Morning journal and courier., 1888-05-04
THE ALmsHoUsE CONTRACTS
To He Signed To-MOrrow and Wor
 Begun Probably on Monday.

To He Signed TO-Morrow and Work
 Begun Probably on Monday.
 Another, and what may in all probability be considered final, step in getting the new almshouse under way was taken yesterday when the building commission met to carry out the instructions of the town and award the contracts. All the members of the com mission were evidently not reconciled to the action of the town, and the adherents of the Tracy brothers on the commission were still loyal, aS not one of them appeared at the meeting. Those present were Selectmen Reynolds, Klenke, Brown and Hughes, and Citizens Dawson, Welch and Chat6eld. The latter has been in the South for long time, and his appearance at yesterdays meeting was 8 surprise to the gentlemen present as very few knew he had returned. Architect Allen, who drew the plans of the building, was present with the contracts.
 MT. Reynolds called the meeting to order announcing that Judge Morris, the chairman, and Henry c. White, the secretary of the tioEs as members of the commission. At bis suggestion Hon. H. NJ. Welch was made chairman and John J. Clerkin, clerk of the board of selectmen, was made clerk. Mir. Clerkin read the resignations of Judge Morris and Mir. White, accompanying the latter 
 postage. Mir. Dawson and MT. Reynolds gave it as their opinion that the resignations did not properly come within the province of the commission, as their appointment had been made by the town meeting and their release from service should be sought from the same power. The resignations were then ordered on file. MT. Reynolds then read the vote of the recent town meeting ordering the commission to make the awards. That vote, following a comprehensive preamble and resolutions, was as follows:
 Voted, That this meeting approve of the action of said committee (citizens) and the selectmen in ak-
 ing such awards; that said citizens committee and the selectmen be and they are hereby directed to the new almshouse with said parties respectively to whom said awards were made at the meeting of of July, 1887, viz: to George M Grant for the ma son work; to Larkins & Langley for the carpenter Kelly for the plumbing; to to the New Haven steam Heating company for the steam heating
 Opinions were exchanged as to whether the action of the town meeting was final, and if there was any power or privilege to go be- hind that action. MT. Reynolds gave it as his opinion and said he had the assurance of Governor Ingersoll that nothing remained for the commission to do but to ratify the contracts in obedience to the towns instruc- tions. The awards had in fact been made by the town meeting and the commission had merely to make the contracts. Architect Allen had been entrusted with the duty of drawing up the contracts, and he was pres ent with them to secure the signatures of the commission in case these contracts met with their approval. Mir. Chatfield and others endorsed the view taken by MT. Reynolds and the commission an- nounced themselves one and all in readiness to ratify the towns action. Mir. Allen read the mason's contract for the in formation of the commission, and at Mr. Rev nolds' suggestion the names of Harmanus M. Welch and Henry s. Dawson were substi- tuted in the form of the contracts and on the subcommittee for those of Judge Morris and Henry 0. White. MT. Chatfeld suggested that the contracts be submitted to Governor Ingerson that the phraseology might be made legally accurate before being signed. This met the approval of the gentlemen pres ent, who, while they thought MT. Allen had been careful and accurate in framing the papers, deemed it 8 matter of prudence, in view of the magnitude of the enterprise to have legal assurance that the contracts were drawn with entire legal accu- racy. Mir. Reynolds then moved that the subcommittee consisting of H. M Welch, H. s. Dawson, Philo s. Chatfeld and James Key holds, be directed to sign the contracts in be- soil has pronounced them legally drawn, which was unanimously voted. The meeting then adjourned subject to the call of the chair.
 The contracts as awarded are as follows Mason work, George M. Grant, $106, $40; car- penter work, Larkins & Langley, $57, ,147; painting, &, 2,420; plumbing, D. F. Kelly, 8, 500; steam heating, New Haven Steam Heating company, $14, ,980; making the total cost $195, ,7e7. Should the commission decide to have iron staircases put in the building an additional expense of $4,200 will be in- volved. It is expected that the con- tracts will be finally signed to morrow and the work begun on Monday Architect Allen thought the building could be com plsted, ready for occupancy by aext July.