New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-04-24
Chairman Fenton Of Mill
tary Affairs Committee
Makes Report Urging
Grant For War Vets
Governor Templeton Sends
To Senate His Nomination
of Higgins as Public Utili.
ties Commissioner.
GOOD SALARY BOOSTS
FAvORABLY REPORTED

Hartford, April ga bill making
the Australian ballot and voting ma
chimes the only legal method Of yot-
ing In the state was passed in the
house. II provides for the abolition
Of the proportional or preferential
ballot which is now used in West
Hartford and is being considered In
other towns. The bill was in the
form of an amendment to the pres
ent ballot laws.
Mr.. Buckley in support Of the bill
said he was for uniform ballot, the
Australian ballot or the voting ma
chine, and although the charters of
some municipalities allow them to
use some other kind of ballot the
judiciary committee thought it wrong
in principle. No special form of vot-
ing should prevail all over the state
so that il a person moved from one
town to another they would not have
to take course in night school to
know how to vote. EIe said the situ-
alton was sufficiently serious to re-
quire all towns to conform to the
statute.
Must Teach Citizenship.
The house also passed the bill re-
qniring the teaching of the duties of
citizenship in all elementary public
schools. both public and private. Mr..
Holbrools OF Thomaston called the
bill from the table where it has
been for some time and moved its
passage. House Leader Buckley who
tabled the measure said today that
the situation had clarified and moved
passage of the bill without amend
ment
The trailing arbutus bill which
passed the senate a few days ago
was rejected by the house after a
debate participated in by several rep
resentatives. Mr.. Landon favored the
T bill which forbids the gathering and
sale OF arbutus Mr.. Southwicll dis
covered tho bill penalized the pur-
chase of arbutus so gathered and
argued against such a provision. Mr..
Bell and Mr.. Mech agreed with him.
House Leader Buckley settled the
matter by asking if the intent Of the
bill was to entirely prevent the sale
OF arbutus. Mr.. 1.andon said it was.
The bill was rejected by viva voce
vote.
Higgins Nominated.
Governor Templcton today sent to
the senate for approval the appoint
ment OF Richard 7. Higgins of Win
chester to be member of the pub
lie utilities commission for a term
of six years beginning July 1, 1928.
The nomination was referred to the
,,,ift ftaa
The Bonus Bill.
The bonus bill which was unfavor-
ably reported in the senate last week
appeared In the house today when
Minority Leader Fenton, house chair
man of the committee ON military af
fairs. made his report.
He made his longest speech of the
session in explaining the report. Mr..
T'enton declared that the report was
because the attorney general had
given his opinion that the bill was
unconstitutional and on no other
ground was the adverse report based
He told Of the hearing on the bill,
of its support by the veterans of the
world war, and by a majority of
hose present. He said he wanted
0 correct a misrepresentation that the |
var veterans were not as a majority |
n favor of the bill. He said the
bnly opposition was that of the |
american Legion committee through |
t. commander and that opposition |
vas based on the possible fact that |
he bin might ieopardize the state |
Id fund for soldiers. The committee
ras divided on the bill, Mr.. Fenton |
aid, but the majority believed. it
hould be submitted to a referendum /
T the people but were influenced by
he opinion Of the attorney general |
hat a referendum on the bill MS
rawn would be unconstitutional.
Big Appropriations.
An appropriation of $536,0O0 for ex-
fnsions at the Mansfield state train
ng school and hospital was passed. |
boys dormitory will take $4,000,
hospital will require 100000 and
nurses home a like amount.
Tho house also passed in concur
Fnce a bill appropriating ss44,500
IF new construction at the Norwich
ate hospital.
Appropriation bills passed from the
lendar were:
For extension of the sprinkler sys-
m at the state pier at New Lon
pn, $4,000; for the shell fish CON-
isson for Restocking shell fish
awning beds, $4,000: for resur-
cling road and walks at Fitch's
pine for soldiers, Noroton, $2,50O:
distribution of Connecticut civil
Ficers" $4,000
Salary Increases.
Salary increases reported fayorably