Norwich Bulletin Newspaper, January 7, 1909, Page 9

pa Recreancy to High and Honest Pnncnple Con- densed. The Betterment of the Public School System--More Satisfactory Methods of Government--Careful Attention to Daily Legis- lative Work Will Be the Slogan. Mr. President and Members of the General Assembly: n conformity with custom I address you today es a fellow servant with »ou of the public, feeling, as I am sure vou do, the great responsibility of the people’s trust. 1 should be far from candid if I did not at this time publicly express my appreciation not only of the honor but the gravity of their confidence, and my purpose So 10 act as to merit their approval. For your part I am sure that you too realize that you are responsible o the sovereign will for all your acts. You are the elected representatives of & highly intelligent and watchful pub- ¥e, which will not be slow to praise or blame, as you shall deserve. Bearing in mind these things, we should re- solve to subordinate all our private wims or prejudices to the common ®good and give the best that is in us to the mainenance of the proud tradi- tions of our beloved state. Gur tangible pos: ons and the eondition @ our finances do not meas- ure the well-baing of the common- wealth, but the state of our treasury at the opening of this new fiscal yedr’ smust impress upon us first the necessi- 1ty of putting forth our greatest efforts to conduct the public affairs with the strictest economy. This does not mean that we should go to the extreme & denying our support to needful agencies of government, but that we ehonld make every dollar of our re- gources count. Never before was there more urgent need of watchfulness that we do not as a commonwealth form habits of extravagance. The condition of onr treasury warns us. We must glve the financial branch of our administration “ghe same devotion that we do to our We are trustees, we gnay .find it to forget the fact, the constituents whno bhave given us their trust will not. At the same time questions of large | moral and eccnomic importance affect- ing the success, comfort and charac- ter of our people, will come hefore us, and in their wise treatment lies for us a great opportunity for service as weil es a great responsibilty. T invite syour attention to a reference to some ©of these matters, State Finances. treasurer’'s last report. I potice that the financial vear ending Eeptember 30, 1908, showed quite a change for the worse in ite condition. The year previous the state was not ouly able to mest all its obligations, but had @ surplus of cash on hand of ore than $265,000, but the last year the <tate ran behind over $800,000, ehowing a net indebtedness of $548.- $86.52. However, this is not all: the eappropriations granted for extraordl- wary- expenditures were mnot. fully Jdrawn last year and will he drawn ‘¢his year. Tt should be stated/ how - ever, that the greater part of this.de- fictt was provided for by an act of the fast general assembly authorizing the fasuance of bonds which have not yet been sold, owing to the low interest rate fixed by the act. 1t will be your duty to provide for the disposal of these bonds. Looking over the financial history of our commonwealth for the last fifteen years, it is very evident that we have weparted f our former policy of ving our bills, and have entered on career which, unless changed, wiil svithin the mext few years contract a farge bonded indebtedness. TIn view of these facts, T appeal to you, gentle- en, to practice the strictest kind of economy in the management of the wtate’s business. As trustees of the people’s money §t is our duty to desrease our expenses or increase our receinis. 1 am econ- vinced that we should Increase our revenue. The state treasurer recom- mends a state tax and an increase in our fnheritance tax. Whether one of theee two ways or some other way wouml@ be most desirable T will not wtop to discuss, but T advise in the mtrongest terms possible, legislation that will provide for an increase in the state's receints, as wéll as rigld economy in itz expenditures. Public Moneys. ‘The present methods of caring for the funds of the commonwealth, it would seem, are capable of much bet- s, private busine and however easy From the ¢erment. The state school fund is a eonspicuous example. This fund ds in vontrol of the commissioner of the school fund. while that not invested is in the treasurer’'s charge. The state treasurer is by virtue. of %is office treasurer of the school fund, and as he has control of the un- dnvested portion, he is the official log- 4cally to be placed in charge of the ymanagement of the entire fund. This ®aems mo self-evident that th& won, der js that the dual management has not long since been done away with in the interest of economy and effi- efency. Much of this fund Is invested out- =fde of the state. 