The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-01-18
Politics
 in Passing

Passing BY RAYMOND ]. FITZPATRICK
 As the Slow-moving democra-
 tic process by which the legisla-
 1ative branch of Connecticut state government functions gets creak- ingly underway and the General
 Assembly ends its second week of session, it is possible to get a hint
 or two of the feelings and trends
 that will be in evidence at Hart
 ford during the next few months. Early action in senate and house
 and committee appointments fur nished one set of clues, talk in
 the corridors and cloak rooms gave some more, and others could
 be picked up in one channel or
 another.
 For one thing, both Republi-
 cans and Democrats display a
 surprising confidence that irnpOr-
 tant legislation can be passed at
 the session without undue par
 tisan opposition. The ability of
 the two parties to get together
 was demonstrated by the way in
 which rules were adopted to fa-
 cilitate action by the separate
 committees set up in each cham
 ber. There was also bipartisan
 agreement on change designed to speed up procedure by dispOsing
 of unfavorably reported bills more
 quickly.
 Much of the trouble that will develop will probably come within the parties. This is particularly true of the lower chamber, where the Republicans have a 184-88 margin. As was to be expected, many rural legislators are unwill- ing to embrace the "new liberal ism" represented by State Chair man J. Kenneth Bradley and the party's legislative program. The Democrats likewise may have an uprising or two, though probably of . minor sort.
 It is abmdantly clear that the Republican state organization plans to take an active part III the session, and that MT. Bradley and his state central committee lieutenants will not leave to G. O. P. leaders in the assembly the task of guiding desired legis- lation. This has of course been the practice in the past, but 1t has been done quietly from be- hind the scenes rather than with the press releases and other fan fare now being employed.
 MT. Bradley, as a politician astute enough to win his way back from the obscurity to which he was consigned several years ago and ascend to the state chair manship, will no doubt be ready to strike a compromise with the Democrats to enable the passage of legislation desired by both parties. His problem may be to win full Republican backing in the G. o. P. house to guarnatee enough votes for progressive measures which will send shivers up and down the spineS of many a Republican representative.
 Gov. Hurley this week em- phasized his intent to fight for adoption of the entire legislative program he outlined in his in- augllral address. When he told his press conference Thursday that he planned to delay his major appointments until later in the session and that he believed Legislation more important than appointments, he intended to leave no doubt in the minds of Republican leaders that he would not sit back quietly if the bills he believes necessary are blocked or delayed by political opposition. It was a polite, but direct, hint to the G. O. P. that he was ready to strike back if necessary.
 Waterbury will have its best committee representation at this session since 1887, when separate committees functioned as is the case this year and Senators Jo- seph H. Lawlor and George T. Culhane shared a number of hn- portant committee chairmanships and assignments. Senator Michael V. Blansfleld failed to make the judiciary committee, as one re- porter phrased 1t, but he won an important honor for freshman" senator when he was made chair man of the finance committee. Senator Edward P. Egan was not named to the cities and boroughs committee, but did go on the nor mally more important appropria- tions committee. Each of the two senators received three other com- mitte appointments.
 Organization of the two houses without the bitter fight that marked the opening of the 1889 session paved the way for har m0nious opening days. The honey moon will not last too long but there seems to be a marked dis position to avoid wrangling and settle down to constructive legis- latiOn. May it be so.
 Potpourri. .. .Ex- x-Senator George T. Culhane is reported to have several important bills near ly ready for submission to the legislature. .Hagmon A. Gen. lot of this city will represent the Retail Liquor Dealers Board of Trade at this session, as he has done at the past several sessions. H. Amos is one of the most familiar figures at the Capitol. Attorney Charles Summa, a fre- quent visitor to the legislature in 1889, has been on hand at two of "a. AW-k