The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-19
Politics
 -in- 

Passing By RAYMOND ,. FITZPATRICK
 After legislative reporters had been tipped off from Republican ytate headquarters for two days previous that something big" in he news line would come out of the opposition in the Sen- lte to the bill banning states attor- neys from private practice and pol- tics, 1t was an anti-climax Thurs day when the debate not only failed to develop something big" but act- ually made reporters wonder If COP. leaders weren't underesti- mating the intelligence of the peo- pie of the state. Instead of the fortnight and honest attack on the bill that we had been told to expect we found Q vague and evasive set of Objections that didn't make sense. The Republican minority leader In the Senate, Senator William J. Shea of Manchester, who made the main speech against the bill, and a we'll prepared one, too could find no real objection to the bill and thd to crate at length on the ground that 1t was Q Democratic "reprisal' against States Attorney Hugh M. Acorn, Sr., of Hartford, and his son, Hugh M. Alcorn, Jr, who is both assistant states attorney and Speaker of the House. Both directed the conspir- acy investigation and subsequently, were prosecutors in the Waterbury conspiracy trial.
 The bill would, in brief, prohibit states attorneys from using the prestige of their office in influenc- ing juries in civil cases in which they are employed by private cli- ents, and would man them from activity on behalf Of any political party.
 Under our antiquated jury se- lection laws, the jurors in both criminal and civil cases are chosen from the same list, and 1t Is only natural that jurors who hear a states attorney argue successfully against someone guilty Of a hein- ous crime should give more weight to his arguments in a civil case than to those of Q lawyer who has no official title. Furthermore the same jurymen serve year after year.
 As for the non-politics provision, that seems badly needed. One need go back only Q few years to recall states attorneys running for the office Of governor without resigning their court positions. And cur .ently we find states attorneys in xveral counties up to their necks in ,olitical give-and-take that adds lothing to the dignity of their office r of the courts In which they serve.
 T.le Republican spokesman against the bill sought to create the impression that Senate Demo- crats were supporting 1t in re- prisal against States Attorney Hugh M. Alcorn, Sr., and his son, Hufh, Jr.. for their direction of the Waterbury investigation and theic prosecution of the subsequent con piracy trial. Tn fact, Senator William J. Shea, the Republican floor-leader made much of the fact that similar bill, killed in 1889, was introduced by Represen- tatiye Hugo Guastaferro of Water- bury while the conspiracy trial was in progress. Listeners were sup posed to gather from this that the Democratic organization in Water bury was the principal sponsor of the bill and was out solely to "get' the Alcorns.
 What Senator Shea did not say was that Rep. Guastaferri won the nomination that sent him to Hartford principally because he was so vociferously anti-Hayes; or that his bill on states attorneys was one of @ lengthy series which he submitted, all having to do with the practice of law; or that he was the sponsor of a measure which would have forced Mayor Hayes from office while the trial was going on and place control of the city government in the hands of Q three-man commission chosen by the governor.
 , The Republican leadership will, presumably, keep the bill In com
 nittee In the House, but, should it reach the floor by any chance, will line up enough votes to kill it. Yet 1t is some mark of prog ress to have the bill passed by one : of the two chambers; 1t means
 one step in the right direction, and the other step may come
 when the subject is stripped of false arguments and the public
 impresses on legislators It's belief
 of the real need for reform In this { field.
 { Appointment fever has both Democrats and Republicans rum ming around the Capitol corri-
 dors in circles, while Governor
 Hurley keeps his own counsel. :. The suspense grows more and
 more unbearable for the "boys" < as they await word from the ex- ecutive offices. Meantime the
 governor keeps his eye on his
 legislative program, much of which
 is being held up by the Repub-
 ncan stall" tactics that have
 marked the current session. {.
 Many in both parties want to get
 the major appointments out of the
 way 50 they can start talking
 about judgeships but the gover-
 nor's stand hasn't given them
 any encouragement. At the
 moment 1t appears that Governor
 Hurley would not be at all dis
 pleased to have the two houses
 disagree on minor court appoint
 ments, thereby leaving the places
 for him to fill by interim appoint
 AN..