Morning journal and courier., 1888-03-29

GERS and boards, New Haven has gone to an
extreme in its devotion to the second idea.
Its government is divided between three dis
tinct corporations the town, the city and
the school district. Each has it's own set of
officers, whose conflicting authority has all
ready caused considerable annoyance and in
convenience. Each lays its own taxes and
two of these corporations lay taxes amount
ing to more than $400, 900 in popular meet
ings made up of one or two hundred chance
attendants out of II, 900 voters.
Would it not be for the advantage of the
community If all our public revenue were
raised by a single tax, laid at one time by
single authority I
to small communities, although every other
place in New England abolished its town
government long before it's population reach
ed anything like $4,000.
Many of our citizens of both parties think
| that the powers of the Mayor might be in
creased to the advantage of the city. It is
probable also that some of the powers now
exercised by committees of the Court of Com
mon Council might better be delegated to
some existing department.
| In view of these and numerous other well
known facts 1t seems clearly in the interest
of municipal prosperity that We should
seriously consider whether our present local
| institutions should be longer retained unal-
| tered.
Your committee therefore respectfully
recommend the passage of the following
| resolutions
| Resolved That the committee on municipal af-
fairs be and is hereby n in the name of the
Chamber of Commerce to authorize the Mayor to
at least four shall be citizens NOT now ia public
Office to inquire what changes, if any can be made
which would be likely to promote the welfare and
prosperity Of the community, and more particular
port their conclusions thereon 10 the Court Of Com
mon Council not later than October l. 1883 SO that
riofo 1no ~ a
l sion Of the legislature in case any changes are
| deemed advisable:
| solidated?
connected with the city government?
3 shOuld the care Of the poor be committed to
I Should the power Of the Mayor be increaseds
Respectfully submitted,
| JOHN c. GALLAGHER,
CHARLES KLEINER,
HENRY c. WHITE
This report made quite breeze. Charles
L. Baldwin spoke in favor of the recon-
| mendation and explained why the committee
had taken the course it had. He said the
| accepting of the report would not commit
| the chamber.
A motion to lay the report on the table TN
| til the next meeting was made, but before it
was seconded ex-Selectman Beecher was on
| his feet and wanted to object to the resolu-
| ton which was recommended. Captain
| Townshend also objected to it in vigorous
| terms. He never would consent to a consol-
| idation of the town and city governments.
| The town should come before the city every
| time.
| Charles Kleiner did not want the matter
| laid over. A reform in the government of
| New Haven was necessary. He called the
present government three headed. T. At
| water Barnes agreed with Mr.. KIeiner. He
| thought the Mayor should be given more
| power. AS it is now two or three boards
| have to be called together before anything
| can be done.
ExaMayor Lewis said that no one knew
| that the matter was to be brought up last
night and lie would move that it be laid over.
| There are two sides to the questions pro-
| posed and they should be thoroughly dis
| cussed.
President Dewell thought it should be laid
over and then discussed. They were ques-
tions for the chamber to take up to show
| that the chamber was alive.
On motion the report was laid on the
| table to be taken up and discussed at special
meeting of the chamber to be called by the
kchairman.
The report caused quite breeze both in
| and after the meeting adjourned. After
| the meeting spirited controversy was had
| by Captain Townshend and President Dewell.
| The captain said that if the chamber took
the matter up that that body would "burst."
President DewelI said it wouldn't, but would
show that the chamber was alive. The dis
| cussion waxed warm for several minutes
Captain Townshend remarked emphatically
| that soon as the meeting adjourned Presi-
| dent DeWell and he were on equal grounds
! and he could say just what he pleased. The
captain WAS greatly opposed to the resolution