New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-16
MISS CHENEY To
PROPOSE REFORMS
Manchester Woman to Introduce
Measures Into Legislature

Hart1Ofd, Jan. 10 ~-Leel3latlVe
reforms are to be proposed by Miss
Marjorie Cheney, of Manchester,
who is entering upon her fourth
term in the house Of representa-
tives. In the form of bills which she
has prepared.
From time to time In the past
quarter century suggestions in the
form of bills have been made to the
general assembly to speed UP its
work, to shorten its sessions and to
rid itself OF minor matters which
require only passing attention.
Miss Cheney would have all bills
for proposed legislation except those
originating in committee or drawn
upon recommendation OF the COVER
nor filed with the attorney general
at. least four weeks in advance Of
the opening OF the session.
Previous suggestions made from
time to time have been to have all
bills, except those specifically ex-
empted, filed with the secrtary Of
state in advance Of the session Of
the legislature, as is done in many
other states. There are statutory
provisions that certain bills such as
proposals to amend charters Of
corporations, petitions for charters,
and claims agaist the state shall be
filed in advance. But legislative
committees have never yet reported
favorably on a proposition to have
the great bulk Of proposed legisla-
ton made a matter of record in ad-
vance at the secretary OF states Of
flee.
Goes Further
Miss Cheney would carry her idea
further by having either the attor-
ney general or the clerk OF bills
weed out the bills and petitions
filed. and mark them for comm. tee
reference. Some such idea was In
the mind of those whose had pre-
viously advocated advances regis
tration of bills who would have the
clerk OF bills a permanent officer.
In such case the clerk of bills would
be able to study proposed legislation
and determine II 1t was in proper
form to go to committee. Several
governors, including Governor Trum-
bull, have recommended that the
office of clerk OF bills be made a
permanent one. It has been long
anticipated by seasoned legislators
that if such an office was perman-
ent, much of the proposed legisla-
ton could be submitted to the clerk
by its sponsors who would be able
to eliminate Implications in bills
and petitions to a great extent, or
consolidate them. with the result
that bulk of raw matter would be
materially cut down.
From time to time It has been
proposed that committees report In
only such measures on which they
make favorable reports, in effect
killing off tho bills which would
come In on adverse reports with the
provision that any bill in hands of
4 committee could be reported in
upon demand. When John @. Til
son was member Of the house in
1905 and 1907 he advocated this
reform but 1t got no where, 1t has
long been maintained that prece-
dent is a difficult thing to get
around.
Another Bill
Miss Cheney will propose another
bill to provide for a legislative re-
cess three weeks prior to the date
which the judiciary committee re-
commends as the time for final ad-
journment that the Governor may
have opportunity to consider bills
which have been passed and 30 do
away with pocket vetoes." The
recess idea has been carried out
many times but usually its objec-
tive has been defeated by the fact
that the mass OF legislation just
prior to recess has been 80 great
that during the recess all measures
could not be engrossed before the
general assembly came in for final
adjournment. Most governors have
been reluctant to sign bill in the
original cover.
The bills Miss Cheney will Offer
60 far beyond and previously Offer
ed which have had in view tho
speeding up Of the session in length,
cutting down the volume Of bus
mess to be digested and the SIM
plifying OF consideration OF a meas