davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
WICKERSHAM LAW
 COMMISSION TO
 PLACE THE BLAME
Enforcement Failures Will Be Laid at the Door of Local Politics and Negli= genCe of Local Officials
By RAYMOND CHAPTER United Press Staff COrrcSDOndent)

Washington, Jan 7.-UP-One section of the forthcoming prohibit ton report which the Wickersham law commission reassembled to-day to complete will place blame for en- forcement failures in part on corrup- ton. local politics and negligence by local officials, the United Press learned to-day.
 After a study of voluminous evi- dence. members of the commission are known to feel that weakness of city and county officials in some localities accounts for some of the most fragrant disregard of the pro hibition laws. This aspect of the problem, it is understood, will be emphasized as a major contributing factor to difficulties of enforcement.
 The report, 1t is said in quarters close to the commission, will recon mend no fundamental changes in federal prohibition laws, and will not recommend legalization of beer. a national referendum or any altera- tion of the 18th amendment. In stead, it is said, it will emphasize continuation of federal activity with greater state and local cooperation.
 It was the expectation that all members of the commission would 'b including Federal Judge William $. Kenyon, while concurring in the re- port, are likely to do as United States supreme court justices do oc- casionally-append separate opinions taking issue with some points.
 Indications to-day were that the report would be in President Hoov- CTS hands at least early next week When 1t is to be made public will rest with the president.
 The supreme court, meantime, is moving with unusual speed to de- eide the question of constitutional ity of the 18th amendment raised in the recent opinion of Federal Judge William Clark of New Jersey. The case, in which the 18th amendment was held to have been adopted ur- constitutionally, has been set for argument before the supreme court January 21.
 An optimistic forecast for prohibit tion enforcement was made last night by Prohibition Director Wood- cock, who told the manufacture and business committee of the Anti Saloon league that he was more optimistic about conditions now than when he took over his post last July.
 Similar statements concerning the future of prohibition were made be- fore the league committee by Alcohol Commissioner Doran, Rep resentative Hudson. republican. Mich, Mrs Mabel Walker Willebrandt and and other dry leaders.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

MIR PRESIDENT, MIR SPEAKER,
 AND MEMBERS OF THE GEN.
 ERAL ASSEMBLY:
 It is the will of the citizens of Connecticut that the responsibility for the government of the state dur ing the next two years shall be di- vided between the two leading po- littcal parties. To one party has been given control of the general assembly and to the other has been entrusted ''the supreme executive power of the state" in association with officers of state belonging to the opposite party. The situation thus created, though not unprece- dented in the history of Connecticut. is an extreme instance of what may occur at any time under the Ameri- can form of government. As gov ernor I stand alone as the imme- diate representative, not of a party merely, but of all the people of the state. I have carefully studied my duties under a constitution which confers upon the governor certain advisory powers in regard to legisla- tion and an important influence upon the courts in connection with
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
Waterbury We'll
 Represented
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(Continued from Page l.)
 To- night, at the inaugural ball in Foot Guard hall, Waterbury will be represented by Senator and Mrs Reed, Senator and Mrs LaWlor, Rep resentative Mahaney and Mrs Mahaney and Representative Thoms and Mrs Thoms.
 Mayor Hayes to-day extended his best wishes to Governor Cross. Con- troller Daniel J. Leary, running mate of Governor Cross in the recent state election, was unable to go to Hart ford to-day due to press of business but sent his personal congratulations to the new chief executive of the state.
 Senator Lawlor was sworn in for another term at Hartford to-day and the oath of office was administered for the first time to Senator Reed and Representatives Mahaney and Thoms.
 The latter three were in Hartford at their respective party caucuses. The local democratic representatives supported Attorney John A. Mark man of Hartford for the democratic leadership of the house. However, Attorney Markham was defeated by Representative William M. CitrOn of Hartford by close vote.
 In the parade to-day in Hartford marking an important part in the in- auguration of Governor Cross three well known local persons partici- pated as members of the HOrsc- guard. This branch of the service has not been used in inauguration exercises since 1898.
 Lieutenant James T. Roche of West Haven, formerly attached to the local revenue office under the Wilson administration, was in the parade along with Sergeant George Bsset and Sergeant George Scott, hot h of this city
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

