Morning journal and courier., 1888-05-03
ANrmPORTANr QUESTION


 ana City Consolidation Question.
 By far one of the most important and in- teresting matters ever considered by the Chamber of Commerce came up in that body for discussion last night It comprehended an entire revolution of the whole system of New Havens local government with regard to the town, city and school district. There was warm and eloquent debate and the further discussion of the topic was adjourned until one week from last evening.
 President J. D. Dewell opened the meeting and after the appointment of Frank H. Sperry as teller the following gentlemen were unanimously elected members of the body John M. Champion, A. N. Farnham, Alex. Emery, Joseph B. Morse, Nehemiah N. Hoyt, jr., James T. Lee, Edwin F. Mersick, Edward H. Phipps.
 T. Atwater Barnes submitted letter from the Rochester, N. Y., chamber of commerce, accompanying copy of a memorial sent by them to Congress asking that postage on let ters be reduced from two cents to one cent an ounce. The documents were accepted and filed and a resolution endorsing the change was adopted. MT. Barnes briefly spoke in favor of such a reduction, and Fl. P. Hub bard said in answer to question that in England postage was half-penny for every half ounce in weight.
 H. P. Hubbard of the committee on print ing. who recommended the publishing of sta, tistical information regarding New Haven iI nine leading industrial journals of the eoan- try: thought 8 large advertisement in few leading papers would be better than small one in many. He had selected only trade and commercial papers as the cost would be $328, of which $151 would go to the Scien- tidc American. The matter was referred tc the executive committee to report. i-RaOiamin FnO1ish ranorfad that the re- cent banquet cost $574; received. from mem-
 bers $46S, balance due the committee $1o6 There were 156 at the banquet. An order
 was passed for paying the $106.
 The report of the committee on municipal affairs in favor of consolidation of our towr and city governments was read. It favored having only one taxing power for the town city and school district. Also that the May ors power be enlarged and he be made re- spensible for city appointments. It was rec commended that there be a commission o1 seven persons, to be chosen by the Mayor, tc report by October 1, so that legislative actioT might be taken this winter. The commission were to enquire:
 I. Should the town and city be consolidat edg
 II. Should the board of education be more closely connected with the city government
 III. Should the care of the poor be com mitted to city department of charities anc correction?
 ". Should the power of the Mayor be in creaseda
 There was break in the continuity of bus mess by passing vote to print 1000 copies of the constitutions and bylaws of the cham Der.
 Now commenced the great debate. In re sponse to s. Harrison Wagner's inquiry ii full notice had been served upon the mem bers as to what was coming, it appeared tha only the usual notice of meeting had beer given.
 John c. Gallagher moved the adoption O the committees resolutions in the order a presented. It was so ordered. Henry c. White said that despite objec tions made it was proper subject for tn, in all cities, while New Haven had seen fit tt make no change. The committee had seer the importance of discussion as to consoli dating the town and city. In nearly all the cities of Massachusetts the town system hat given way to general chaEte We have city without a head The lamp committee illegally appointed al inspector and spent $55, ,000 year. Charles Kleiner of the committee spoke il favor of the recommendation. l.. Wheeler Beecher, of Westville, would not deny the prepriety of the discussion, bu the resolutions proposed to instruct tht MbyOI CO AppO1ub u COmM1sS1OH IO RO gun ming after matters which would be under his own control to fix. The chamber had nc authority to do any such thing. Why should not the chamber ask the town gov. ernment to appoint such commission! s. H. Wagner-An New England wal
 based upon town government. If remedy for the present system is needed it must bt found in new State constitution in place of the present one patched all over like an ole boot. Go to the bottom of this thing anc first discuss the new constitution New Haven has the worst sys tenn of government of any place in the land. There should bt city charters alike. None have now tht same. We have city government without head. Make head and make him respon. sible. The interests of this chamber are best conserved when we do not give it out that we quarrel with our town system when we dc not The town meeting represents more money by millions than the whole common council.
 Mr. Beecher-Why cannot this chamber appoint the Investigating commission
 Mir. Kleiner had no objection. He gave the chamber some statistics to show that much of the money spent for roads and bridges was spent outside the city and it was 50 in Rhode Island. In St. Louis and other cities, the city and county governments had been consolidated. In San Francisco, Boston, New Orleans and other communities, you find cities meeting the problem by transfer ring the legislative to the executive powers. Business is transferred to departments. In Philadelphia single man is at the head of the police, fire and other departments, in ac- cordanee with the federal system. It would be absurd to have committee at the head of the treasury of the United States.
 MT. White referred to the objectionable ,k I la1&k k1 another and said there were $200, 900 floating debts of the town day.
 N.D.Sperry deprecated action at this time He wanted time for a full and fair debate He moved that if vote upon the report be taken it should be at @ future meeting.
 MT. Kleiner remarked that postponement of action would prevent legislative action this winter.
 N. D. Sperry-A town meeting often sets things right that would otherwise go wrong Let us have a fair debate.
 Several motions and amendments were of fered in rapid succession, B. R. English offer ing one that the debate should be adjourned to Saturday evening; tabled.
 MT. Wagner spoke for more deliberate ac- tion or in support of N. D. Sperry's remarks.
 MT. Sperry did not like the recommenda- tion for having the Mayor appoint the com mission. There were plenty of cities in which corruption rioted. When the city of New Haven's common council appointed the judge of the City court, the late William Fitch had said that we could not have city free from the influence of criminals. Now we find the flower of the city government claiming that the town and school district should come under it's management. Is it possible that our school board cannot say what money they needl
 Attorney John 0. Gallagher, who is also one of the committee which submitted the report, said that when the committee began to look into the matter under consideration they found that the community of New Ha- ven were blest with trinitarfan govern ment-snd it was anything but holy trim ity. There was no reason except an historical one for our having separate town, city and school governments. The town meeting should be abolished be- cause it was an institution adapted only to small communities. There was no town of 30, 900 inhabitants in this country that had retained it, and New Haven was simply allowing itself to fall behind the age in to abolish it. All the committee asked was an investigation similar to the one