1 can see no reason why, as fast as may he practicable, auch Investments should not be grad- ually withdrawn and placed in invest- ments within our own state, where it coul@ have a mart in contributing to our general prosperity Many of our state institutions pur- chase their own goods and pay bills through thelr own treasurers. In some cases the institution draws 1he entire amount of the appropria- tlon from the state treasurer, puts it on deposit i1 a local bank and pays it out through that institution. In some cases, I am informed. no interest is eceived on the deposits. Tt would seem to me more business- like to have a common disbursing officer, preferably the state treasurer, and see that the state receives inter- est on all moneys in hand. Such a plan would not prevent the state insti- tutions from keeping on hand a small fund for emergencies, and they could always have the wprivilege of making drafts upon the state treasur. er for funds as needed. A considerable part of our state funds is now on deposit at 2 1-2 per- cent, interest. T am of the opinion that under existing condittfons our everent funds would be rly sought by:-sound financial institutions te Officers. resent system of eleci- , the governor, secre- r, and comptroller are same time, and general- term only. titla sysiem, the bourd “flo board of egualiza Ag‘u.d endrely of e cMse foon after mv pndnum ook office. The boards heve Yery Inpnrnnt duties to and some of the members Gov. Lilley's Message to Assembly ECONOMY, EFFICIENCY, REFORM ‘The bill, if enacted, will substantial 1y abolish all legislation. It will sub- stantially aboiish the lobby, for it places the granting of franchises and of extraordinary powers, subject to reasonable regulations, in a permanent commission whose decisions must in writing and must specify the rea- cons therefor, whose members are ‘lllhjé(‘t to rz-mmul by the courts for cause, and whose grants of power must be in accordan with sniforn and general rule: “Phis bill provides for honest capitalization: it requires t proceeds of all securities to be honestly invested in the plant; it re- quires franchise rights to he used or surrendered; it probitits condemna- tion except after a fair hearing: it provides for reasonable rates: it pro- vides an efficient means for making repairs and changes in equipment essary to the safety of the public and of employes: it recodifiez, simpli- fies and renders uniform existing lez- The powers of the comm e should always hold over. The state treasurer and the comptroller, in my judgment, should be elected for not less than four years, and the terms of office should end two years apari, so that one at all times should be a holdover incumbent with experience. In another part of my message, 1 have suggesfed that the office of school fund commissioner be don away with, thereby putting {} finances under a single head. If t is done; in any event the treasurer should be elected for a longer term. Taxation. Our general system of taxation is one of the best; comprehensive in its scope, equitable in its incidence, and practical in its application. The stat- utory provisions relative to local tax should assure a continuous cone !ent poli The general assembiy in its legislative functions un diminished. This bill will furnish the foundation r a measure whigh 1 earnestly hone be passed without delay. My upon this matter have been fre- quently expressed in public and are well known. Crusade Against Tuberculosis. There is perhaps no question wh s commanding a more general popuia interest today than the privilege and duty of the state in the matter of the and cure of those afflioted wiih tuberculos The dreadful mortality | of the disease, and, ation, however, should be enforced its_contagiousness, equally in “the different towns. The 0“1 :he‘ouwlr hand, thv(su:{;rlsmg re} assessmen! pro v sis of | sults that have come in the way o . MRy o0 seletis 0 alleviation and cure from such simple full value, as required, is reasonable, businesslike and for the best interes: of the communities. Legislation look- ing toward the enforcement of stat- utory provisions in this respeet would be definitely beneficial to all towns not now on that ba Turther slight remedies as fresh air and nourishing food, have combined to enlist the act- ive efforts of us all in the fight of the Great White Plague. Recognizing Connecticut has a duty to perform in this matter. as stated in the platforms amendments are necded to raise the |Of both parties, my predecessor ap- standard of aunn.od valuation b, nted a special commission to in- insuring competent and experienced | Yestigate conditions in this state and 15 as to what 1 be the most of this comm to make recommendati form of legislatition effective. The rep assessors for a term of years with a possible change in the date of assess- ment g0 that the work may be done 4t the best time. sion bheen submitted to your care- | The statutes relative to the poll and [0l consideration. It is full and thor- military - taxes should be so amended | 2U&", ching the ion on o that the assessment and collection | #ides. luding tuberculosi: may be properly carried