Morning journal and courier., 1886-03-05
A LONG HEARING.

with people interested in the hearing before l the Committee of the General Assembly of Cities and Boroughs upon Representative Pigott's bill amending the city charter so as | to give to the Mayor the appointment of | commissioners in the several executive boards, police, fire, public works, etc. The l full text of the bill being follows:
 SECTION 1. The Mayor of the city of New Haven | shall be exofficio chairman of all the Boards of Public Works, Police C9mmss9neIs a ana fire a1i | rights and privileges of member of said Board l Sec. 3 The term of office of all members of the Board of Public Works Police Commissioners and Fire Commissioners, who shall be in office on the terminate on said first Monday in April. A. D. 1886. Sec. B. On or before the first Monday in April A. | D. 1886 the Mayor of said city shall appoint six members of each of the aforesaid boards from the electors resident in said city, and at least three Of political party as the Mayor. Two of the six mem: bers so appointed each of said boards shall hold t MoOday of Feb February A 5 ss7 and until theiT successors are appointed and qualified; two Of the six members appointed on each of said boards shall hold office from the date of their ap poir tment until the first Monday of February A.D; 1SS5 and until their successors appointed and qualified; and two of the six members of each said board so appointed shall hold office from the date ruary A. D. 1SS9 and until their successors are ap The Mayor shall specially define the terms of office of each of members of said boards to be appointed on the first Monday of April, A. D. 1SS0 ! sec 4 And on the second Monday of January, l A. D. 1887 and annually thereafter, the Mayor of said city shall appoint the members of each of said boards to hold office for three years from the first their successors are duly appointed and qualified | Sec. 5. Whenever any vacancy shall occur in the | membership of any of said boards of public works ] police commissioners and fire commissioners by reason of the death removal or resignation of any l of said members the Mayor shall appoint person l to be member of such board for the unexpired part of the term made vacant as aforesaid | Sec. 6. Any member of said boards shall be sub | ject to the removal by the Mayor for cause upon charges made in writing by any person of good re- l portunty has been given for a full and fair hear | ing on both sides Any member removed as afore, by the Mayor of his said removal appeal the Gov ernor of this State for review of all the proceed, l city, or at his usual place of abode a notice in the Governor sIaii without delay hear the parties l and their witnesses and either confirm or revoke should revoke the finding of the Mayor the mem Der attempted to be removed shall be entitled to his place on such board. From the decision of the Governor there shall be no appeal. Whenever the city clerk shall receive notice of Governor and forward all the papers in the matter him. and shall notify the parties in interest of the Any person appointed by tue Mayor to fill a va- cancy on any of the said boards must be of the succeeds.
 Sec. z. This act shall not affect the powers and prescribed by law.
 
 take effect upon it's passage and all acts and parts of acts inconsistent herewith hereby repealed. The committee consists of one Senator and nine members of the House, but only five were present, namely, Shumway of Killing worth (chairman), Bradstreet of Thomaston, Bartholomew of Derby, Morehouse of Wilton and Clark of Coventry They came in, one by one, while Hugh Daley and Judge Pick Al z II the proposed amendment, waited patiently for the business to commence.
 Those in favor of the bill were first heard, and Lawyer Whiting was the first man to take the stand and said in answer to ques- tions both by Mir. Pigott and Mir. Daley: ttrongly favor the bill, as it would give a stronger body of men and better government shan in the present way. l would rather have the action of one man than of twelve, because then the citizens would know where to place the responsibility.
 MT. Alexander Foote said: My views are that the city would be better represented if the boards were appointed by one man, but still, as far as I know, they are at the present time well represented by the different com missioners. Sometimes twelve men are bet ter judges than one man, and sometimes it is just the opposite.
 Professor Brewer was next called, and said: have been a resident of this city for twenty-one years, and think that the ap- pointments made by the Mayor would, on the whole, be better for the city, as then there would be someone who could be held responsible for the doings of these boards. I think these members of the different bo ards hold very important offices. I have seen many men hide their faults behind their politics that I want to see the responsi- bility rest upon somebody's shoulders. At ( on%f fIa To one person, but on 8 party.
 Morris F. Tyler-I believe that in all cases of such appointments the responsibility of the doings of the board should rest on some one party. This could be done either by the nomination of the commissioner by the Mayor and having it confirmed by the Aldermen or by the appointment of the Mayor.
 Professor J. T. Platt-I have had some ex- perience in city matters as a member of the Boards of Councilmen and Aldermen and corporation counsel. I think in city govern ment it is proper to have the responsibility resting on some person whom the city can hold responsible for the doings of these boards. The Mayor, holding the chief office of the city, should have the power to make the appointments, which would be much better for the administration of city affairs. and would suit the public far better than the present system.
 
 citizens of New Haven do you think any one of them under the present system of elections would be elected?
 Professor Platt-The very best citizens might make the worst mayors. We have had as a rule good mayors, and if good man Is nominated on one side and bad man on the other, think the citizens are so non- partisan that the good man would be elected.
 MT. Dailey-Then you will not answer the question:?
 Professor Platt-Not as I understand it.
 MT. Dailey-Do you think man like Mayor Holcomb's judgment would be better than eight men in the Board of Aldermen?
 Professor Platt-Yes! I think the Mayors would be the best, as he would feel the re- sponsibility more than the men of the Board of Aldermen. I think that both parties ought to be represented in the Board, as the Mayor would be really the president and could break deadlock.
 Ex-AIderman B. E. Brown-I think it would be better for one man to make the ap pointments, as he would feel the responsi- bility more than the Board of Aldermen, and they have to my knowledge twice granted favors in the way of appointments, but would not care to mention the times
 MT. Daiey-If the Mayor had the power of appointments, and should not make good should you believe in tuARing it back agains
 MT. Brown-We are at all times liable to have men that are unqualified in office, who might make poor appointments, but that is no reason there shouldn't be good men also.
 MT. J. w. Pond-I have been member of the Board of PublicWorks, and chief of police. I should favor the appointments by the Mayor, as some one should be responsible for the doings of the board. Wherever the appointing power shall lie the Mayor should have the power to vote in every board, as hey now stand even, and a dead lock can not now be broken.
 John c. Brad1ey-I am in favor of having the appointments made by one man on whom the responsibility might rest. I had con versation with Governor Bigelow yesterday and he said the plan now in use was all wrong and he was in favor of the appoint ments made by one man on whom the respon- sibility may rest.
 Edward Hammell-I have been an Alder man and Councilman and I think the pro- posed system is the best and that we could have better government by it. We have 8 Mayor to whom we pay $3,000 a year, and he would feel the responsi- bility of these appointments more than the Aldermen, on whom no blame rests. In the last election have seen commission