Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-02-18
SPIRITED DEBATE,
DIR. J. p. Phillips Opposes the Grand
Army Men who Want Rooms In the
State House.

DR.. j. p. Phillips Opposes the Grand
Army Wen who Want Rooms I'm the
State House.
The meeting in City Hall last evening to
hear parties interested in the petition of the
G. A. R. posts, the Sons of Veterans and
the Woman's auxiliary corps for the use of
the second floor of the State House was well
attended. The special committee appointed
to consider the matter consisted of Alder
man Spreyer, chairman, Alderman Brown,
Councilmen Barnes, Kinney and Schorer.
G. B. Foster said the veterans would fit
up the rooms which they wanted in some
place where they wouldn't have to climb up
stairs. =
Ex-Councilman Gum and 81. F. Peck
said the men who went to the war should be
granted this as a small recempense for their
patriotic labor.
L. B. Brown made very eloquent plea
for the granting of the use of the rooms. He
said the interior was in good condition and
not damp and musty as is supposed.
Alderman Thomas R. Trowbridge jr.,
said that the State House could not be torn
down. Any number of citizens would put
on injunctions and keep the matter in the
courts until all the members Of the Grand
Army had passed away into honored graves.
Thomas R. Trowbridge said the taxpayers
should not object to any such expenditures
as the petition calls for. No city would
allow the building to fall into disuse and get
out of repair.
Joel A Sperry said it would be a crime to
tear down the building. He would rather
pay $500 out of his own pocket to have it re-
paired than to have it come down. No other
building would have stood that has. He
would give the Grand Army some money to
help them go in if necessary.
Alderman Trowbridge said the State House
saved the city at least 50, 900 year in cart
age and storage.
Captain Charles h Townshead said prac-
teal builder who had examined the State
House said he could put it in first class order
for 81 ,000 Another gentleman, an archi-
teet, told him it was in good condition.
Governor English told him that it could be
repaired for $1,000 OF Sc, 900 and Mr.. Chat
field, the builder, said he would repair it for
SIC, 600. "Why it is ridiculous to talk about it
costing $40, 900 to replace the building 1t only
cost $50, 900 to build it," added Captain
Townshend.
eyes," added Joel A. Sperry, land thirty
five years ago 81 900 was spent in repairing
it, and not dollar has been put it in the
way of repairs since that time"
Captain Gleason, of Henry G.. Merwin
post, said his post were strongly in favor of
the movement.
'T went to the war;" said w. ]. Skinner,
''to help save this very State House and the
houses of good many who don't want to
let us into the building. When 1 volunteered
l didn't stop to ask whether it was going to
cost anything"
Dr. j. P Phillips thanked the committee
for fairly advertising the meeting. He said
he was opposed to the granting of the petit
ton. 81 don't want anything done which
tends to defer the pulling down of that
State House. 1t is public injury and 30 is
any other building on the Green"
Several of the gentlemen present arose and
went out.
''That's right said the speaker, ''and if
there is anyone else that wants to go will
defer my remarks until they leave. 1 am
sorry to have the gentlemen go, as they re-
present the Historical society. I believe it
is due to that society that the building is
standing now. I don't want the Grand Army to
incur the enmity of a large portion of the
community. If a popular vote were taken
there would be two-thirds majority against
the retention of the State House. Now the
Grand Army should not do anything of the
kind. I feel it to be personal outrage to be
compelled to pay for the support of the His
singled out for favors?'
The gentlemen present added other re-
marks in the same tenor the foregoing and
the meeting finally adjourned.
Board of Selectmen.
Attorney Andrews appeared before the
Selectmen last night and asked for the abate-
rnent of the tax assessed against Henry B.
Leete on the list of 1876 The matter was
referred to the Committee on Taxes.
Milton Dana presented a petition for a
conservator over his wife. The petition was
granted.
G. Wheeler Beecher, of the Diamond Match
company, entered complaint in regard to
damage done to their property in Westville
by the overflow of water. He claimed that
the damage was fully 81 600. The dam, he
said, was the cause of the trouble. He asked
the Selectnen to investigate the matter and
suggested that the channel of the stream be
widened. Henry E. Marsh also entered a
similar complaint. With the exception of
Hartford dam was washed out, the water
was never SO high there, although the water
on the meadows had been at times fully two
feet higher Selectman Treat said the build
ing of the dam was one of the biggest mis-
takes in engineering he knew of.
abated as he is exempt from such tax.
Selectman Tyler was appointed to fill a
vacancy on the committee on Tomlinson's
bridge.
Messrs. Beecher and Feldman were ap-
pointed a committee to appear before the leg
islative committee on humane institutions IN
reference to county temporary homo. This
action was taken in accordance with COM
munication from other Selectmen of other
towns.
A communication in regard to the board
of assessors signed ''Mugwump" was received
and placed on file.
Fair Haven.
Mrs. o. B. Parish, of Woolsey street, is
much better.
The Quinnipiac Engine Co. gives its an
nual ball at the Quinnipiac riuk on Feb. "a.
They have been very enterprising in secur-
ing the rink SO soon after the opening
night
Miss H A. Wilcox, of New York, is
visiting Mrs. Bailey on Prospect street.
There were not many skaters on Heming
ways pond yesterday owing to the extreme
cold.
Work on the unfinished propeller at Hans
combs shipyard will soon commence.
Martha Washington council, Daughters of
Liberty, gives its first annual Dali at Central
Hall Feb. 81
FL. F. Swift has written from New Orleans
and says that there are number of Fair
Haven citizens visiting the exposition and
the people from Oystertown are well satisfied
with the big show.
A large force Of workmen are giving the
finishing touches to the Quinnipiac rink in
readiness for Monday nights opening.
Frank WEIGH, the champion runner of
Foxon, and Willis Bunnell, the champion
pedestrian of this place, will race to-day for
purse of $50, WEIGH to run the distance of
Quinnipiac bridge twice to Bunnell's walking
it once Frank Brader backs WEIGH, and is
hopeful of his success.
The W G. T. U. held its annual meeting
at the residence of Mrs. Beach, ON Exchange
street.
The Society of Christian Endeavor will
give sociable and supper tomorrow after
noon at the residence of Rev. Mr.. Blakeslee.
Cruelty to a Horse.
Last evening as DR.. Adams, the agent of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals, was passing through State street, he
an old sprained horse attached to
one of the Centennial Tea company's wag-
ons He caused the arrest of the driver