Year: 1874

CONVENTION BEING CALLED AT THE fhEsENi


sEssIoN-sAvINGs BANK REFORM


lFRoM AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuSEI


NEw-HAvEN, June S.-TO-mOrrOw the Con-
neccut Legislature enters upon the sixth week OF its
session. Thus far the Democratic majority have thrown
their intellectual weight mainly upon the division OF the
spos OF Office, and they still wrestling with tnas
vexed question The Democracy have not had fui play
before in &c years. and under the circumstances Is not
remarkable that the loaves and fishes" are uppermost
in their minds For every official hole there are at least


dozen pegs in waiting. and the parceling out OF the
plunder accordingly becomes difficult and delcate
matter Next to the SeDaOrship, the most important
Offices in the Gift Of the Legislature are the superior
Court Judgeships Three vacancies existed on the
Superior Court bench year ago. and the caucus nom
nations. both Democratic and Republican, to I'LL those
at the last session disaseful TO the
bar Of the State and manfestly unfit to be made that
the best men Of both parties refused to be bound py
them. and the Legislature adjourned without accom-
pishng election. Early the present session
project set foot to Increase the number OF judges
by two the ground the present judicial force
inadequate to transact the business OF the
courts with that dispatch which the convenience OF
demanded II claimed by those who favored
that OF late business had accumulated 10
rapidly the dockets Of the court to make 1t impos
sble TO obtain hearing within three years from the
time SUIT was entered But the general sentiment OF
the bar and of the press Of tho State was decidedly op
posed to the creation Of udgeshps, and In defer
ence that sentiment the Democratic caucus fort
night ago voted down the proposed increase by very
large majority. The caucus decision was supplemented
last week by a unanimous vote OF the Judiciary CON-
mittee report adversely bills increasing the num-
Der OF judges raising their salaries from 1900 to 5000
per annum pensiOning those who retire from the
bench at the OF TO- after years OF Judical service
In the hearing before the judiciary Committee 1t was
shown that the number Of days occupied ny the
judges during the past year in holding court was less
than 15O The statistics presented to the Committee by
Mr.. r. d. Hubbard Of Hartford, Democratic leader,
OF the abest lawyers in the State who appeared
opposition increasing the number Of Judges were
simply unanswerabe The increase in the expenses OF
the State Judiciary during the past ten years has been
enormous, and far greater proportionately than
the increase OF legal business. The caucus de-
cision and the action Of the Judiciary Com
mittee, taken in connection, indicate pretty con-
cusvely that no additional udgeships will be created
this year. and mako the selection Of candidates for the
existing vacancies q matter of little difficulty In view
OF the large number OF aspirants for the Bench Inc
prospect now is that the successful candidates will be
Sidney B. Beardsey OF Fairfield County, Roland Hitch-
cock OF Litchfed County, ana Earl Martin or Windham
County. Mr.. Beardsey is Republican In politics. ana
a lawyer Of extensive practice and acknowledged
ability. The Democratic members Of tho Legislature
from his county, under tho lead Of Senator Wheeler
nominated him by nearly unanimous vote, the only
opposing candidate being Gideon II. Holster Senator
elect Eaton attempted to get through the general Demo-
cratic caucus resolution that all the vacancies should
be filled by members Of the dominant party, on the
ground that the Bench would be equally divided politi-
cally should such be adopted. The resolution
failed to carry but 1t is understood that Mr. Eaton VIII
abandon the effort Mr. Hitchcock is at present. Judge OF
the cheld County District Court and In that position
is said to have acquitted himself credtaoly. Mr. Mar
tin Democratic politician OF some local prominence
and few years since the candidate of his party for
Congress in the lid District against Mr. starkweather
No one claims that he is great lawyer, aud his eleva-
ton to the Bench. II it is brought about, will result
wholly from the shrieks Of locality.


THE MINOR OFFICES.


The Insurance Commssionership, an important office
which $500 salary is attached, has been eagerly
sought after by number Of gentlemen who based
their claims TO the position on the value OF ser
rendered to the party. The Governor last week
nominated for this Office John W. sedman editor
The Norrich Advertiser, and the nomination was
promptly confirmed by the Senate


An effort will be made to take from the Legsla-
ture the power elect Railroad Commissioners and vest
the appointing power In the hands OF the Governor sub
iect to confirmation by the Senate bill contemplating
this change has already been Introduced and looked
upon with favor by the leading men OF both parties
The Commission as now organized, il admitted to be
very weak and inefficient


The question OF calling convention 10 revise tue
State Constitution has been extensively agitated during
the past year. Both parties in the platforms adopted
prior to the April election declared in favor OF submit
ting the question people, and in view OF this TACT
might be supposed that the Legislature would vote
almost unanimously favor OF such submission But as
party pledges have to be nothing moro than bum
combe hardly surprises any body to ascertain that inc
Legislature not likely at the present session. 10 give
the people opportunity to say whether OF not hey
desire convention be assembled. The advocates OF


os,,t,v t1a off ffiaaQ nd
towns which suffer from the present unequal system OF
representation in the Legislature. The country men,
bers however without distinction Of party may be re-
lied on to oppose the convention project very natu'
rally they are satisfied with the rotten borough system
that now prevails, whereby the smallest town IN the
State has as many representatives, on the foor OF the
House as the largest city, In the present state OF pub
lie opinion it will be very difficult TO bring about any
radical change In the system OF representation In 'ne
Iower House. The that the advocates OF constl-
utiona reform hope for in the immediate future Is
90 to redstrct the State that the Senate VIII DE In rac
as IL now ia in name, the popular branch OF the Legs
ature to overthrow township system that obtains
IN the election Of representatives must at present DC T
garded as an mpossiby. Amendments to the Constiti
ton passed in the House last year by majority vote,
giving to towns OF 500 inhabitants two represent
atves and providing for readjustment OF the sena-
toria districts basis Of population. Will be consid
cred this week. Should they prevail by two-thrds
vote they Will be submitted to the people for ratih
cation.


REPORT OF THE SAVINGS BANKS INVESTIGATION.


one of the important reports submitted ~ tne
Legislature at this Is that Of special commits
sion appointed q year since to examine the savings
hank. o the State The commission has done its work
with great thoroughness and It's report embodies vas.


mount OF valuable information as TO the conoioh anu
Management of savings institutions. The report SHOWS
some of the banks have been managed very loosely
have openly and pcrsiscnty violated the provisions OF
law as to the making OF loans aud have obtained more
rates of interest Among the special cases OF