New Britain herald., 1917-01-04
DEMOCRATS DECIDE ITO COMBAT ISSUES
Koppleman Objects to G. 0. P.
 MeaSurerS at First Session
Especial to The Herald).


 general assembly, which adjourned at 1 o'clock yesterday until 11:30 o'clock, January II, gave an opportunity to form opinions as to the political make up of the legislature and the ability of the several representatives and senators. -s:
 In the senate Senator George w.. kKlett of New Britain is the acknowl- Idged leader. He is veteran of the p1astA general assembly, knows the ropes perfectly and received an ele- gant senatorial training as a member | of thA last judiciary committee. Chairman Pro Tenn H. H. Lyman of Middlefield. relative of H. L. Mills of this city, announced that he will DhAme Senator Klett as chairman of the judiciary committee this year. This position carries with it not only the responsibilities of the most inn portant cog in the legislative machin- cry but also the leadership of the republican party in the senate. Even vest 1t was plain to be seen that the New Britain man had been ac- cepted as the leader for the repubH- can members sought his advice on everything from introducing resolu- tions to the modus operendi of carry Ing formal notices to the lower house.
 Democrats Will Fight.
 Although the republicans predom- nate the senate, indications yester-
 ay ointed to the fact that while
 pey have only ten members, the
 Amocrats do not propose to be trod- Fen under foot and the only way they will be crushed is by the road roller oti Vx,11 inl, tent on the person of Senator Her man Koppleman of the third district. Senator Koppleman, reinforced by , Senator O'Sullivan of Derby and Sen ator Hemenway of Hartford, objected to the resolution of Senator Klett pro- Hiding that the joint session rules of
 915 be adopted. Senator O'Sullivan wanted to offer an amendment and Penator Koppleman wanted to have he senate assure him that the demo- crats, the minority party, would have 1 ta representation on the senate com- mittee. While he argued long and earnestly, Chairman Pro Tenn Lyman, receiving the cue from Clerk John Buckley, threw the road roller into Sflrst speed and the Hartford senator Twas lost in the shuffle. Before the AGestion had been definitely settled, ghowever, Senator O'Sullivan had Bumped to Senator Koppleman's res cue and argued that inasmuch as the ten democratic senators represent 100,000 voters they are entitled to representation on the important com- nittees just to know what is going on. Senator Hemenway declared that to refuse the democrats representation on the important committees would be to deprive one quarter of the vot- CTS of representation. Senator Klett replied that with more than thirty x committees it would be impossible band impractical to appoint democratic senators to each as they would have to be duplicated on so many commit tees that they could not attend to the duties of any one.
 Previous to the opening of the sen- ate the democratic senators has as- sured their friends that they are not to be the silent members of the sen- at this term and they will be heard from often and loud. Senator Kop- | pleman was true to this prediction
 md indications are that he will be Zone of the leaders of the opposition a gainst Senator Klett's administration this term. The republicans are not daunted, however, and state they have a number of trumps up their sleeves which they expect to play at the proper time, to the confusion of the
 emocrats
 Klett Has First Bill.
 It was New Britain's senator who introduced the first bill of the 1917 session. It had to do with the mile T ton whereby the comptroller would \pe empowered to purchase transpor- StatiDn at the lowest rates for as- semblymen. It would also provide that no assemblyman could accept