The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-18
BENNETT FOR
 COMMISSIONER Governor BaIdWin's Choice to Take Mac
 D0naId's Job
A. H. Terry Opposed by Dem- OCratiC Senators Bennett Con-
 fiTmatiOn Sure
(By bur staff Correg.l

Hartford, R'eb. 18-There is every indication that James H. dacdonaId's tenure of office as State Highway Commissioner of Connecticut will terminate within 8 few days, possibly by the end of the present week.
 Governor Baldwin today sent to the Senate the nomination of Charles J. Bennett of Hartford for the office of state highway commissioner for the balance of the unexpired term of four years beginning July 1, 1911.
 The Governor was undecided on reaching the executive chamber this morning as to whether he would send in the nomination of MT. Bennett or that of Alfred H. Terry, city engineer of Bridgeport. It will be recalled that ernor at the last session of the Gen eraI Assembly following the first re- lection of his nomination of William Henry Caldwell of New Britain The name of MT. Terry but many of the DemOcratIc senators urged him not to was Known to be a Republican in politics and that it would be better policy to find man who if not allied with the Democratic party at least nominally leaned towards it. Tt is understood that the governor agreed that the advice was meritorious and thought of MT. Bennett. The Demo cratic senators said that they thou ght MT. Bennett would make an admir- able highway commissioner. The gov ernor then said he would nominate MT Bennett providing the latter would accept the office. The gover- Haven was dispatched to MT. Bennett to make the formal tender of the nomination MT. Bennett accepted
 The governor had ascertained that while MT. Bennett is nominally class ed as a Republican, in the last two elections he is said to have supported the Democratic party. x
 MT. Bennett is 35, married, the father of four. He is a graduate of Union college. He has been eight years in Hartford as superintendent Qualification of civil engineer and has made an excellent record as an en- gineer and road builder in Hartford. He has been retained in that office by a. bipartisan board showing that his work has been satisfactory te both political parties.
 After 8 long debate, the nomination was referred to the committee on exc cut1Ve nominations.
 The Senate voted to hold an execu- tive session at noon on Thursday to act on the nomination provided the committee on executive nominations finds it possible to report by that time.
 Under the Senate rule, the commit tee has 1OS days to consider nomina- tions and make their report but in this instance it is proposed to rush It through as soon as possible and favorable action is expected
 A Farmer reporter was told by Sen ator Landers of New Britain Senator Miner of New London and Senator Fred Johnson of Uncasvil1e, three o1 the five Democratic Senators who op- posed the Caldwell nomination thai they regarded Mir. Bennett as thor oughIy equipped for the position and would be glad to vote in favor of con- frming his nomination.
 It is understood that the other two Democrats, Welch of WiI1imantic and Mountain of Midd1etown, will stand by their party in this nomination. II is known also that MT. Bennett will receive some Republican votes as well