davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11

unempIoyablc." Whatever may be the ultimate policy Of the federal government. the time has come for the state to assume q large part of the cost of relief which has been borne by the municipalities.
 It should be observed that the special tax commission wiiich was appointed two years ago to study our tax laws, definitely Srecom- mends that "an appropriation be made by the state from it's general fund for expenditures for local outdoor charitable relief and that the revenues of the general fund be increased to meet this appro- priation by the enactment of tenn .. porary emergency taxes" in ac-' cordance with q plan described in detail In the commissions report. It is further recommended that the emergency relief commission which was created two years ago be con- tinued for four years more as the distributing agency for state and federal funds. With the general purport of this recommendation of the special tax commission 1 am in full accord.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11

nectlon with our humane and cov- rectlve institutions.
 Tn the circumstances. may l sug- gest for your confederation, thnt provision to meet the cost of old age pensions be made by some form of special tax unquestlOnabIy stable in character. There could be for this purpose. 1t seems to me, no more just and appropriate form than Q state poll tax. for such tax would embrace all citizens dur Ing the most active period of their lives before old age comes on. For carrying out a building program [ have reasonable assurance that the federal government is willing to make a grant covering thirty per cent of the cost. In order 10 avoid the issuance of bonds for necee- sary capital Improvements you would be justified in my opinion in drawing temporarily no less than six million dollars from the high way income during the next bien- nium. You will see the reasonabie- ness of this procedure when inc form you that nearly as much Is being expended on highway mnfn- tenance and construction as on all other services of the state put to- gether. This Is not q good distri. button of income in a weli-ordered government. would also extend the spread of our building pro- gram from two to four years if such action appears to be neces- sary to keep expenditures within income. A balanced budget is the first and underlying principle Of sound government.
 There is much else in my mind which I must leave unsaid. For a more detailed view of the business of the state refer you to the re- ports of the various departments which are to be submitted to you. You will, trust, agree with me that have carried out in reason- able degree that mandate of the Constitution which declares that the governor shall. from time to time. give to the General Assembly, in- formation of the state of the gov- crnment. and recommend to their consideration such measures as he shall deem expedient." May we per- form so well the work lying before Us that 1t will contribute In full measure to the welfare and happi- ness of the people of this common- wealth. In all our labors may we invoke the Divine Providence which has guided that great con pany who have come and go1a before us through the peace anI perils of three centuries of glorious history.
 WILBUR LUCIUs GROSS. Hartford. Janunry afh. 1895.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Ever since colonial days Con- nectlcut has been famous for her public schools. Connecticut was described by q French visitor of a hundred years ago as the home Of the clockmaker, the schoolmaB- ter, and the statesman. ''De fret" he remarked, give you time: dc second tell you what to do with him; and de sird make your law and your civilization"
 From the little red schoOlhousc at the crossroads or on the hill- side, such as the one in which Ma than Hale learned and others in which he taught, has been devel- oped q vast public school system up through schools, normal schools, q teachers college and, as it's climax, q state college with some characteristics of univer- sity. It is incumbent upon the state to maintain these institutions on plane of high efficiency. At this particular time the state col. legc is not fully equipped for car- rying forward certain activities which it has entered upon. It stands in need. for example, of proper library facilities and of new buildings for instruction in engi- nccring and in home economies.
 l subscribe to the ideal that tho children of the state, whether liv- ing in cities or remote districts, must have as soon as plan can be financed, equal opportunities for acquiring an education. In the fulfliment of this ideal, it will be necessary for the state to assume larger share than 1t Is now doing in tho total cost of public educu- tion. hope that beginning by way of partial equalization may be undertaken by the present General Assembly.
 You will also agree with me, I think, that we must now take steps towards the restoration Of the teachers retirement system to it's former reserve basis which has been suspended during the deprcs- sion. This action is necessary If we are to preserve the quality and dignity of the teachers profess sion,
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
: BANKING LEGISLATION

In line with his predecessors, the bank commissioner will submit for your consideration measures for further improvement of our bank ing laws and the enlargement of his powers in the light of recent experience. 1 commend them to your approval. The emergency banking ,acta passed by the last General Assembly,. which became effective lon my proclamationA of q banking emergency, arc still In force. I have not terminated the emergency for the reason that some of the Legislation, in the opinion of all whom have consulted, should be made n part of our banking laws in forge at all times.
 As In tho past I call to your at- tehtlon also the growing discon- tent of depositors with the high cost of the liquidation of closed banks. If this work were placed In the. hands of the banking depart ment under supervision of the su- pcrior court as recommended by the judicial council, 1t could be done for, only q fraction of the ex- pense now Involved in receiver ships. In the interest of long suffer- ing depositors who ultimately have to pay the bill, urge you to take favorable action. on plan for liquidating closed banks by the bank commissioner as Is the prac. tice in many other states.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
PUBLIC UTILITIES

