Putnam patriot., 1915-02-12
TAX EXPERT BILL
 STILL ON TABLE
Lively Contest in Senate Fails
 to Bring Any Action
CLAIM GOVERNOR OPPOSES
Object Of Senatorial Courtesy Explain ed by Senator Whiton Is Nothing More Than Giving Other Eel
 low Parliamentary Privilege.


 Special Hartford Correspondence)
 Hartford.-The resolution authoriz-
 ing the finance committee to employ
 a tax expert to aid it in its delibera-
 tions was the cause of a fight in the
 Legislature The fight was started
 when Senator Benjamin H. Hewitt of
 Mystic, moved to have the resolution
 taken off the table and referred to
 the finance committee for eonsidera-
 ton. He asked that this action be
 taken on the ground that the majority
 of the members of the finance com
 mittee had never heard of the resolu.
 ton before it was offered in the house
 by Representative Milton 4. IsheA of
 Ansonia, house chairman Of that com
 mittee. After a spirited debate in
 which Senator Whiton of New Lon
 don. came to the support of Senator
 Hewitt, the formers motion was su-
 perseded by motion by Senator Isbell
 of New Haven, the Republican floor
 leader. to again table the resolution.
 This latter motion was carried by
 vote of 24 to '. Senators Wilton and
 Hewitt did not vote. but Senators King of East Hartford, and Pierson of Bris tol, voted with the five senators against Isbell's motion to table. The
 vote probably doesn't show the actual
 strength of the opposition to the reso- iution It is apparent that there is strong opposition since many senators
 who voted for the Isbell motion are
 really opposed to the resolution, it is understood. and only voted for the Is bell motion to prevent making it ap-
 pear as if there is a breach in the party.
 Governor Opposed.
 Senator Purcell in speaking on the
 matter said that Governor Holeomb is opposed to the measure. Senator
 Purcell said that the governor had made this statement to him in a con
 ference with him on the bill. During the debate there was lot of talk about senatorial courtesy The packers of the bill seemed to consider that Senator Hewitt was acting very discourteously in seeking to force an issue on the matter without the con sent of Senator Wadhams, the father of the bill Senator Hewitt said he thought common. everyday courtesy came ahead of senatorial courtesy, however, and that the packers of the bill were violating this latter branch of courtesy by their method. According to one story about the | capitol, the supporters of this reso- | tution have in view Lucius c. Ryce
 of West Hartford for appointment to | this place The coupling of the name of Mr Ryce with the resolution adds a distinctly interesting feature to the fight. Mr Ryce is considered an au- thority on taxes and insurance, but for some time he has been opposed to the policies of Tax Commissioner Will
 fam H. Corbin and made a fight against him two years ago. What ever may be the chances of Mir Ryce being selected for this position. even if
 the resolution should be passed, it is understood that he is a candidate for the place. Two years ago when tsere was controversy between Commits sioner Corbin and the people of West Hartford over a tax question, Ryce
 was the leading drive against the com missioner.
 Aside from the merits of the resolu- ton itself, the opposition is due large ly to the fact that it was introduced
 without first being placed before the finance committee. Seven of the II members of this committee say that ] they never heard of the resolution be- fore it was introduced in the house by Representative Isbell. The feeling
 among those opposed to the resolu- tion is that the state has a tax expert in Tax Commissioner William H. Cor bin and that no outside assistance is needed While he refuses to make any public statement, it is understood that Commiss ssioner Corbin feels that the
 resolution is a slap at him. He is will ing. according to his own statement. to give the committee all the assist
 anee he can-to spend all his time with them, as matter of fact. He believes, furthermore, that if he Is not l considered capable, the state has
 man eminentiy well able to advise on this subject in Governor Marcus H. Holcolnb, who is exceedingly well acquainted with tax and insurance matters. It became apparent during the fight in the senate that the back CTS of the resolution are opposed to the amendment proposed by Senator
 John L. Purcell, of Hartford, the Dem ocratic leader, to add MT Corbip to
 the committee when it mades the se-
 lection of the expert.