The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-29
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 1881
Dilatory Tactics

The republican party of Connecticut finds itself in an unusual position today. For once. since it has dominated state politics, it is without defender. Its mistakes of com mission and omission throughout the legisla- tive session are so manifest that even the most ardent supporter of the party is turning away in disgust and predicting nothing but utter rout for the party at the polls in Mo- vember. 1932. The filibuster of yesterday was but the elimination of series of efforts upon the part of the minority to secure action from the majority It may not be wise to praise Minority Leader Citron's "dilatory' motions as House Leader Johnson termed them. but certainly we can't find anything nice to say about the delay in reporting Gov ernor Crosss judicial appointments.
 We haven't yet heard the House Leader. Mir Johnson, who is also House Chairman of the Judiciary Committee. offer logical excuse for the committees ignoring the statute which requires bills to be reported within six days of the time they were referred. Of course, there isn't any excuse for the com mittee holding up the appointments. Ger tainly if there is doubt of the constitutional ity of the statute giving the governor power to make appointments to the court of com- mon pleas there will be just as much ques- ton about committee reports rendered after the time limit has expired We made this statement in all seriousness Monday. If the Supreme Court of the state can invalidate over thousand laws because the governor failed to sign them within the three day limit why can't it invaidate appointments that the Judiciary Committee has held up beyond the time limit?
 We doubt if it even is the eonstitutonaty of the law that is preventing the committee reporting on the five common pleas judges whom Governor Cross named almost two months ago. Probably it is desire upon the part of the republicans to indulge in little pickering trading that they won't lose too much political patronage. They refuse to permit the governor to name bis own choices Witness the rejection of Pro- lessor Richard Joyce Smith for the public utilities commission who would have brought to this important state body all the necessary qualifications. And not in spirit of disrespect do we state that his quali- fications surpass those that any of the present members of the commission could have offered WNeH tney WeIe lHSl ndIIleu. u IS Su(Il IllIC incidents as that which make everybody suspi cious of the present siege.
 When the Hartford Courant will Say that Tn session which has been marked by stupid performances, the republicans in the General Assembly putting on their worst exhibi- ton with regard to the judicial nominations. Only an amazing blindness to the inevitable consequences explain such contempt, not alone for the law, but for public opinion" it is high time that the rest of the state be- came more than normally interested in the activities on Capitol Hill. It can't be that the constitutionaity of the law governing common pleas court appointments was just discovered. It is just that in former years republican governors did the appointing. All was well in republican ranks so let the dem ocrats shell peas. They don't this state. But there is democrat doing appointing this year, hence the desire to curb his power, 10 check bis independence of spirit. Hence the unbelievable display of partisan politics by the republican gang that never knew re- straint. It certainly time for change last year. Let's have more of them in l932.