It may be surprising to you that there has been no revision of our statutes regulating public utilities since 191 I, when the present com mission was created. Since that time there have arisen many reg ulatory problems which have been ipadequately met by q number of amendments, sometimes inconsls- tent with one another. Twice T have recommended to the General Ass sembly that our system of control be modornized in the light of iex. pericnce. but no favorable action has yet been taken. It has become clear to me that the public utili- ties statutes should be immediate ly revised so as to give the com mission larger powers over rates. over the issuance of securities. and over the merging of public utility corporations. With these needs in view. intend to submit for your consideration bill which will also include revision of certain other parts of the existing statutes. ! hope that this pill will appeal to you as proper basis for favorable action.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
PUBLIC WORKS PROGRAM

The program for public works already completed or ih progress under the federal emergency relief adpi!nistration,, in cooperation with municipalities or with the state, is of wide and intefesting scope. It comprises repairs to school build ings, libraries, town halls, fire houses, bridges; the construction of sewage qualification plants, res ervoirS. parks, and airports: traffic surveys, slum surveys. and surveys preliminary to an experiment Ain subsistence farming; m osqu it o elimination in certain districts along the shore. the control of tree diseases and variety of minor projects. Of large projects may be mentioned the construction of the Keney Park club house in Hart ford, the sewage disposal plant in Putnam, the Lafayette Athletic field in Shelton, the addition to Hillside home in Bridgeport, and q pavilion, and rccreational building at Rocky Neck mark
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
TAX LAW REVISION

In my first. inaugural four years, ago l requested of the General Assembly authority to appoint q commission to revise the tax struc-i ture of the state which. though adequate for a period Of prosperity. seenied to me 10 be too dubious as we were entering upon period of depression. The request was not granted. But when two years later the state was face to face with q deficit of four million dollars or. more. received the necessary authority to proceed with the ap- polntment of temporary tax com mission 10 study our state and municipal tax laws and to make recommendation concerning their revision. The complete and ex- haustive report is now available. For your convenience the commis- sion has prepared summary of the report.
 "No taxes can be devised" ,""i WashinGton remarked in his fare well address, (which are not more
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
DUTCH ELM DISEASE

The invasion Of the Dutch Elm disease is q matter of grave con cern. The infection has not yet spread far beyond Fairfield county except for. a few sporadic instances, as shown by q survey made of the entire state by the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station with the, assistance of G grant by the federal government. All infect. cd clms have been destroyed. The terrible menace Is, however, still with us. As soon as the trees begin to leaf, 1t will be necessary to re- sume work on the eradication of q disease which threatens the com plete loss of our beautiful clms. A few weeks ago Joined with the governors, of New York and New Jersey, swhcre the Infection Is more widespread than in Connecticut, in fl successful request for further H. nanci0l assistance from Washing ton. Thus funds have become available for the immediate remoV- al in certain areas of dead and dying elns wherein breed various formg of bark beetles which carry the disease from tree to tree. This mode of attack should reduce the beetle population and 50 les- sen the chance Of the disease get- ting out of control.
 So serious Is the situation that I intend to issue proclamation calling upon all landowners throu, hoht the state to cooperate with public agencies by reporting to the director of the experiment station any suspicious elms and by destroying all diseased eIms. what ever the nature of the disease. so that they may not become in their weakened condition | prey to the dread infection. Only by joint &C., ton can we preserve the heritage
 f our majestic eIms.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
THE GOVERNORS VETO

Twice also 1 have urged and I now urge again that the Constitu- ton be so amended as to give the Governor reasona bIe veto power, such as is possessed by the Presi- dent of the United States and by the governors of nearly all the states of the Union. The ques- tion has been often debated in our constitutional history. But no &C., ton has ever been taken. Still stands the provision that veto of the Governor may be overridden by q bare majority. In former days, 1t was common argument against requiring q two-thirds ma Jority in each of the two Houses of tho General Assembly that q mere majority was quite sufficient because the prestige Of the Gov ernor was so great that no Gen. eral Assembly would ever dare to fall to sustain his veto. That prestige has long since departed. The Governors veto of a bill is now quickly ovcrridden, with li.- tle or no debate, by pcarly the same majority that originally passed the bill, however ill-con- hidered the measure may be. The only way 10 restore 10 the Gov crnOr that role in legislation which was intended by our Constitution is an amendment which will not permit the passage Of a bill over his veto except by q thirds ma Jority In each House after full debate. Snap legislation is out of place in q dcliberativc assembly.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11

