New Britain herald., 1929-08-08
TESTING THE "HEALING' ACTS

passing six blanket validating acts is legal, will be performing a vital public service. Providing, of course, that they take this question to the supreme court of errors unsullied by barrage of political ballyhoo. they will be carrying out needed step that the republicans, apparently, are endeavoring to sidestep.
 When the McCook case decision raised serious doubts as to the validity of some 1,500 laws, signed by various governors after the three day time limit that the state law provides, the republican state lead CTS realized the serious plight they were in. Here it should be said that evidences of political quibDling be- gan to appear on the horizon. The democrats were abe to point out quite proudly that none of their governors. when Baldwin was finally cleared, had taken part in this heinous practice of signing bills late. It sounds like rather small potatoes 10 bring the point up. The demo- cratic state organization has known quite well what the practice was, but never. to our knowledge, has raised a very concerted howl about it. There have been occasional refer ences to the practice, but no polti- cal material has been made out of it until the McCook case is suddenly exploded like a bombshell in the state.
 Now the democrats are taking the forward step. however, and for that reason may be excused for the ill advised gloating that was evident when the case aroused attention True, some of their iubilation was even more natural because certain republican leaders had tried to slide the blame for starting the practice off on former Gov. Baldwin. When it was shown that Mr. Baldwin had realized the full significance of sign ing bills after the statutory limit had expired. it was only 10 be ex- pected that there would be a demo- cratic come-b back.
 Republicans are arousing grave suspicious that they are afraid of a test case on the "healing acts" by their action-or lack of action-in that direction. Even if it were shown that the fault for the situation rest ed entirely on the party-and it is doubtful if the blame can ever he definitely tackled down to any one individual-the first duty of the party in power would be to marsha ] it's forces and correct the situation permanently and effectively. as soon as possible For this reason the &C., ton of the democrats. the party out of power in state politics. is all the more significant. If it is free from political intrigue, thing almost toe good to be expected, it is an even more constructive step than the ac- ton of Gov Trumbull in hastily call ing the general assembly together tc act on the states dilemma.
 Probably the democratic party vii feel that it is getting little in return for it's effort unless it manages tt make a certain amount of vote get ting capital out of it's action. Politi cal affairs are like that-it is neces sary to shout about what a party ha done to make the pubic pay som' boosting of the good accomplished by this test. after it is all over. vii not be amiss. Too much of it vii stamp the action as a political coui and nothing else.
 In other words if the democrat want to test the validity of tn legislatures action solely for the sak of being able to boast about it. the will be doing a great good to accom- plish petty purpose.
 And in this connection it seem strange that the master politician that the republicans acknowledged ly have in the state didn't see tn loophole they were leaving for tn opposition to crawl through. If tn supreme court holds that the si healing" acts of the general as
 
 sembly are not sufficient l'o validat the laws put in ieoparuy by tn McCook decision. it is obvious tha the republicans have done nothin but stage a picturesque show. should have been evident 10 tn G. o. P. leaders that they were onl going half way in their work. The trustingly left the situation so vu nerable that it ! remained for in democrats to start action 10 go in rest of the way
 After all the thing Connecticr needs is definite, ironclad assuranc that it's 1,50O laws are valid an workable. It matters little to in average citizen how that assurance obtained. Leaving politics out of th situation entirely, it now seems eel