The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-03
Thwart Resolution by Which
Big Portion of States
Voters, Represented BY
Democrats, Would Be Civ
en- Representation.
Senator O'Sullivan and His
Democratic Colleagues
Present Sound Arguments
for Recognition But G.. o.
P. Machine Says No.
Especial to The Farmer)

\ -
Hartford, Jan. 3+That the
Democratic minority in the,
General Assembly-especiallNs
in the Senate-is going to be
heard from this session, was
indicated forcefully today
when Senator Patrick B. O'Sul-
livan, of Derby, led a spirited
battle to gain Democratic re-
presentations on the 35 joint
standing committees of the
Legislature. The debate was
precipitated when Senator
!O'Sullivan presented a resolu-
ton calling for minority re-
presentation on all committees.
Led by Senator O'Sullivan,
several Democrats were heard
in the matter. They presented
their demands as justifiable on
the ground that the Democrats
minority constitutes the legis-
lative representation of some
100000 voters.
| Senator Hemenway and Kopplenian
| of Hartford supported Senator O'Sul-
| livans claim for minority representa-
ton. They pointed out that Hartford
would he1rvithout committee represent-
alton If the Democrats afe not recog-
nized All three Hartford senators are
Democrats.
| Senator Klett, Republican, Of New
Britain, said that representation
wasn't feasible because, he saids the
| DEMOCRATS wouldn't have time to at
tend to their duties if they had repre-
sentation on every committee.
| Senator Koppleman replied that in
several terms in the House, he had
served on various committees and
found no dif1culty. in attending to the
owrk
| Senator O'Su'livan's resolution was
defeated by a strict party vote Of "a
to 9.
| The House was called to order by
Mr.. Huxford, of Stamford, the senior
member, and Rev. Mr.. Smith of Mans
field, a member, offered prayer. Rep
lresentatives Foord of Stamford and
Backus Of Thompson were made tenn
porary clerks. Deputy Secretary OF
State r. J. Dwyer. who had just been
reappointed as the first official act OF
| Frederick L. Perry, the new secretary
of state, read the roll call. -
| The Senate was opened by the retir-
| ing secretary of state, Charles d.
Burnes. who, after prayer by Rev. DR..
Fennell, called the roll and adminis-
| tered the oath. The absentees were
John Hurley of Waterbury and F. A.
Bartlett of Bridgeport. both of whom
appeared before the Senate adjourned.
| After the Senators had taken their
oath, Mr.. Lyman was chosen presi-
dentp rotten with "a votes, the DEM
6crats giving Senator O'Sullivan nine.
Senator Lyman presided during the
early session and until the lieutenant
governor, Clifford B. Wilson, was
sworn.
For clerk, John Buckley had "a
votes. and Joseph e. Dutton, mayor
of Bristol, the Democratic candidate,
nine. The Senate rules were adopted
after which Senator Lyman had told
Senator Koppleman that he was unav
BILE to say whether or not the minority
sentation on the committees. Cover
nor Holcomb sent in a notice of his
recess appointments. The joint rules
were adopted on the part of the Sem
ate. Senator Koppleman wanted ac-
tion deferred on a resolution concern
ing notice to the House of the canvass
for the vote for state offices but was
outvoted 13 to 8. Senators Hurley
and Bartlett came in during~the ses-
sion.
The ballot in the House for Speaker
gave Mr. Healy IT'S votes and Mr..
Geary 81 and the former was declared
elected. The speaker was brought in
by Representatives Peaseley and
Geary. Mr.. Healy being sworn and
introduced to the House. accepted the
honor in q speech of some length. He
referred to the financial condition of
the state in which the income is now
greater than the outgo and warned
the members that there was a con-
certed movement on foot in many
towns to bring pressure on the
finance committee to recommend the
repeal of the state tax. He urged the
members to fight this effort because,
he said. when the European war is
over, the state will need all the in
come it can get and it will need that
tax. Mr.. Healy promised to preside
with impartiality, to make committee
appointments with view to having
the best fitted men>placed where their
experience will be of the greatest
bnfit to tn state and that there would
be no gag rule in the House.
The House then took up and dis
posed of various resolutions. neces-
sary to get business under way.
In both branches organization was
IContinued ON Paao u