The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-03-22
Especial to The Farmer.)

Hartford, March 22-Favorable ac- ton by the senate, next week, with the signature by the governor confidently expected, will enact into law the Sun- day local option bill which the house yesterday passed, after debate last ing nearly four hours-the longest that has taken place on any single matter of legislation so far durins this session of the legislature.
 That the governor views with favor the measure was stated in well in formed circles, yesterday following the action of the house. It is not expect ed that opposition of any formidable character will develop in the senate The matter was voted upon, in the house, not as a party measure, for it was favored and opposed by mem bers of both sides of the house, with equal fervor.
 The senate has been keeping right ID with its business much better than the house and it is expected that there will be little delay in the local option bill when it makes it's appear |, ance in the senate, and after the cus- tomary three legislative days upon the calendar, it should be ready for ac- tion next week.
 In order to prevent any further or atory upon the measure, House Lead CT Peasley yesterday moved a recon sideration of the question, the motion being lost, as he wished, in order that under the rules the matter might not be available again for discus sion.
 The passage of the measure was a personal victory for Charles J. MaE- tin, representative from Orange, and a prosecuting officer of the Orange town court. Orange is the town in which is located Savin Rock, New Ha- ven's amusement resort and the fact that many of the legislators from the smaller towns are familiar with the Sunday practices of this shore resort played no small part in bclstering up Martins arguments in favor of the measure.
 Rev. Leonard. Smith of Mansfield, the only clergyman in the house, was a warm advocate of the measure. He argued that sports and recreations frequently interrupted with appla use. H eargued that sports and recreations not fit for the Sabbath were not fit for other days in the week. A change of 25 votes would have defeated the bill-it passed by 137 to 89, and many who heard the clergyman's speech de- clared that it changed enough votes to effect it's passage. Several legis- iators admitted that they changed their views on the bill during the debate.
 Representative J. D. Brown, judge of the town court of Milford, scored a victory over representatives from many other smaller towns when he succeeded in having adopted an amendment specifying that Milford, too, was to have the local option. His success spurred others to seek like consideration for their towns, but fear that the inclusion of too many smaller communities in the bill might doom it., led the proponents ot the measure tO oppose them, not in principle, but for the sake of expe- diency. Derby Manchester, Rockville, East Windsor, all sought to come in but the efforts of their representa- tives were defeated. Browns meas. ure passed by a vote of IT to 89. He { said Milford was the bedroom and 7. the playground of New Haven and . Bridgeport, two great industrial cen- ters, and that while the census re- port-on which the 10,000-to-a-town provision is based, does not do justice to Milford, because of the growth in the town since 1909, the time of the last census. He estimated Milford at 11,000, while the 1909 census gives 1t credit for less than 5000 popula- ton.
 Representative Charles N. Hall of New Milford, followed Representative Martins argument for the acceptance of the committees report with plea for the preservation of the good old New England Sunday.
 Representative W. F. Sheldon of Plainfield precipitated warm argu- ments by offering an amendment which would make the law read, tnat any city or borough may exercise lo- cal option in the matter of Sunday amusements. Representative Harry Hack of Killingly, who opposed the bill, pointed out that were the amend ment adopted there might be conflict of action between towns which in- clude within their limits boroughs or cities, such as the town of Huntington, and the city of Shelton, the latter being within the limits of the for mer.
 Representative Samuel C.. Shaw of Bedding, spoke briefly in favor of the bill but opposed the amendment of fered by Shelton. MT. Martin, author af the bill, also opposed the amend 4ent. Orange is a town, not city {r borough, and the proposed amend &ent would have eliminated Savin Rock from the prerogatives propos- ed.
 Rear Admiral Cowles (retired) Of Pennington, representative, opposed the measure, declaring that in his opinion, there was no call for it.
 Representative Thomas M Stocking of Bedding, differed from his col league, MT. Shaw. opposing both the amendment and the bill in it's en- tirety.
 Representative William M. Foord of Stamford, pleaded with the house not to adopt the amendment, nor to oth. erwise imperil the passage of the or- iginal bill.
 Representative Hall again protested against the legislation as untinely and unwise, not in accord with the spirit and traditions of Connecticut 1f Nau Ep Clopd and ho oskod