Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-26
LOCAL NEWS.
Board of Aldermen.

Considering and Discussing the Char.
 ter RevIsiOns-SeveraI Sections Adopt
 ed-An Adjournment for Want OF a
 Quorum.
 The Board of Aldermen held specia meeting last evening to further consider the report of the special committee on the revis ionsof the city charter.
 whole, and Alderman Sh eldon was appointed president and Adolph Asher cl erk.
 A motion was made by Alderman Robert son to reconsider the action of the committed at its last meeting, referring to the Board oi Police Commissioners and giving them power to remove an officer of the force for mental ol physical disqualifications without hearing
 Alderman Harmon said the object of the amendment was not to prevent every man from having full hearing before his removal from the force, but the object was to provide for hearing in all cases in executive session.
 Alderman Robertson stated his objections to the proposed amendment, as it gave the Commissioners the power to hold star cham Der sessions.
 Alderman Driscol said there had been full illustrations of the power the city charter gave the Police Commissioners in the case of ex- Chief Charles W. Allen, who had been tried, and after lengthy trial declared competent and efficient. Soon after the same Board dis charged that gentleman from the force on the ground of incompetency. The Board seemed to be perfect athletes in the display of their power. He referred to the charter of the city of Norwich, which did not give the Police Commissioners the power to hold a trial of a police officer, but he entitled to trial be- fore committee of the Court of Common Council. He thought policeman should have fair and impartial hearing, and that the same should be open to the public.
 Alderman Harmon arose and said that there was no intention of giving the Police Com missioners power to remove 8 man without good cause. He doubted whether the Com missioners had any power to discharge man for ineficiency, and he thought the members of the present Board and their predecessors were of the same opinion. Chief Allen was discharged for gross neglect of duty as well as inef1ciency.
 The amendment was recopsidered, and AL derman Harmon introduced substitute to the amendment, which proposed to give the Commissioners power to discharge man from the force because of physical, moral or mental disqualification, but not without a public hearing.
 Tbe following amendment from Alderman Driscoll was accepted:
 But no member of the polics force shall be removed unless upon complaint in writing Ca copy of which shall be forwarded to him), and after he shall have reasonable time, not less than six days, to prepare defense thereto.
 Alderman Harmon's substitute amendment recurred Alderman Driscoll said it was crafty and m1schievous and would bring dis aster to the force
 The question again came up and the amend ment was lost, and the original section accom- panied by MT. DriscolPs amendment was adopted.
 Alderman States discovered that the section which had just been adopted would give the Court of Common Council full power to re- l,,o Of ypH hu Ina Commissioners, but no power to raise their pay. He moved a reconsideration and offered an amendment giving the Common Council power to change the compensation as fixed by the Commissioners. With this amendment the section was passed.
 Section thirty four was taken up and gives the Court of Common Council power to change the pay of fremen as fixed by the Board of Fire Commissioners.
 Section thirty-five changes the title of the Road Commissioners to that of the Board of Public Works, and changes the title of the Street Inspector to Superintendent of Streets, and that of the City Surveyor to that of City Engineer. and also fixes the compensation cf all employees The same may be reduced by the Common Council.
 An amendment was introduced giving the Common Council power to increase or decrease the compensation of employees of the road department.
 An aye and nay vote was called for, and 1t was found that there was no quorum present, as one or two members were out in the ante room. The Mayor was called to the chair and the roll was called, when it was found that there was quorum present, as some of the mem bers had entered the Aldermen's chamber again. The Board went into 8 committee on the whole and proceeded to take up other sec tions.
 Sections thirty-five to fifty, containing no important changes, were about to be voted on when it was found that there was no quorum present, there being only eleven members pres ent. The Mayor was again called to the chair, and the clerk called the roll and only twelve members answeredto their names. The Mayor then declared the Board adjourned for want of quorum.