outlying districts, tied in with the state roads and trunk lines, so that all parts of the state may be readily accessible to farmers and city dwell lers alike. It is for you to work out proper program covering a num-
 Der of years. l await in pleasant anticipation an opportunity to ap- prove a bill for rural roads such as you may agree upon for the purpose by proper allocation of the income from the gasoline tax and motor vehicle registration fees. Again, request that you take action during the first months of the present ses- sion of the general assembly.
 A PENSION SYSTEM
 FOR AGED PERSONS
 It is but step from the relief of the unemployed and the tuberculous to the relief of the aged who in their latter years fall into poverty and dis tress with no children or other near relatives able to assist them. For them now it is usually lover the hill to the poorhouse." Throughout the country, church, labor, humanitar- ian, and other organizations are en- deavoring to find a substitute for this repulsive institution, which, though centuries old, first began to assume it's present character a hun dred years ago with the dominance of the laisseZfaire theory of govern ment in the United States and Great Britain. You are all aware how Charles Dickens, in novel after novel. intervened to stay the onward march of q relentless competitive system h oh hnu n errip d f1naN poor and the unfortunate. There must always be hospitals for .he poor and aged sick, unless they can be cared for in the existing hospi tals. But for aged persons who, though not i'll, are in distress, as many as twelve states have enacted an old Age Pension Law. At this time l will not tax your patience with an array of figures dealing with the cost of a pension system, the number of people who would probably be affected by it, and much miscellaneous data. I prefer now to advocate the principle and to urge upon your legislative committee to marshal all the facts from the ex- perience of other states pertinent to the subject with view to early ac- tion after full and careful delibera- tion.
 INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
 DURING NEXT BIENNIAL PERIOD
 It is hardly necessary for me to Say that proposed expenditures of unusual magnitude should be kept within expected income during the next biennial period. As a general principle, I am opposed to the crea- tion of a permanent debt except in cases of great emergency. There is. I think, fallacy involved in the position generally taken by states and municipalities that so-called capital outlays should be financed by bond issues. The argument for this policy appears to me to rest upon a false analogy drawn from private business. The capital outlays of pri- vate business are made on the expec- tation that they will earn interest and amortization with the chance of something more in the way of profit. A private business concern always aims to keep solvent, with liabilities that are offset by at least equal as- sets. The situation is quite different in the business of a government.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
ANTICIPATION OF THE OF THE STATE

As l have considered the role l am to play in the affairs of the state, have also been impressed, as some of my predecessors have been, with the lack of system in the organiza- tion of its business as result of amorphous experiments from time to time during the last century. With the vast amount of work now undertaken by the government, common sense would seem to de- mand that the various parts of the machine be fitted into one another as in any business enterprise. and so regulated that the work may be
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
WOMEN APPROXIMATE

Berlin. UP). In Europe there are IS million more women than men. according to a statistical cal culation. Germany has 3,000,000 000,000 and Russia 4,000.000. Por- tugal is declared to be land where women form the highest proportion of the population.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
Political Career Of
 This Poor Farm Boy
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lines of soldiers presenting arms and went to the executive chambers to awaited summons from the general assembly. had accomplished it's or ganization after holding it's initial session at 10 a. m.
 Administration of the oath of of- flee before the assembly is a depar- ture from customary procedure, most new executives having taken the oath in the governors office.
 Batteries of sound cameras were arrayed in the house chamber to
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

Hartford Conn January - Dean Wilbur Cross of Yale, who assumed the role of today delivered inaugural message followed closely the lines of his campaign last fall He gamut from the judiciary utilities and unemployment forgetting the old pension which he ascrbed accepting the nomination
 He advocates nlacing of all put the judiciary sound basis In order elevate the governor asks that wohrd of the assembly be necessary instead of majority poll reminder the his advocacy thirty period adjourn of the general assembly, which the governor sign
 He calls for patnhp against paisanship state business basis and opportunity for gradually evolve model type of government.
 An emergency committee aid in unemployment hand be called also advocated well legislation provide work programs for the jobss.
 His pledge hosptalzaon tubecu kep; well his desire the dirt the out of the mud
 He calls for study of the old prohibition the powers of the public utilities broadned and changes in the plan He also seeks for ex-servicemen.
 The address follows:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

ment has been increasing from month to month. He said he based his estimates on the census, Amer ican Federation of Labor figures and reports of statisticians
 Copeland said the estimate of un- employed indicated 10 per cent of the 46,000,000 salary and wage earners in the United States were jobless. Referring to relief efforts, the senator said 5000 had been sell ing apples in New York and it had done some good for a few weeks but then became a racket"
 "Chara cteristic of New York;" re- piled Woods.
 Characteristic of all big cities. !" said Copeland
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
Wants Right To Name Judges For All Connecticut Courts;
 Would Redeem Campaign Pledges