In order to meet old age pen- sion costs, the governor said, # probably will be necessary 10 im- pose an additional state poll tax and draw on the highway fund for at least $s,o00,00o for the next biennium.
 The pension bill provides a maximum of $7 weekly, with an additional g weekly for emer- gencies, such as sickness or dis Ability.l
 He also recommended revision of the liquor law to permit sale of hard liquor in bona fide" ho- teis, clubs and restaurants. but avoided advocating such sales in fayerfis which, he said, were too great in number and not restrict cd as to locality.
 s'Already taverns and so-calIed restaurants which. it is alleged, sell illegally hard liquor in resorts along the highways. have become c menace to life"
 The state, he said, should as- sumo . greater portion of muni- cipaf unemployment relief as there Is no liklIhood that the unemployment situation will be mitigated during the present year"
 Other recommendations inciud- cd establishment of 40-hour work week, stricter supervision of the milk industry, authorizing the bank commissioner to liquidate closed banks and approval of an fnstitutoinal building program, cs- timated 10 cost $f0,000,0O0, of, which the federal government would share 30 per cent.
 Mir President, Mir Speaker, and
 members of the General Asscm-
 bly:--
 Again I have been called by my fellow citizens to undertake the duties of the Chief Executive of this state. l appreciate the con- fidence which they have shown Tn my devotion to their cause. At the same time am appalled, by the difficult problems which await us, Little can be accomplished without full cooperation in meas ures directed solely to the public welfare in e period of storm and stress such as this country has not known since the reconstruction years immediately following the Civil war. Upon you as upon me repose grave responsibilities We must not fail. tsf4 s%5sgt
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
STATE INSTITUTIONS

Connecticut has also had an en- vable record fin the care of per. sons in distress whether from pov- erty, neglect, or disease. Equally has been her treat- ment of mature persons convicted of crime and of wayward boys and girls Of criminal tendencies. For q long period the burden of the care of these varied groups rested mainly upon the towns aDd the counties. But within the lnst cent ury. or more the burden has been shifting more and moro to tho state. Some of you may have read that towards q century ago Charles Dickens, humnnitRrian As
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
STATE PLANNING BOARD

On several occasions the General Assembly has been asked to mako an appropriation for an aerial map by the highway, military. park and forestry, agricultural. water. and tax commissions. Favorable action has never been taken on the re- quest because of the cost. An op. portunity occurred year ago to Planning Board. Subsequently ap- this and other pr05ecte on the as. Federal oovernment. winch wes duly received. This map gives us fof the first time ( complete roe-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
UNEMPLOYED RELIEF

The employment situation still remains very grave, notwithstand- ing the marked Improvement in the manufacturing inc dus rics which have absorbed in the aggrc- gate q large number of Idle work CTS. At the present time, the num- Der of persons in Connecticut re- ceiving unemployment relief is somewhere near hundred and fifty thousand. The state and the municipalities have been mater tally relieved of this heavy burden by large grants made by various agencies of the federal govern mcnt, amounting within the last twenty months to approximately thirty-four million dollars. for state and local relief, including food and clothing. and for pro- Jects covering road building and general public works. TbIrty-four million dollars is il vast sum. It ex- cceds by three million dollars the entire income of the state from taxation for the fiscal year ending the business of the state including the expenditures of the highway department.
 Outside of continuing grants for road building. the state and its subdivisions are now receiving from the federal government somewhat more than million dollars month. These funds ar. allocated. by an emergency relief commission created by the last general assembly. Tbere Is no ilkeii. hood that the unemployment situ- alton will be greatly rnitIgated dur ing the present year, for the req son that until the complete resto- ration Of busineHs conditions. fam IiIos who go off relief rolls are certain to have their places taken. 10 some extent. by other families who come Op relief because of cx. hausted savings. How long WaShs iEgton will continue It's present policy Of grants Ia uncertain. it has already been announeed that there 10 to be no further aid for 'fhe
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
MERRITT HIGHWAY

I am also happy to inform you that substantIal federal aid has en- abled the state to proceed m c rapidly than was expected in the construction of the Merritt high way. Already have been let con tracts for building nine miles of q road destined to become ag park way of surpasslpg beauty rutnIng through Fairfield county to the New York line, where 1t will con- meet with parkways of Westchester county, .lG
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11

ord of the uses to which land is put throughout the state. The State Planning Board is now conducting studies of prime importance con. corning our natural resources. our people, and our industries. A sum mary report of the accomplish mkntsa of this fact-finding agency will be placed in your"hands in the hope that you will deem 1t wise 10 make the board q permanent body for discovering what Connecticut really is. No one now has this knowledge in any degree of com pleteness.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
HIGHWAY SAFETY

The tragic loss of nearly i've hundred lives on our highways within year. the Injury to thou- sands of persons, and the great property damage due 10 automobile trafilc demand immediate Iegisla. ton. 1 recommend an increase in our traffic enforcement agencies for patroiilng the highwAys. and semi- annual inspection of aIl vehicles to determine the condition of their safety equipment. ] also Fec0m.
 mend that authority be given 10 the department of motor vehlclep to supervise and Install. under comprehensive statewide plan, such
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
LABOR LEGISLATION

