Putnam patriot., 1915-01-22
PLAN REFORM OF
 CIVIL SERVICE
Amendment Would Exempt a Large Class of State Officers
CALL CHANGES SWEEPING
Naming of Special and Joint Commit tees of House and Senate Ends Sus- pense-Many Attractive Places
 -DwndIe in Interest

Special Hartford Correspondence.)
 Hartford.-For a short session the business of the general assembly was of exceptional interest to the mem bers who came together for their first real legislative day. In the house and senate special and joint committees were named, ending the suspense which had been created by the active canvass of many of the older mem. bers for the choice places on the com mittees of first rank. Senator Ernest Isbell of New Haven, by virtue of his ehairmanship Of the judiciary commit tee becomes the Republican leader Of the senate. while Representative Hyde of Manchester, a veteran of two ses- sions, is the party leader by reason Of a house chairmanship of the same committee in the lower branch. Among the Democrats the surprise was that Representative Devine, whom a caucus had in effect named as their house floor leader, and who is lawyer did not go to the judiciary committee, the place falling to Rep resentative Taylor of Danbury. who served on the same committee last session.
 Magee on Appropriations.
 The appropriations committee went to Senator Magee of Watertown, who was on that committee in 1913, but Senator Lewis of Westbrook, house chairman of the finance committee last session, had to be content with the fish and game committee chair manship with Representative Fenn as his house chairman The latter was senate chairman of this commit tee in 1911, and recently resigned as member of the commission. The finance committee had Senator Wad- hams of Goshen as its chairman two years ago.
 The important Committees.
 The committees on judiciary, appro- prations and finance are looked upon as the most important committees this session, standing virtually by themselves in the first rank. With the state heavily in debt. with income less than outgo, the finance commit tee will have to labor to meet the problems these conditions involve; while the appropriations committee wifi have to work with it by scrutin- izing closely all measures carrying appropriations. Many committees heretofore attractive because mem bers were anxious to. recommend new buildings or new projects, promise to dwindle in interest. Railroads com mittee, once one of the important half dozen, appears to have been relegated to place well don on the list. Af- ter announcement of the committees, members busted themselves in seek ing out their chairmen and fellow members for the sake fof getting ae- squainted.
 Civil Service Changes.
 The chief matter, however, was the bill to amend the civil service law, the proposition being to enlarge the exempt class by bringing within it's limits the appointees and employees of various state offices who are elect ed by popular vote and also several other commissions and departments. The amendment specifically mentions the offices of secretary of state, the state treasurer and the comptroller. The law now exempts tire department of attorney general. The democratic senators were opposed to rushing the bill to the committee, but it went there and the understanding is that hearing will be given on it at an early date.
 Calls Changes Sweeping.
 Charles c. Morris, of New Haven, president of the State Civil Service Commission, stated that in his opin- ion the proposed bill is so sweeping in it's character that it practically abol- ishes civil service in the state. While the bill is so drawn that it appears to continue civil service in Counecti- cut, it is really so comprehensive that it practically aibrogates the entire law. This is my offhand view of the situa- tion, as l have not yet had time to thoroughly study the bill"
 Governor Marcus H. Holcomb sub mitted several judicial appointments, all of them re-appointments. They were presented to the assembly by the executive secretary
 Governor Holcomb reappointed Charles Hopkins Clark of Hartford, John P. Elton of Waterbury and Nor ris w. Seymour of Bridgeport to be directors of the Connecticut Reforma- tory each for the unexpired portion of the term ending July l, 1917. and E. Kent Hubbard of Middletown and Max Adler of New Haven for the terms of four years from July 1. 1915. Home Rule Biii.
 Among the bills introduced in the legislature was one of considerable importance fathered by Senator Geo. w. Klett, of New Britain, which, if passed, will give cities. boroughs and towns authority to make changes in their charters within certain restric- tions without specific permission from