Norwich bulletin., 1921-05-13

Hartford, Conn.,, May 1z.-A petition from William Howard Taft and others. with bill attached for a civil service law To take the place of the one recent " repealed, was offered in the senate to- day. It precipitated a debate in which senator Fillmore s. Banks invoked the state constitution to uphold his conten- lon that the right of petition cannot he denied any person, and the constitution cannot be overriden. by any rule the general assembly might make The verbal contest was with Senators w H. Hall and Brooks. Senator Banks won In thhe end and the document went to the Judiciary committee
 The petition was offered by Senator seymour and after some debate over it's : introduction Senator w H Hau ask ed that it be tabled. After recess. Sem ator Seymour asked that the petition be taken on the table. He asked that if be referred to the judiciary committee and Senator Brooks asked if the bill had been detached. Senator Seymour said i 1t had and Lieutenant Governor Temple ] ton explained that the bill had been 1 withdrawn. Senator Banks asked if the i document had been changed. as he be 1 lIeVed that the attached bill was right tuuy part Of the petition. Senator ! Seymour then asked that the petition i he restored. to its original form Sen ator Banks said that the right of peti- 1 tion is inviolate and a petition must be l received and whatever is attached to the i petition must be received
 Senator w. H. Hall said he objected i 10 receiving any new business The ne. ! tition as received he claimed. was a bilI for an act to creat new commission ano l had no right to be received under the | rules except by a two-thirds vote 10 -u-- Den the rules. Said the senator: This
 is not petition: 1t is a bill: 1t is a
 misnomer and I object 10 it. He demand
 ed a ruling from the chair
 Senator Banks replied by quoting from
 Section 16. Article l. Of the state con stitution. saying: There are some thing,
 we mad do and some we may no do. anc
 one thing we may not do is 10 imnugn th.
 constitution. Citizens have right 10 ap
 ply by petition for any project ana tn'
 petition must be received. A citizen ha!
 a right to petition in his own lancua,, l (wording). This lecisla ture must no go on record as attempting to override
 the constitution. We snouid not 20 oi
 record as attempting to abl'd-e the rirf Of citizens
 Senator Brooks inquired Y Senate Banks was right. whether the leEisla
 tive rule limiting the time for introduc ! ton Of new business was absolutely use less. Senator Banks answered .Insofa
 
 to oerride the constitution"
 2 Senator W. IT. Hall said: TT wha , Senator Banks says is right the leEisla
 tnre has been vioiatin the constituiio To for 9 years. 1T this can be done. an . one al any time can slip a bin into V cover and call t a petition. 1T this ?, i tition befoe ms is admitted it will e' - tab'ish a dangerous precedent d' a mand a ruling"
 = Lieut.. Gov. Templetou ruled that tr - petition with it's attachment was recei' q ed as a whole.
 V Senator Rudd moved that the petite > he denied and the petitioners be give
 leave 10 withdraw.
 e Senator Banks asked If It was rea g. ized what the character of the petite 2 was: and identity of the persons wi 10 had signed it. Don't you want to si' n men like Ex-President Taft the court ,- sy of heinz heard on a petitonT a nueried Shall the senate deny the l. gentlemen and women the courtesy of IS hearinE7'
 Y Senator Brooks said: "I7 .soks 10 n
 as f some one was ;-vins tn nut 1- constitutional trick over on us. Someo of who knew though they w2uli get ti le civil service bill in th.s way. The D. same gentlemen must have had e. legal advice to put over neT bu~7tss l. this netition don't bell, ,va Banks S right in his realing Of the constit
 ton"
 ne DO vou think that nc reSt chic ,r of ticc of the supreme ..o1-t fthe Init N States and an ex-presidc1t nut this e. ne as trick? asked Senator Seymour It. "He may have been Hsed by sonleo
 who knew all about It. He is nir ra
 and I give him the benefit of tho iou5
 replied Senator Brooks.
 ,s Senator Banks said shat hr apn'a-,d
 the senate to send the petition 10 | . committee.
 r q am opposed to civil service" said nd and that is not the question. It does T ,1 matter what we have done in the ra .t Tie fact remains tha. neither vou T ,.s I can refuse to receive ;t.s petition. ' -.i and I must obey the constitution" r+ Senator Hall moved indefinite DO
 ponement. only Senators Brooks. Ire bs Rudd and Blake being with hiT. T ,id petition then was sent to the judicia ." committee and the senate adjourned.