out on the | regulati and rerorm“m same basis all over the state. All re- | fenement house no less than. the ports concerning the military commu- of those suffering from pulmonary ulos *pun speaks for itself. But I sh. x»poalmx what 1 said in publ tation taxes should be made to the tax commissioner as a part of the work of that department, instead of to the adjutant general. Instead of having |0, expre my strongest PRESORAS the enrollment as of January st and s\'fnpalln with all movements to rem- the polis assesged of the previous | €4y condi and to cure _t]wf afflict- October 1st, the lists of both should Ied_ and my pergonal conviction tha | be made out on some convenient date | the State should go to the limit of jts at the same time. ability in S g humanita- Such minor changes should be made rian crusades. According to carefu | in the laws taxing public service cor- | prepared figures, 1,600 persons & | porations as wi make them more | eVery year in the state of x(mm-uh(u equitable in their application aad |from pulmona tuberculosis. This s estimated to be about one-tenth of tha number who are seriousiy sick 3 of more deflnite in recommended their enforcement, as by the tax coml‘fl:- sioner. the diesase, giving a total | The revenue of the state can be in- | 16,000 persons who need care and | creased to a considerable extent by | treatment. As every tenth death in slight changee in the succession tax |Connecticut is caused by tuberculosiz, laws which would not be burdensome | it follows that with 2 population in 1]\:\. to anyone. 1t is alto a quesiion wheth- | State of gabout 1.000,000, more iban er the state would not be justified inj 100,000 of those of us now vag are adopting the inheritance tax system | destined.to die of tubercuiosis, unless which is In operdtion in many’ states, | 4ction is taken to remedy existing con which is graded as to beneficiaries, | ditions. Already the state posse: | two sanatoria of the highest standing. whose records reflect honor ugpun their medical staff and managers. 1 refe t;_ the Gaylord l"m{m ?:ll]:(al(‘?rium neax a Ssi P alingfo. and the § 00d Sano- of 1 ““m";"‘,’.efi‘efi"ipfi'fi::;‘,'; [ torium near Hartford, to both of be very largeiy increased by those en- | Which state aid has been extended. in tirely able {o bear the burden, with- | my Belief, wisely. Rut the hundred or ont injustice or hardship of any king, | 90 patienis cared for at these two fr Other states are adopting such a law, | stitutions only constitute a fraction o to the amount of With a progress- five to fifteerl per and progressive collateral beguests. ive rate of from cent. an estate from $1,000 to $1,000.- in amount,_ 000 the hlood, the and Connecticut will undoubtedly fol- | those who should be aided. What is low sooner or later. the bhest way of extending state aid? The method of keeping public ac-|In most cases _nxpen.-sive hospitals, counts in many of the towns is ex- | costing from $500.600 to §1,000,000. have been erected, involving a heavy maintenance charge. These have beea found for a number of reasons inade- ceedingly earel and unbusinesslike, Thousands of dollars have undeubted- ly been lost in different municipalities by such incompetency. T recammend | duate fo do the work anticipated. a uniform stem of municipal ac- | Such institutions are too hospital-like counting adapted to the large and|and are too far from the homes of the small towns and other municipalities. | afflicted. ¢ This plan should be prepared by the| T believe this problem has been state board of accountancy, and be]Solved in a model way by the report carried out under the yearly supervis-|of the commission. They propose for your consideration a plan which, in my opinion, will do far more gsod, reach a far larger number of the af- flicted than the hospital plan, and w not cost as much. In short, each dollar of the $300,000 asked for count. Without going into the detai of this plan. it proposes, in a generai fon of the state auditors of public ac- counts. The large amount of waste or un- productive land throughout the state demands the careful con<ideration of the agricultural, forestry and taxation departmenté, with prover legislation if necessary. The raising of sheep, re- forestration of land, or any practical| Way. the erection by the state of coun- | suggestion should be considered. Ta| ty homes, modeled in general charact- | any event, the matter <hould he per-|er on the sanatoria of Gavlord ¥arm sistently agitated until the proper These will stand $ | methods are finally determined for ready to receive making’ the best use of all unused jand | times called hopeless, in the state, so that the farmer will no | never are hooeless under proner tre. longer be obliged to pay taxes on so| ment and car They will ‘receive much unproductive property. these patients without a lone journey and the compulsion of residence tar Assessment Lists. away from home, fam 2 There is more or less popular dis-{ Under such conditions, r 4 satisfaction, with