should be extended to the judges of city, borough, and town courts. To this end l recommend the neces- sary revision of our procedure. This Is the least that should be done. With a view to improvement in the administration of justice 1 recom- mend an increase in the number of judges of the superior court, and l approve in principle an act recom- mended by the judicial council of Connecticut that in place of the courts there be substituted q district court system in which all judges shall be appointed by the governor and confirmed by the house and the senate. The recommendation of the judicial council, if carried into ef- feet. would bring for the first time in the history of Connecticut all our courts into one integrated system. l cannot speak too strongly in favor of the proposal made by a body of our most eminent jurists.
 THE VETO POWER
 The governors negative power over legislation also needs to be strengthened. The people of the state are, I daresay, generally un- aware that the governors veto may be overridden by mere majority in the two houses of the general as- sembly. This is not in accord with the provisions of the constitutions of most of the states of the Union, which. in general follow the federal Constitution in requiring two- thirds vote in both houses to over come a veto. It may be conceded that there is q presumption in favor of any measure passed by the gen. eral assembly, but if a governor after careful consideration is forced to the conclusion that a particular measure is ill-advised, he should be able to exercise not a formal but real veto against it. This, I appre- hend, is a true function of his office in the interest of the people. Ac- cordingly, I recommend that proper action be taken towards an amend ment to our Constitution making two-thirds vote in each house of the general assembly necessary to over- come veto of the governor.
 TIME LIMIT FOR GOVERNORS APPROVAL OF BILLS
 In view of the recent decisions of the supreme court of errors in the McCook and Preslin cases, l recom- mend that there be submitted to the people an amendment to Section 12 of the Fourth Article of the states Constitution so as to give the gov ernor thirty days from the final ad- journment of the general assembly in which to approve bills presented to him. In the meantime a joint resolution should be passed provid- ing for a recess of the general as- sembly at least ten days before it's legal expiration. This course is made necessary because of the in- ability of the governor to examine carefully the many bills presented to him towards the close of a session and to take proper action in regard to them within the time now pre- scribed by the Constitution. As the general assembly meets only in al- ternative years, much business ac- cumulates. It will be of advantage to the general assembly as well as to the chief executive if all commit tees proceed as rapidly as adequate deliberation warrants with such mat ters as are referred to them. In this way the usual congestion in the last days of session may be avoided.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
NATIONAL
 PROHIBITION

A large majority of the citizens of Connecticut are dissatisfied with the results of national prohibition. This is clearly an inference to be drawn from the recent election. The eigh- teenth amendment, you will recall, was never ratified by the general assembly, which was unwilling to cede to the national government rights originally reserved to the states under the federal Constitution. It is quite unnecessary for me to present here a picture of the graft, corruption, and violent crimes in tional prohibition. You have also observed as well as myself an in- creasing use of distilled liquors by the younger generation and so great a disrespect of law among all classes as to threaten the foundation of civil government. I would that all per- sons obeyed the law. I would that all persons were temperate in their habits. But it has been shown once more in history that mankind can not be made good under compulsion. Temperance is virtue to be incul- cated in a people by education and persuasion. What Chaucer said of his village parson centuries ago still holds true for all of us:
 To drawen folk to heven by fairnesse By good ensample, this was his bisy-
 nesse.
 There is no entrance into the King dom of Heaven through jails and prisons.
 It is my conviction that the only way out of the morass in which we are laundering is the ultimate repeal of the eighteenth amendment and the return of the control of the manufacture and sale of intoxicating liquors to the several states under such laws as may be in accordance with the best public opinion. which would not, I apprehend, support the return of the old saloon system. It would still remain the function of the national government to regulate the commerce in intoxicating liquors between the states
 If you agree with me, trust that you will express your disapproval of national prohibition in ways you deem most appropriate. It would be perfectly proper for you to me- morialize congress on the Volstead act and the eighteenth amendment. Under favorable circumstances we might request the legislatures of other states to join with us in an duplication to congress for a Con- stitutional convention for the repeal of the eighteenth amendment. The convention mode of amendment provided by the federal Constitution has never been employed, though it was preferred to the usual mode by Abraham Lincoln. Indeed, had Lin- coin lived, it is likely that a con- vention would have been called to take slavery out of the federal Con- stitution. He favored the conven- ton mode, he said. "in that 1t allows
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

