . and attaches. the latter being anxious : to get their first months salary on . time, The committee believed that act lon was not urgent at this time. The mileage fer members matter Is a aa likely to be dropped, as those who have T been trying to solve 1t have not found . way out Of the difficult,
 Governors Message on Taxation.
 The governors message regarding the E tdxatiOh or eh0SeS HI a<iloH was us e follows: l. In order to make e4aF system of tax D alton work fairly to all it is important J that the annual list returns te as- a seSsors by the individual taxpayers Jhould be full and accurate. The law s requires that the owners of bonds and N notes and other chooses in action, ex- e ,ept such as are either non-taxable, a such as list for state taxation n the office of the state treasurer. The l. .hoses in action which are listed in the e lfzies ef the state treasurer amount to D