the inequalit surrounding comfortable, ' the agsessmeni of real estate vy of nourishing food and fresh air { 1 believe that the complaints can nature’s work, in constant e i be very largely removed by the adon- gt i i tion of the practice of publumng an- nually the as ment list. in order ufferer of th gest means, pa- that all property owners may be able| tients from all over this state, many to compare tie valuation of their|of whom have been given up by their property with that of others in the | dgctors, will be inspired with new hope | commun This practi it seems | and be rastored to health, to home ana | to me, would operate to bring about for work. more just and uniform valuation, and there is little doubt that it tend to increase the to capacity Tenement Conditions. The great increaze in the urban pap- i of eac community, at the same time remov- ulation of our state and the present Ing many wrong impressions relative | conditior as shown from investiga- to the work of the assessors, and sel tions, indicate that some legislation to promote justice and equal may he nece: rv in order that dwel- taxation matter, lers in cities S]'-:i“ receive suitable i v housing. Tt would m as one of - P"b.hc Utilities Act. the municipal func < would be go No more important matter will be{ cee that all persons living in our in- | presented for your consideratiol han | qu. s have such accommoda- the report of e special com ior | tions 1l enable them to maintain named by the last general assembly 12| their physical and moral health, both prepare a public utilities act. . The| as to the interior of the house, its ac- Etate, unable conveniently to furnisn| commodations and ifs sur .u“.ng { public utilities direct, has lent of itz {7t is cuite certain that the e: 3 powers to ever increasing classes of| pacity of our ge earners and n,..l private agencius, that the people may | purchasine power of their earnings ! benefit by the progress of Invention|gare weakened by 1 itable honsing, | and of utilization of natural resources. | ana naturally <o the interests ,,f_’ In regarding the high beneficial re-| colved are not wnited. While maost sults obtained and the splendid devel- | landlords _arc considerate apd hu- ‘opment of the corporate agencies em- | mane, yet there are altogether ployed, we must not forget that it 1s | many who care not how their tena the power of the whole commu ,@ t. providing they pav the rent. It acting through these agencies, wh for this class legislation is needecd. | has produced such results and t -lt!fnr those who usualiv live in that elzss | with the ‘powers granted there is ajof houses are not in a position to re- | corresponding oblitation to render a« sist. Tt seems desirable to establ | quate service without discrimination|, minimum condition which will b and to require therefor a compensa- legal for light, air. svace per rapita, tion which will be reasonable. | water-closet accommodations, etc T%e problem of safeguarding the ! " 2 gran, of extraordinary powel has be- Schools, come immensely complex. To select A special eommission named an agency and, having selected it, to compel & strict observance of the terms of the trust, these-are the essentials of the problem. ‘The general assembly meeting bien- nially cannot supervise public service corporations. The work is adminis-| yvour attention. trative rather than legislative. The Connecticut’s public school system, bill provides for a uniform system of | if such it can be called—for it is as incorporation: for conirol of capital- | unsystematic as it could well be— ization; for definition of territory for aflmxttedlv defective and me\entive operatlon for regulation of eminent{of the best educational results. The domain and the right to use the pub- | local iicensing of teachers, a practice lic highways; for the safeguarding of | that has continued from the earliest coustruction and operation: Tor exun- | thmes, in many of our townhx, has .re- 1nation of Anancial condition in so fur | sulted o the -m,,le)fl[nnt of many o as may be necessary (0 malhtain the | compeient instructors. The inevitab's standard; for a stmilar examinario| resuit has foliowed. They are heid of the ph} sical plant and for the regu- { in sust poor respect that the wages Iation of rates. Anappeal tothe courts| they are paid are shametully low, and Is provided S W siandard of pay has thas Been estab - 5 R ing the incumben of my prede to study and rvport upon our publi school system will adffress you on the subject at an early date, and you will without doubt find this matter one of the most important to be brought to | actually results in | vnrea lhhtd t!mt has shut ou teachers ability, Peity economy, in this atrection s |'be x:omoved in sorme of carHeu to sur_h a de, at the situation appears pehu unless the state shall mam that some strong central au- thority have direciion. g‘f the licensing of tegchers and of their remunera- tion. There should be a state law re. quiring every new téacher who