The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-02-14
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY IA, 1883
Special Sessions

Now that it has been reliably confirmed that there will be a special session of the 73rd congress called shortly after the in- ausuration of President-eleet Franklin D. Roosevelt everybody's thoughts seem to be running in that direction, At least they are in Connecticut for it seems to be the con- census that the Connecticut legislature will be forced to hold special session if it is to transact all the business now before it. The sixth legislative week ended last Friday. To-day begins the seventh. Of the 2.20O odd measures introduced for consideration scant few only have received attention. Re- sardeS of where the blame should be placed it doesn't seem possible that the general as- simply can wade through the many import ant bills awaiting their attention in the al- loted time,
 Under an amendment 10 the state con- stitution adopted loll-l2 The General Assembly shall adjourn sine die not later than the first Wednesday after the first Monday in June following it's organiza- ton, .'' That leaves less than four months for the legislators to decided null titudc of judgeships local bond issues, un- employment relief, old age pensions, changes in existing tax methods, new sources of rev. enue for towns, and host of public and private matters brought before them for &C., ton. Can it be done in four months? It doesn't seem possible at the rate the l.egis- laturc is now proceeding, But once the question of court patronage is ironed out we certainly look for speedy enactment or rejection of the thousands of bills
 Special sessions of the Connecticut Legis- lature are few and far between. The last one we had was in 1929 and only lasted d day. It was absolutely necessary and wasn't for the purpose of tranSacting unfinished business in the ordinary sense of the term Most people may recall the Supreme Court ruling in the famous MeCook case in which the state sought to condemn property ad- jseent to the Seaside Sanatorium in Mantle SO that il might acquire it. Not only was the state denied the right to secure the prop crty by condemnation, but it was brought out that some 1900 statutes were invalid due to the fact that they had not been sign.
 cd by the chief executive of the state within the legal limit prescribed by Connecticut law. These statutes dated back to about the administration of Charles A, Templeten. A special validating act was sufficient to give them full authority, but it required the con- vcning of the Legislature to accomplish thlS'
 There was a special session of the LesiS' lature on Tuesday, September l4, 1920, Of one day duration. In 1918, March 19 and 20, the Legislature was also in session, as was in 1916 on Tuesday September Z' These latter two occasions were prompted by the fact that many residents Of the state were in service and at the time and unable to vote at the presidential and state elections Legislation was passed 10 permit absentee voting, At the 1920 session the Legislature ratified the nineteenth amendment to the federal constitution granting the right to vote to women. Save these four instances the General Assembly has not met in special sess,on since it started holding them blennl' ally back in 1887,
 As 10 lengthy session. that of l9 seems 10 hold the record, Members gathered at Hartford on Wednesday, January 4' and remained there until Tuesday, September 26. In 1909 they were in session until Au' gust 24 and in 1907 until August l. The September ending, however spelled the end lof long g-drawn out sessions, It was then the legislators voted 10 adjourn not later than a certain date And they have managed 10 do that ever since. Two years ago the session was over on May 27. But this year is another year and unless our legislators cease their pickering and show more action they'll be in the trenches until next Thanksgiving.