Calls for Broader Powers in Respect to Public Utilities Commission, Seeks More Beds for Tuberculars, Emergency Committee for Unemployed, Extension of Time in Which Governor Can Sign Legislative Bills and Asks Study of Old Age Pension Plan
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
THE BUILDING PROGRAM

You will be asked to consider a comprehensive building program
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07
THE OPPORTUNITY FOR A MODEL GOVERNMENT

The great body of intelligent cit izens have become convinced that government is likely to be good in so far as it Is severed from political considerations in a narrow sense. In the present stage of knowledge gov- ernment cannot be essentially scien- tific as it may become at some time. In the natural sciences. knowledge rests upon the firm and sure basis of great laws and formulations, which. however much they may be modified by succeeding generations of inves- tigators, still remain unmOVed from their original foundations. In con- trast, very few economic and social principles lying behind good govern ment have universal application. For the most part they are tenta- tive and empirical. As yet there has appeared no Darwin in the sci ence of government and perhaps none will ever appear because of the great complexity of social phenom- ena. Still. much has been accom- plished within the present century in the study of all those human re- lations which pertain to good gov- ernment and the welfare of the peo- pie. As I have read the current reports of various boards and com missions, I have not failed to ob- serve the extent to which those in control have been assisted by ex- perts in the fields they cover. Nor have l failed to observe that some times the most has not been made of accessible knowledge. There is no state in the Union more happily situated than Connecticut. with her admirable schools, colleges, and uni versailles, for the establishment of model government in all it's branches. Such an achievement may be brought about in the course of years by wise concerted action. It is our business to advance that day.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

done with efficiency, economy, and centralized responsibility. The sub- ject, I observe, received the atten- tion of the general assembly in 1915 and 1919, and again in 1921, when the draft of a bill was submitted to the one proposed in 1921 would, am sure, give great satisfaction to the people of the state as well as to ourselves. l, therefore, recom- mend that a special joint commit tee be immediately appointed by the general assembly and that it be ask ed to begin work at once so that a report may be made by the first of March, in time to make the ap- pointments which would be neces- sary in accordance with the new plan. So early a report is made practicable by the fact that the ground has already been covered in reports of previous committees and commissions. There awaits us a great accomplishment if we seize the opportunity at hand.
 In the meantime 1t will be my pleasure as well as my duty to ac- cept things as they are and to CO., operate with you in all measures for the welfare of this great and grow ing commonwealth. l shall be ac- cessible for such conferences as you may desire to have with me. AL ready 1 have been assured by many of you of an attitude like my own and of quite the same aims. If there Is one outstanding inference to be drawn from the recent election, it is that partisanship in Connecticut shall recede into the background and give place to partnership in the conduct of public affairs. This is the clear call of the people, who will observe how far we may suc- ceed in the task they have imposed upon us. In the end they will pass Judgment upon our stewardship.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-01-07

i When, for instance, money is put into a penitentiary it is not an in- vestment in the strict meaning of the word. It will never yield inter- est or provide funds for amortiza- ton by the time it is worn out by use. In general it cannot be liqui- dated; it is not an asset which can offset a states bonded or floating debt. Despite the false analogy which I have pointed out. do not l mean to argue that a state govern ment is never justified in borrowing: it is justified in so doing in order to meet the expense of some extra ordinary undertaking which will not be repeated in the near future and which it is necessary that the people have in advance of the revenue with which to pay the cost. But as I as- sume office, I can now see no such emergency. Nor do I regard this an opportune time for any increase in taxation; for that would be a deter rent to the revival of business as well as hardship for the public at large. At the end of the present fiscal year there will be an accumu- lated surplus, which. submit, may be safely drawn upon, to some ex- tent, for unusual expenditures.
 REIMBURSEMENT OF
 TAX BURDENS
 In the opinion of many there should be some readjustments in the tax burdens. The income of our towns and cities is now derived largely from tax on real estate. This class of wealth, which repre- sents less than twenty per cent of the total wealth of the state, is pay ing fully sixty per cent of the cost of our schools, and our town, county, and state governments. So large a tax on real estate not only affects the owner and the rent-payers; it also enters materially into the cost of the products of manufacturing concerns. AS it becomes more and more burdensome, it may compel some of our industries to move to more favorable locations, for they now have to compete on equal terms with similar industries in several other states. A situation has grad ually developed which should be in- vestigated. Accordingly, with the aim of more equitable distribution of the tax burden and the relief of our industries. or rent-payers. and our real estate owners, I ask your consent to appoint commission to whom may be referred the entire question which is here raised.