7 86 CONNECTICUT 



and Harbor Act of February 1912 appropriated $77,000 (and empowered the Secretary of 

 War to expend 5> 100,000 more) for improvement of the Connecticut river below Hartford. 

 In 1911 the Federal improvements of the Bridgeport harbour and the 12 ft. channel in the 

 New Haven harbour were completed; and in the latter harbour breakwaters were practically 

 finished and a 12 ft. anchorage basin more than half completed in 1912. 



Government. The regular session of the legislature was held in 1911 from January 

 4 to September 26. It rejected the proposed i6th (income tax) amendment to the 

 Federal Constitution. The house of representatives proposed, on January 20, a 

 constitutional amendment providing for two-thirds (instead of a plurality) vote in each 

 house to pass a bill over the governor's veto; this is to come before the legislature of 

 1913. Amendments adopted by popular vote in 1911 and 1912 provide for the lieuten- 

 ant-governor's succession to the gubernatorial office if the governor is unable to serve 

 (29,738 votes to 4,770); and that the legislature adjourn sine die by the first Wednesday 

 after the first Monday in June (30,349 votes to 4, 86 5), -sessions thus being limited to 5 

 months. The salary of the governor after the 1912 general election was increased to 

 $5,000 a year, and that of the lieutenant-governor to $1,500; and that of the attorney- 

 general to $5,000 after September i, 1911. A board of state bank commissioners was 

 to report to the legislature in 1913. Columbus Day was made a legal holiday. 



The corrupt practices act and the Australian ballot law of 1909 were amended. Any 

 political division of the state may vote for or against the merit system for all its officers and 

 employees. The legislature created a public utilities commission. All public service 

 companies must make return to the commission and immediately report all accidents to 

 it. It controls rates and service of public utilities. 



Commissions were created to report by April i, 1913 on the employment of women and 

 children and to investigate employers' liability and workmen's compensation. The eight 

 hour day was made a maximum for mechanics in state institutions except in unavoidable 

 emergencies. If workmen work on Sunday they must have one other day off in seven, but 

 the act excepts "commercial occupations and industrial processes ... by their nature 

 . . . continuous." No minor under 16 and no woman of any age is to be employed 

 in a mercantile establishment, unless it is manufacturing or mechanical, more than 58 hours 

 a week; but if the employer makes the hours 55 a week or less in June, July and August, the 

 hours a week for the rest of the year may be 60; and the provision is not applicable between 

 December 1 7th and December 25th if the employee gets seven holidays during the year with 

 full pay. No child under 14 is to be employed in a mercantile, mechanical or manufacturing 

 establishment and no child under 16 unless he has a certificate of an elementary education. 

 No child under 16 may run or adjust certain dangerous machinery or be employed in the 

 manufacture of dangerous drugs or explosives and none under 18 may run an elevator. An 

 elaborate law was passed forbidding blacklisting. Damages for injuries resulting in death 

 were limited to 10,000, and suit must be brought within one year from the time of the neglect 

 complained of. Physicians are required to report to the state commissioner of labour cases 

 of occupational disease. An act of 1911, probably the first American state law dealing with 

 aeronauts, requires the registration of air-ships and the licensing of aeronauts. An elaborate 

 act for sanitation in tenements, boarding and lodging houses, and several acts safeguarding 

 public health, providing for purity of milk and other food and regulating the sale of liquor 

 and drugs, were passed. Tobacco must not be sold or given to minors under 1 6. Any com- 

 bination to increase prices of necessities is punishable by a maximum fine of $l,ooo or by 

 imprisonment for 5 years or by both. 



The town of Bristol in August 1911 adopted a city charter (in effect Oct. I, IQil), which 

 contains some features usually found in the commission plan of government and provisions 

 for the initiative and referendum. 



Finance. A commission appointed in 1911 to examine into the methods of taxation of 

 railways and other taxable corporations was to report in 1913. The treasurer, comptroller 

 and tax commissioner constitute a board of equalisation of taxes. Land planted with forest 

 trees, at least 1,200 to an acre, if the planting is approved by the state forester, is exempt 

 from taxation, but this exemption cannot hold after the timber is cut nor in any case for 

 more than 20 years. 



The state treasury had a balance on hand October I, 191 r of $376,576. The receipts for 

 the year ending October I, 1912 (including $4,000,000 bonds sold) were $9,915,418, and the 

 expenditures (including $1,450,000 temporary loans paid) $8,105,750, leaving a balance in 

 cash of $2,186,244. The state debt in October 1912 was 7,064,100. 



Education. For the school year 1911-12 the school population (between 4 and 16) was 

 255,692; the total enrollment in public schools, 197,852; the average daily attendance, 155,- 

 735; the average length of the school year 184 days; and the total'revenue for schools, $6,040,- 

 132 and the expenditures, 6,122,307. The total indebtedness of towns and districts for 

 school purposes was 8,813,998 in 1912, as rompari-d with $3,110,210 in 1901; in the same 



