Morning journal and courier., 1884-12-05
THE ADJOURNED TOWN MEETING.


 A Lively Discussion on Economy i'm Town Affairs Cutting Down the Salaries of Various Town Omcers- A Five and One-Half m1II Fax for 1885.
 The adjourned town meeting for laying town tax and fixing the salaries of the town officers was held in Loomis' Hall yesterday afternoon. The meeting was called to order as 2:3O o'clock by Town Clerk Hugo, who read the call for the town meeting, and On concluding stated that the Selectmen had se- lected Charles R. Whedon for moderator. There was much larger attendance than usual at these meetings. There were large number of business men in the audience, and economy in town affairs seemed to per wade the very air of the room.
 The first bushes in order was to hear the report of ex-Governor. English and ex-Gov- ernor Bigelow, who were appointed one year ago at similar meeting committee to in- quire into all matters relating to the expense of conducting the town government for the past few years and to report at a future meeting such facts and recommendation as, in their judgment, the condition af affairs may warrant.
 The committee find that the town agents books are kept in a correct manner and that the general business of the office is conduct ed with regularity and dispatch, especially so in dispensing aid to the outside poor The books are examined from time 10 time, so that no unworthy persons are helped by the town. The committee say:
 'sWe do not see how any material reduc- tion of expense can be expected from this ac- count, as the poor we have with us always. It would be great reproach to New Haven if there should be poor sick man, woman or child unrelieved."
 The report gives the cost of the new aims house farm. There has been expended foF construction and repairs in 1882, 1883 aL8 1884, $12, ,965. .54, and for labor $12, ,585.23 One-half of this amount, 6,292. .62, is charged for improving the condition of the farm, as follows: Cutting down trees, pulling stumps, grading and digging up stones-all of which, say the committee, we think must be very great surprise to the taxpayers, as no warrant for so large an outlay of money has ever been asked for or granted.
 This expense is offset in part by the in come from the farm, amounting to $14, ,990 received from sale of produce mainly.
 The report proceeds: We think that some decided expression of opinion as to what is to be done in the future, concerning the source of so large an expense to the town, should be had at the annual town meeting.
 The alrnshouse capacity is 300; whole number in the house 242. Female depart ment-capacity 15O; number in the house 12O.
 By the foregoing statement it will be seen that the buildings are not used to their full capacity, and as the premises are in good condition, with ample capacity beyond pres ent wants of the town, we do not see any necessity for making further provision for the poor for some time to come.
 In some of the departments there appears to be no regular or fixed salaries for the off cial service. We deem it important that the salaries of the Selectmen, assessors and Board of Relief be fixed at the annual town meetings.
 The following statistics of the population of the town as compared with the grand list for the last fifteen years will show the ratio of the two for each year, except for the cen sus years of 1870 and 1880. This proportion, derived from the annual school census, which corresponds very nearly with the decennial United States census, when estimated as be- ing 4,416 inhabitants to 1000 children of school ape: