Connecticut western news., 1921-05-05
WOULD MODIFY STATE
 CONSTABULARY BILL.
New Bill Rejects Cavalry Feature for Motorcycle
 Squads

Reorganization of the state police department under a new commission, taking in features of the mounted constabulary bill, is contemplated by the military affairs committee of the Legislature in draft of a bill sub rnitted to an informal conference at interested officials on Thursday, it was learned. a.
 1t is proposed to combine the in- spection division of the motor vehicle department with the present author ized force of the state police depart ment as the backbone of the new department, with additions necessary to bring the total numerical strength up to about fifty. Legislation is be- fore the session now to expand to the inspection division of the motor ve- hicle department to twenty-eight men. There are now fifteen men In the state police department, includ- ing Captain Robrt T. Hurley, ana Lieutenant Robert W. Bridgeman, and the Legislature only two weeks ago rejected bill authorizing an in crease in the membership to thirty five men.
 While the entire motor vehicle corps would be transferred to the 1 Jurisdiction of the superintendent of state police, the bill is so drafted, according to those who have seen 1t, as to keep the force at the disposal of the motor vehicle department ex- cept in emergencies. This is accom- ] plished by allowing the motor ve- hicle commissioner to reqhisition the state police department for as many men as it requires.
 The detective bureau would be rs- tained and possibly somewhat ex- banded, but the bulk of the force would be used for patrol duty. 1t is | figured that by Increasing the powers of the inspectors of the motor vehicle department, who are to be on the road anyway in their enforcement df the motor vehicle law, the state can save the expense of having the higk- ways ptarolled by an independent force to protect property along the roads, for which there is a demand from Fairfield County.
 Most of the inspectors would bs equipped with motorcycles and some with side. cars and all would carry revolvers while riot guns would be held In reserve in different sectiour of the state for use in emergencis.
 The tentative plan is to put the pre- posed new department under the con- trol of a new commission consisting of three men, probably appointed by the governor, in the place of the present commission of five appointed by judges of the superior court. The ! superintendent would be appointnsl by the commission and also the mem bers of the force, upon recommends tion of the superintendent, but these details are only tentative.
 1t is estimated by members of the committee that the proposed depart ment would not cost the state any more than the combined cost of the present forces. They have figured that there would be an initial cost of about $150,000 more than the amount now required but that the increased vigil on the highways would result in more arrests for violations and consequent fines and forfeitures sufficient to counterbal- ance the additional cost.
 The idea of employing cavalrymen along the highways, as proposed in the mounted constabulary bill has been rejected by the committee as impracticable in Connecticut. IL was felt that at least 100 men would be required for such a plan, which is used in Pennsylvania, and that the expense to the state would approach $1,000,000 every two years.
 1t IS understood that proponents of the mounted constabulary bill are satisfied with the new plan, but that they held out for some time for mounted policemen, on the ground that motorcyclists would have diff culty pursuing marauders in the ru- ral districts if they took flight across lots or into woods. By eliminating this feature, the necessity of provid- ing barracks, as proposed in the con- stabulary bill, is done away with. The latter bill carried an appropria- tion of $325,000.
 The demand for a constabulary comes chiefly from Fairfield county. where it is felt that the close proxim- ity to New York requires greater protection against raids on farmers crops and thefts from other proper ty. There is also some demand from shore towns on account of the fact that the influx of summer residents brings in many ndesirables.-Cour- ants.