Within tho memory of men still living, Connecticut has passed from an agricultural into a highly industrialized state. Our agricuI- tural interests are indeed very great, and they are, 1 think, des- tined to become still greater; but they arc now out-balanced by our Industrial interests. For the pro- lection of labor in industrial areas there are many statutes, none as yet more important than the work mems compensation act. New evils as they show their heads must be met by new laws. Legislation Of the general assembly two years ago put an end to sweatshops az such, but conditions prevailing in sweatshops have been to q consid- erable extent transferred from the factory to. the home. Tn certain occupations women and children are still exploited in the matter Of wages and hours of labor. Under our statutes women may work ten hours day and fifty-Hve hours n week. Children may work eight hours q day and forty-eight hours q week. There is general agree ment, l think, that the work week for women and children should be reduced at once to forty hours and that Connecticut should unite with other states in Legislation re- ducing the hours of labor for all workers to forty hours per week, Irrespective of age or sex. Private employment agencies need dastic regulation. There Is really no good reason for their existence as most efficient state employment services have been provided by the state. acting with the federal government without expense to the worker or the employer. A series of construc- tive mcasures in the interest of workers will be submitted to you by the commissioner of labor and by the Federation of Labor for your earnest attention.
 Among these measures should be q revision of the statutes creat- ing board of meditation and arbi- tratlon. which has long since ceas- ed to function in the settlement of labor disputes because of its lim- lied powers. Within the last year, am glad to inform you. more than hundred labor disputes within the state have been ad- Justed by the commissioner of labor acting in conjunction with federal agencies
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
Old Age Pension
 Is Also Proposed;
 Asks Liquor Change
Governor Recommends Adoption of Tax Commissions Recommendations -Eiard Liquor Sales in Bona
 Eide" Clubs, Hotels, Restaurants Is Suggested
Hartford. Conn. January 1O

Hartford Conn, January 10 - (UP) - Governor Wilbur L. Cross in his inaugural message marking enceent of his third consecutive term democratic chief executive today strongly urged revision of the state tax
 up to increase and advocated old age pension and greater state responsibility in unemployment relief
 He recommended adoption of special tax study mission report providing for five per interest and dividends tax and emergency retail sales of per cent for period of four years estimated to net annually
The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-01-11
TEIfCENTENARY CELEBRATION

Tn times of doubt and uncer- tatuty there is always inspiration to hc drawn from the heroism of ouP forefathers who met and overcame difficulties which were for them greater than ours. This year of our Lord is destined to become memorable in the history of Connecticut fer statewide celebration marking the terccnten- ary Of our first settlements. While you are sitting here comfortably under q gllded dome, it is well to remember that three hundred years ago on this very day a little band of advcnturers from the Massachusetts Bay Colony were struggling through hard winter down by the great river at place we now call Wcthersiicld, living Tn roughly built log huts and scantlly provlsioned. And over by the mouth Of q river which had not yet been named Farmington WAS 4 smaller company of Plymouth mon who had established trad ing post there for dealing with the Indians.
 New migrations through 1885 anJ the great exodus from Massa-
 
 leadership of Thomas Hooker ss- sured the permanency of three plantations to be named Hartford, Windsor, and Wcthcrsfield. These first settlers fiinchcd at nothing. They came into a wilderness 10 stay. They organized their plan .tations into townships, setting the type of town government such as we have followed, with some vari- atiops, for three hundred years. Confronted almost immediately by a fierce war with the hostile Pe- duots, they stood shoulder to shoulder and quickly fought it through to complete victory. Such, gentlemen, was the spirit of the men who founded Connecticut. It was spirit that feared no obsta- cle: 1t was a spirit that was afraid of no face though it might be painted red.
 It is of particular interest 10 you and me as we assemble here that the three river towns set up al- most at once a General Court for their government. The first ses- sion of this court, comprising rep resentatives from each of the three towns, was held in Hartford on April 2B, 1G3B. This event marks the beginning of a form of self.government in Connecticut which has endured for three hun dred years. So important is this day in our history that we should observe 1t this year by inviting the chief justice of the Supreme Court Of Connecticut to address Us on that occasion.
 Three years later, early in 1899, the General Court formulated and adopted series of Fundamental orders creating complete system of government which, though modified in some respects by the charter granted by Charles the Second fn 1862, ultimately consoIi- 6atlng all the Connecticut settIe- Tuente, served as the basic prin- eiples of our government down 10 the adoption of our Constitution in ISIS. Indeed the Constitution of ISIS made very few essential changes tn our form of govern x.1ent that had been developed out ssof the principles laid down in the | zNund A rnenfnl OFdere