Norwich bulletin., 1917-01-04
ana the most enicient sanitary admin

| ana the most efHc1ent sanitary admin
What is needed is the reorganization
of our state health machinery so that
| the state board of health may be
strengthened and placed in position
to furnish to the local health officer
| the advice and the moral support
which he needs. I urge earnest con-
sideration of this question, with a
view to remodeling of our state
1 health laws, and that you make an
| appropriation for the state board of
health sufficient to give our state a
| state health administration adequate
| tor modern needs.
Consolidation Of Commissions.
1 In my 1915 message 1 recommended
the consolidation of several commits
i sions. In compliance Herewith the
cuties of the building and loan COM
mission We're consolidated with the
| Eank commissioners department, with
g single commissioner in charge of the
department: and the duties of the fac
| tory inspector were transferred to the
bureau of labor statistics, resulting in
| a benefit to the state in both instances.
| My recommendations that certain
other commissions be consolidated
| were not adopted.
now renew my recommendation
that the offices of commissioner of do
mestic animals, dairy and food com
] missioner, state. ornithologist and state
/ beard of agriculture be abolished and
| III lieu thereof that the office of COM
i
| with adequate powers to perform the
| beneficial duties Of these several COM
/ missions If you shall not concur in
| this recommendation, I would recon-
mend that at least the duties of the
! commissioner of domestic animals be
| transferred to the dairy and food com
missioner. I renew my recommenda-
| ton that such Of the duties as it is
desirable to continue of the board of
| examiners of BARRIERS and of the Con-
recticut board of embalmers be trans
ferred to the state board Of health.
Motor Vehicles.
Automobiles have come into general
use in this state during the last de-
cade. In 1907 we had less than 5000
registered motor vehicles for which
the state received in registration and
istrations were 66,S07. and the re-
ceipts $768, 727.91. There was an in
crease of about 43 per cent. in 1916
over 1915. With a like increase dur
more than $4,000 registered motor We
hicles and a revenue therefrom of at
least million dollars.
We are having a constantly in
creaSing number of automobile Ilomi-
cides and casualties. Existing condi-
lions require the enactment of strict |
er laws relating to motor vehicle traf- |
fic, and severer penalties for their vio- |
lation, with a vigorous enforcement |
of both.
The administration of the motor We !
y,
with the secretary of state, who is |
required to hold several hundred hear |
ings each year. in cases of casualties, |
to determine whether the license of |
the owner or operator shall be SuS-
pended or revoked. |
The department of the secretary of |
state has no logical connection with |
the administration of the motor We
hicle law. and am convinced that a |
competent person should be appointed |
to have sole charge of the motor We
hicle department. |
1 further suggest that all receipts |
connected with motor vehicle admin |
istration should be paid into the state |
treasury. 1t is obvious that all mon
moneys paid out for state purposes,
should go through the state treasur- |
ers department.
Improved Highways.
We commenced to construct i'm |
proved highways in this state in 1895, |
and their cost has caused the major |
portion of our funded debt. We now
have what is known as the trunk line |
system of highways with an aggregate |
length of about 935 miles, about equal |
ly divided between the east and west |
and the north and south routes as |
shown by the trunk line map.
These highways fairly well meet |
or secti ons therein which have not |
been improved, aggregating about so |
miles i'll the north end south and 80 |
miles III the east and west routes. I |
am info rned by the highway commits |
sioner that it will cost about 81, 500, 900 |
to improve these sections, and they |
should be the first to be improved.
Macadam roads will not last with |
modern motor vehicle traffic. ANY new |
construction should be of more dura- |
BILE material, and all sections of our |
trunk line highways should be recon
structed of more durable sSaterial as |
speedily as is practicable. as this will |
increase their usefulness and mater |
tally decrease the cost of their up 1
keep.
- But as they now are, and especially |
as they will be when the gaps therein /
to which have referred are improved, |
users of them as are content to keep /
within the limit of the reasonable and |
proper rate of speed provided in our Il
statutes.
500 Miles of State Aid Highways.
In addition to our trunk line system /
of highways we have about 500 miles I
of improved highways known as state
aid highways. I am satisfied that /
those who have travelled over the i'm |
proved highways of this and adjoin- |
ways do not suffer by the comparison
AS rapidly the finances of the state |
and towns will warrant. there should
be an extension of the state aid high
ways, until every town in the state /
will have a convenient improved high /
way connection with our trunk line
system. EEf
1t is possible. If not. probable, that
you will be urged by voluntary inter-
ested agents, financed by contributions
by corporations within and without
this state who are pecunfarily inter-
ested in the construction Of improved
highways and in supplying materials
which enter into their construction,
to make large appropriations for Inn
proved highways. This, general as
sembly needs no such assistance in
determining the needs Of the state.
propriations for improved highways
which, added to appropriations you
may make for other purposes, will not
leave substantial amount to be- apf |
piled in reduction of the Indebtedness
of the state.
Motor Trucks
A reasonable limit should be placed |
upon the tonnage which motor trucks
should be allowed to carry over our |