is em- ployed after a fixed ecrly date to pass an examination set by a state exan- ining board. This is the practice in those states having the best school systems. All of sur high scliools and element- ary scnools are likewise in need, of guidance and supervision of central authority. The lack of it has led to a variance of standards that should aot obtain. A small, a school system that should be a model of its kind. Instead, it is asserted by educators who have given the subject much study that re is not a com- monweakh with less legal provision for supervision and less conformity to any fixed standard than Conmecticut. You can do th: stats no greater ser- vice than by devoting your inteli- gent efforts to a betterment of our public schools, and sk that you give your earnes the re- port of the spec subject. Carz of the Blind. One of the educational institutio: of the state which tavorable and sympathetic consider tion is the Connecticut School for th Blind. It long since outgrew its in- adequate school huildings. where ong time as many as eight children were obliged to sleepn crowded togeth- er in one room, and its increa numbers i demand large and hetter for the efilcient accomplishment of its benevolent de- signs, Under these circmnstnaces { I am disposed to reommend such | anuropriation pu]mh mented gifts already magde to the scho enable it to fairly meet and dischar:« its eduogtional and industrial under- takings. Employers’ Liability. There hés bee an urgent, and ev mand, from the and other states form of the law bility of an employer an & by his hluplu\f‘: nf their employment. When suc demand is supported, as it is in tance, by the agreement of econo- 8, prol ral teachers of .mn the judges of the conrts P apply the that the pres of the law works grave injustic class least able to bear it. 1t ought to receive the most ¢ and earn- est attention of fhe 1 Mr. Labatt, the most iter on the law ers® liabili “This subject n tion. be said to distinction of having sion of a larger numbe doctrines and inconsistent dec than any other branch the law. The true doctrine of this subje doubtedly is that men are the inevi manufacturing and ul been the of contli tions: they are a part of the cost of the busine: the operation of a greal factory every year wears out 1 breaks a certain number of machine the x':~pai|- or replacement of &uch machines is a part of the operating cost, which the manager must figure into the t of the prmhp buisness. 4lso_invariably, vear by v mutilates and kills « certain numi of m why should uot that also lLe n the business, and so hy ciely in the cost of the pngduct? injured workingman must bf ne iy bear the nain, dJdisfigurement other nersonal damage of the injur its money cost should not be also e cast upon him. But as practical men we may ize that a cewnplete doing of jus iz not now practleable. The great 017- jection is that mannfacturers-of a par- ticular state would be handicapped in s0- competition if they were exposed to burdens that their rivals in other states Gid not bear; and that such compatition would render it Impossible for them to charge the additional cost | of labor accidents into ihe price of | manufactured article. There is, however, field of law that in my judgment is the least measure of justice that ought | to be considered. and that ought te be | enacted into law without delay: tha is the abolition of the so-called * low-servant rule.” this rule, employer if not liable to an employe for an injury caused by the negligence n{‘ another employe. The law makes a man liaQle for damage by the negl gent act of a servant in the course of | s employment, in the simgle employe of the same master. This| doctrine was first laid down about i | geventy vears ago. when facto: 5 small. and when a!l the servants of a master knew each other and worked in close contact. Tt was argued that this rule would lead the men to wateh each other’s conduct, and so tend to pr vent acgidents. This arzument. how- ever just it may have bheen then. is grotesquely absurd as applied to the conditions of twentieth century m ufacturing or rallroading. When econduc road train, who received from the telegrapher a w order to run his frain to a certain tion, and cannot a- 1 injury to hi told that he cover com tion for hi zuse the telepgrapher was a vant with him (a decision 1 has heen repeatedly made in the American courts), he j= likely to have besides the nain of his injury a rank- ling sense of in,lus:i.n. The subjeet is particularly pressed upon the attention of the Connecticut ature by the protests which our own cou have made against the fel- low-servant rule, while they have felt oblized to apply it as the existing law. 1 earnestly recommend the passage of an act abolishing the fellow-servant rule. Trade Combinations. Combinations of canital and combi- natior vast impértance and masses of our citizens. to be iittle do idly approac applied to combinations of pital will relate. not to the question as to wheth- er there is a combination. but wheth- er that combination, in its operation, bringine about an mable restraint of trade, and thus inflicts injury on the people. same latitude should pervade WS 1nlaling to combinations ingmen, in labor unions. trade un- ions and kindred organizations. 