Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-06

sti.ution OF The United States and the
VolsCtead act passed by congress. have
been construed and upl cid By the highest
judicial authority. the United States Su-
preme Court. That court has determined
.tsacIusiyely that the prohibition eamend-
ment IL Operative throughout the entire
United States. that It binds ali legislative
bodies like your own, all courts. public
officers and individuals within the limits
OF this state and all ether states and cf
It's own force inys,idates every legislative
act. wrether by congress or By the gem
ersl assembly Of this or any other stale.
which purp5rts TO authorize or saHc ion
what the prohibition. section OF the eigh-
teenth amendment prohibits.
In view OF this situation your rati1ca-
tion OF the eighteenth amendment. or
your failure 70 raufy 81. has no bearing
whatever rPon your duty 10 enact lcr.s-
lation whfcvii shsli insure the positive en-
forcemeht Of what is now the law here
and. everywhere In the Union. All statute
Of this state hitherto passed ard now in
7 force. which are Inconsistent and out Of
harmony with this amendment and the
federal legis,atio npertaining thereto.
shor = be repealed. and new legislation
should be en1cted by you which should
conform to the federal legislation. and
which should be designed for the purpose
o fmalling tbs amendment fully operative
and readily enforceable in any courts
having jurisdiction in this state.
| We have amohg our statutes a civil
service law which is unsound in its basic
principles, and self-annulling in its actual
operation. You should either repeal the
act. which action would receive my ap-
| proval, or amend It in such a way that I,
would be workable and effective.
The Grist Of Your Seasons wsrk
The matters to which have directed
your attention are the matters which seem
to. me to be Of imperative need, and OF
pressing importance. The occasions
which hive arisen in the past few years
Tor adopting legislation TO meet condi
lions almost unprecedented would not
seem to present themselves at this time
The country as a whoee. believe. desires
to get back as speedily as possible (,
normal conditions. and to strike out or re
peal any extraordinary powers or author
ity which arose from the real or uues
tionable needs of war time and other un
usual conditions Our legislation UP {,
1918 was well designed TO meet all SIT
uations that might reasonably be expecte,
in the ordinary operations Of our stat
government, and In that year the law
were revised and codified in their presen
form. L do not believe that many ne-
laws will be found necessary, and re
gard with disfavor the passage OF specis
laws where there Is already legislatio
covering the situation. affording simils
relief. and under which the same result
. may be accomplished.
To insure short session. prompt OF
ganization and prompt undertaking Of II
!. business OF your body Is essential. b.
: lieve that an early closing Of the tin
. for introducing new business the familia
izing OF the members Of your body wi,
all bills which are introduced at the earl
: est possible moment, and the assicnmel
> OF committee hearings as soon as ma
a fairly and reasonably be done, are a
measures which will commend themselv
! to your good judgment. Accurate cooi
OF all bills introduced are available
{ the State Library under the present Ia
and practice within = day or two aft
their reception in the last Of the ~
, Houses OF you Assembly.
Other matter may c5me TO nv attentic
: later and II 50 I shall communicate the
4 TO you with my further recommend
tiohs.
: A EVERETT ]. LAKE
Governor