New Britain herald., 1916-09-12
LEGISLATURE IN
 SPECIAL SESSION
(Continued from First Page,)

A resolution of sympathy to Speak CT and Mrs. Healy over the illness of their daughter, offered by MT. Martin of Orange, was adopted by rising vote.
 The joint rules were adopted in concurrence as well as the order for the joint convention. The senate filed in immediately. Lieutenant Governor Wilson opened the convention and Chaplain Sexton offered prayer.
 Governor HoIcomb's Message.
 Senator klett and Representative Peasely and Devine waited on the gov ernor, who returned with the commit tee and addressed the members.
 Governor Holcomb said:
 MT. President, Mr. Speaker and Members of the General Assembly:
 Our organized militia or national guard were mobilized and left for Arizona in June, and since that time have been and now are in the service of the United States doing police duty on the border between the United States and Mexico. So much is com mon knowledge. I have unsuccessful ly endeavored to ascertain the prob able duration of their absence. Un- der these conditions I cannot assume that they will be returned to this state in time to permit of their voting at the approaching presidential elec- .t1on-noW less than sixty days distant.
 There are two thousand, more or less, electors of this state in the National Guard, and it would be a hardship and a great wrong to them and to the state and nation if these electors, who are among the best citi- zens of our state and nation, should be deprived of exercising their rights as electors because of this enforced absence in the service of their coun- try.
 ''It is not a partisan question, and believe the sentiment of the people in favor of the right of our soldier elec- tors to vote is unanimous
 Tt is for these reasons that this emergency session of the general as- sembly is called, and I recommend the adoption of legislation which will per init these soldier electors to vote at the elections to be held in November next, and the appointment of two com nl1SSlons representing the two princi- pal paftles, to visit the places where these soldiers are located, to receive the vote of such of them as are elec- tors; such votes to be cast and count ed Tn the ensuing November election the same as if such soldier electors were present in person to cast their votes in the respective towns in this state where they are registered elec- tors.
 ''The fifty cent daily wage which the government pays the private soldier affords small margin for the support of those who may be dependent upon him. There are numerous instances where employers continue the salary of the soldier; some of our soldiers are not thus fortunate, and in such cases l am confident the people of this state will be willing to share in the finan- cial need of the soldier who is en- ployed in serving them. Whether at this special session you will provide for such relief, or whether it shall be deferred until the next regular ses- sion-now less than four months dis tant, when complete information may be availahle-is for you to determine. 'I think it inadvisable to consider any other matter at this special ses- sion."
 The convention was dissolved in a few minutes.
 MT. Peasely offered the "votes for soldiers" bill and had it sent to the judiciary committee. MT. Hewes of Pennington offered an amendment to the first section which would restrict the ballot of soldiers to presidential, vice presidential senatorial and con-