New Britain herald., 1927-02-19
ENDS
| ITS SEVENTH WEEK.
Numerous Measures Already
Have Been Killed

| Hartford, Feb. 10 Up The
seventh week of the 1927 session OF
this general assembly, period OF
much committee work and well at
| tended hearings-saw rejection of
several bills drawn to bring about
radical changes in present laws. On
three bills to amend marriage laws,
each being rejected on unfavorable
! reports, the sharpest criticism came
i from Representative Epaphroditus
Peck of Bristol who is an authority
on ecclesiastical law in the congress
sional denomination.
Last session Mr.. Peck himself
submitted proposed revision OF the
marriage law OF the state aimed
| chiefly to eliminate any possible
Gretna Green conditions but his bill
was not accepted. The bills rejected
this week aimed In the opinion Of
rather than to strengthen them. He
is supporting bill which would re-
quire an elapse of five days between
the application and the granting of
a marriage license.
No advocate could be found to up
hold the idea of Mayor Phillips Of
Stamford that restoration of a whip
ping post would provide means Of
punishment OF wife beaters. He him.
self failed to appear for the bill IN
its committee state and when the
unfavorable report was in the house,
one male member was brave enough
to suggest that under equal right
theory the measure should have been
drawn to cope with husband beat
ers."
In the old days OF New Haven
colony, the whipping post and stocks
for punishment OF Indicators Of
those days were on New Haven green
close by the church over which John
Davenport was the minister.
Senate Lead Shaw, seconded by
House Leader Averill again had a
Friday session in support OF the
theory advanced by them that more
work can be accomplished by Fri
day sessions early in the year than
when the farmer members are busy
with their spring work.
Friday session days In February
and March have rarely been main
tanned and the only way business was
done was through tacit understand
ing that only on-controversial mat
ters should be acted upon. The ad-
vantage gained by Friday session
is in procedure for day is gained on
the calendar on which committee re-
ports are entered.
Some times best laid plans for q
Friday session go astray. Yesterday
the legislative train from the south
was As minutes late and Senator
Shaw and Speaker Hill were on 1t, 80
neither branch could be opened on
time. Both chaplains were in the
group Of belated members.
OF all committee reports acted up
on the interest was most keen In
that sponsored by Mr.. Durant. Gull
ford. to revoke charter rights given
to the New Haven Water company
to build a huge reservoir in North
Branford and Guilford. Mr.. Durant
lost his fight, but many members re-
called the contest last session over
the bill granting the company rights
to build it's reservoir and could not
clearly understand what was behind
the effort to withdraw those rights
except claim that promises had not
been kept. The senate accepted the
adverse report without waste of
time in discussion.
For the week the house led the
senate in adoption of bills, "a to 20.
Favorable reports we're between
25 and 80, the house rejected Il
and the senate seven bills.
In committee hearings on Is
bills to validate licenses OF eclectic
physicians who had been stopped
from practicing by the state de-
partment OF health brought a fore
cast that this session will not be
any more favorably disposed to-
ward giving these particular ply
sicians relief than did the last
session. The committee indicated
that unfavorable reports might be
elected. Action on the entire situa-
ton affecting eclectics, however, Is
not expected until later in the ses-
sion.
Next Wednesday following GUS
tom Governor and Mrs. Trumbull
will receive members and their
wives and families at the state IL
brary. The legislature will meet on
Washington's birthday.