1t is difficult for me to see why an agree- ment or combination of workingmen to do, or procure to be done. an act in contemplation of a trade dispute, for example between emplovers and em- ployes, should not be judged solely as to its legaity, by nature of the act done or proposed to be done. interest to the There seems that the time is rap- 1 commend to your | But t e one reform in this | en the injured man is alsgo an| which order results in a collision | h . 2 = oltinion | for reguleting the flow of water h { of evil com | s | i rined; of in the working of Its prr—icnt form might the statute were so amended as to clea provide safes guards that would piotect all except the perperators, aiders, instigators, or abettors of the illegal act. = Highways. ‘The adoption of a definite and liberal policy by the state with respect to the g0od reads movemeat, ot the jast ses. sion of the general assembly, the in crease In conumercial trafiic during re- cent years, and the very general adop- tion of the automobile, have together operated to make the problem of high- Way Improvement one ol the inost im- portant before us today. That the extensive operations along this line planned by the vote of the general assembly twn years ago is ex- ceedingiy pu]-uhl“ hds been demon- strated by the quick response of the towns willing to assume their share of the cost, as well as by the popular desire for greater speed in the prose- cution of the work committed to the highway commissioner. There appears to be, a popular im- the st pression that the work of this de- r\'tflmon-; has not been prosecuted with vigor. How mistaken this is is ap- parent from the fact that the past year ninety contracts ~ have been entailing an obligation on state of about $800.- 18 m o the highway the burcen of systematizing the re- pe er 600 miles of road and rtionment of a very limited sum mey for these repairs—a sum total inadequate tnx the work. Notwit ending the inadequacy of the appropriation, however, over 20,- 006 tons of stone and several thousand cubic vards of gravel were sent out, and ovey 300 miles of road were turn- piked and shaped up. I am convinced from an examina- n of the conditions of this depart- | ment (lnvt the present commissioner {is very -h handicapped by the smaline of the appropriation given him for administrative work. and that he is thereby compelled to take upon his own shoulders much labor that under liberal conditions ne could 1 to others., For example, the expense of admin- istration of this department in Cou- has been about 4 1-2 per i ie in Massachusetis it has been 14 1-2 per cent. [Under the pres- ent law the commissioner has the power to appoint deputies, engineers, and in but the appropriation will liow him to do so to a very t. extent. The ¢ should have money enot | for engineer in his office so ihat he be relieved of a large part of the de- work, and county engineers who 3 themselves with assist- work in their re- He should be given sibility of sa- | and shoud! support in keep- enterprise abso- a means of itrained deputies would bamver e work and would al any effc to prosecute { it aleng T cconomical scientific lines Having embarked upon an exiensive scheme « highway wo the state cannot now afford io delay it by falze econem 2nd it showld be one of vour v es to give attention to this department. Automebile Traffic. | | | | i i ' 1 | ying when the test to he | forest ! | | of | i | the moior | the one - automobile is pleasure vehicle, engine of no but dager mer and easy of wezlth. d will of v surburban nse has bhrought wney into the state ind wtates and thus con- tributed to ¢ genaral - prosperits We have wi adopted laws tl:“ en- Mrage-. the cture and u¥e . 6f vel < S 1t is not surpriking that its opera- tion has sometimes fallen into un- wort Wauds and that they have been tiis canse of gome dis‘ressing ac- cidents. The great majority of autes mobile users are careful and law- Fabiding. sure they will wel= come any you mi take to se- 3 nenalize the reckless driver. . Tt S fo me necessary that you should BV attention to the points of greatest danger. the crowded streets or nnr and pass such supple- 2 as will operate to re- It haz heen suggested t the se- lectment of the towns be given the | power. a< in some oiher states, to close at their discretion such read- o s not state highways or highways between towns and are not suitable for general mo- tor traffic. There are such roads that | are too marrow or are in had condi- tion for such traffic, and its removal, while not inflicting any hardship, might contribute’ to the public safet:. Forestry. Our people are at last aroused to the importance of the forests to our industrial future and even to the pun- health. The woodlands of Con- ecticur have been cut off so rapidly in recent years that we are now face with the dangers of freshet on hand and water famine on other hecause nature’'s provisic to face the in large part been destroyed. It was agreed by the representa- tives of the various New England for- estrv associations presnt at the Bos ton conference ~ that the measures necessary for the development of for- estry in Connecticut are: Prevention of forest fire<: the creation of tho state forests in the various woode regions of the state: and reform in forest faxation. The present fire warden service should be strength- ened by co-operation of the railroads, the principal agents responsible for fires. We have now several smail foreste which serve as examples of good forestry measures. The acqui- sition of lerge tracts by the state will .not only be remunerative investments, of labor are today subjects of but are the most practical means of interesting private owners, There should be a commission appointed to study the present method of taxing land with a view of suggesting legislation two years hence. Prison Problems. The revenues of Connecticut stato prison for the past fiscal year footed up 850, a figure surpassing the record for any previous twelvemonth. Managod along progressive lines, this stitvtion is now atle. from the earn- inge of productive labor. to meet a large part of the operating expenses, and Jhe drafts which it makes upon the state treasury are comparatively small. The directors of their biennial report, recommend that the punizhment for murder in the nd degree be changed to an ind minate sentence, of which the min- the prison, Iin 2 In other words, if the act when dunn% imum term shall be imprisonment for by one man would not be a crime, then it should be held equally innocent if it resnlted from the combination or agreement of many men. And if, as 1 am informed, thete is doubt as to What the law of this state is on this subject, I recommend such legislation as will remove that doubt and make the law as above requested. In this connection 1.call your atten- tion to sectipn 1296 of the General Statutes. It earlestly claimed that Tinnocent mel ave suffared under the ehtorietrnl of the slatdie in its pres- eng formi. The stalute has Leen the wm&gt of mucl: fiul;:u!on outside and the 1§ and many wend ments re been propssed and conil«nd seem thEA! the than twenty-five years ard the maximum term shall Le The penalty rigidly fixed at life imprison- and the oroposed rev n = a desire to hold out a sustaining ray of hope to life prison- ers and to curb the natural dvift to- ward insan. among them. The di- rectors helieve «the change will he helprul without weakening any of the social defenses againgt crime. ang the recemmendation is entitled (o vateful canslderation . The picposal for the establistuent Gf 2 sdte refoTmtory, 1o which Arsc offenders betwsen the ages of fifteen and (wenty-five moy be commlitted teMulunie senicice not les: ‘now ment, prompted by is continue ! | forced pl-n. and in chh the young crlm;ml.‘ rupanslve to” his environment, may be * useful trade, habits .of industry and a capacity for self-con- trol, has been pending before the general assembly for four years, Such an institution would be a valu- ablé addition to the penal system of the commonwealth. The careful plans which were procured hy the special comnmission of 1905 are still available. The problem is worthy of serious thought, and if the {inances of the =tate warrant the expenditure, the erection of a reformatory, through the passage of the bill reported by the commission and now before the legic- lature by continuauce from the .last session, may wisely be undertaken. Care of the Insane. The appalling increase in the mum- ber of our insane patients, which has been faster “than the growth in: the rate of population and our well at- tempted provision for their care calls for your carly consideration. Word has been sent out from the exisung asylums to the towns not to send- pa- tients to those institutions, as they cannot be received. $ When we real- ize the inadeguacy of any attempt to care for insanity’s vietims, even in the larger towns, and the entire lack of facilities in the smaller towns, we are 10 recognize the urgency of immediately supplying, ‘either in the present institutions or in new ones, ample accommodations for any pos- sible increase of patients. In view of the facts that both ot the exieting institutions are now lo- cated on _or east of the Connecticut river, and that the great number of patienis are sent from further west, the qguestion naturally arises whether the public requirements could not be better fulfilled by the erection of =a new institution in the western part of the state. It has been stated to me that there are now in our Insane hospitals a con<iderable number of mild and harmless cases of dementia, so proven by long observation, that are not In need of the expensive care of a state institution. Tt might be well for this body to appoint a commission 10 mnke a thorough inspection of the asylums with a view to transferring such cases to the towr. farms or oth- er places where the victims can be supported at far less cost, and given ph. 1 and mental benefit but earn something toward the expense of their keeping. such cases the present congested condition of onr insane hosnitals would be great!y relicved and perhaps the urgent ne- vessity of a new building be overcome the present, As a measure both of wise 1d philanthropy 1t seems to me irdble that such an inspection be made soon, for it is un- deniable that at present we are not equipped to care for the pressing needs of the critically insane. Epilep The report of a special commis- gion on the care of epileptics was left over from the last session of the gen- eral assembly for the consideration of this body. The report shows =o conclusively the necesssity of state care for this class of unfortunates, and that the most desirable method of care ig by the “Colc System,” that it seems desirable t plans should now be inaugur for the establish- ment of such a system The necessity is accentuated by the realization that there are over five hundred ¢ of epllepsy within our borders today needing this form of care. This larze nwnber is exclusive of cases =0 mild a< to be better treat- ed at home and of cases so0 severs as to be better treated among the idiothe and insane. Audiciary. The inerease of population and the growth and deveiopment of business enterprices and commercial relations have® been naturally followed Wby growing demands upon our courts. gn onr state the hurden of these addl- tional requirements falls primariiy clor but it has with the it was ‘wpon the supdr eourt, not been able to kedp pac increase of business which created to dispoge of. In addition to this natural increase of work,. the recent legislation of the general assembly which gives to either party to an sction for damages the right to have those .%uma,gfl; as- gessed by a jury, has made it neces- sary for the judges to devote much more time and attention te the dlspo- sition of those cases than they have required Ditherto. Moreover, the recent changes in federal legislation relating to the nat- uralization of aliens, by which a very considerable amount of extra work will be reguiread of our superior court, will certainly make it more than ever Impossible for it to dis- charge properly the duites imposed wpon it. S0 long as erime must be punished and restrained and property and efvil rights protected. we must have ade- auate farcilities'in our courts, There- fore, in view of these facts, T recom- nend that vou provide by law an in- crease in the number of judges of the superior court. By no other means within my knowledge can that coust be enabled to meet the demands upon it. Fiduciary listitutions, Our imnh;nf institutions have grown to very large proportions and the time has come when our state should fellow the examole of the most states in the methods of It is not right that omiv should have the vast re- spons y of this work, with the hundreds of millions of deposits, cap- ital ana trusts, in their care. Under the present law no assist- ance of any kind is given to them. Such as they have has to be paid for from their own private means. Manwv banks are today keeping their secur!- ties in safe deposit vaults in the larger banking centers, including New York city, thus increasing the expense and labor of the commissioners great- ty. The net salaries of these commmnis- sioners, after expenses have been paid. are not half those of the awver- age bank treasurer. Our commissioners must be men of ability, trained in accounting and fi- nance, able to judge the degality of investments and soundness of pape:, and capable of enforcing the law, A savings bank !z the granary of ti voor. Consider the millions upon mi lions of dollars placed in these insti- tutions by the widow and wage-earn- er; in many instances, their all 1s in these banks. Surely the bank com- miszioners hold a very sacred posi- tion. Savings banke alone pay into th state treasury over half a willion do Jars annually in tdxes, and in view o thi« tax it would pervision of the bank by the state and not levied as a fur- ther burden upon them. Tt seems to me that it would be a2 stap of economy and better business meihods if the building and léean com- mission were sbolished and its duties turned over to the bank commission- ers. 3 There are not now more than fif- teen bailding and lean assopiations n the state, and a proper and needful investigation of them could . easily he conducted by the bank ocommission- ers. 1 Insurance. The condition of the insurance com- panies of Connecticut shewa a con- stant betterment, both as growtn of business and soundness ef the con- cerns conducting the business. The manner in which ihese companies have pussed with houvt dnd o popular confidence through Lhe _-“p i cedented strain of recedt yemfs. hms prflen thelr s0lld foundsaton, (Lonlhm.d on Puge Bleve t