Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-08
LONG STRIDE TOWARD UNITY.

VI The Majority Report of the Chamber
 Of Commerce Special Committee A C.
 cepted-The Legislative Committee
 on Cities and BOrOughs to be Invited Here for a HearIng-The Minority
 Fight WelI-The SeIectmen's Trip to Hartford Three Years Ago. The final bout in the consolidation mud dle which has stirred the Chamber of Con- meree for several months was ended last night and consolidation proudly emerged from the skirmish with carriage erect and victori- ous.
 The Chamber met to take action upon the majority and minority reports of their special committee. full week had been given for pondering upon the matter, and the situation was at last clearly set before the view of the Chamber
 Nathan Easterbrook, chairman of the program by moving that the majority re, port as adopted by the committee be adopted Hobart L. Rotchkiss immediately replied by amending the resolution in that the mi nority report should be accepted and no fur ther action taken In support of his amend ment, he repeated many of the arguments get forth in the minority report.
 Attorney J. Q. Gallagher, in answering the speaker, said his report was faulty from the start. ''It immediately betrays it's author,' D he continued. "It seems to begin by assum- ing that the Chamber of Commerce has no ri ght to investigate or act upon this matter of consolidation at all. The purpose of the Chamber is perhaps best in the memorial to the legislature in 1872. It stated that the Chambers business was the promotion of trade and commerce in the city of New Haven. Now if a change in our taxes does not affect our trade and commerce, the chamber has nothing to do with the matter. But it ob- vlously does. The principal argument of our opponents is that the Chamber should not meddle with this matter. I say, let us take vote first tonight and decide whether this Chamber shall do anything between meals or not"
 After few further remarks MT. Hotch- kiss amendment was put to vote. It was evident thas MT. Hetchkiss and his subur- ban neighbors were lost in the shadow of their opponents, but still they held out bravely. Their amendment was lost amid the smiles of the preponderating majority, original resolution was adopted by like vote.
 The following resolution WAS then offered by Mir. Easterbrook:
 Voted, That Messrs. N. Easterbrook, jr, T. At water Barnes. Frank H. sperry and John c. Gal in in aecoEdance with the plan for the consolidation mitted by the majority of the special committee, tee and to present the same to the present session of the General Assembly, and to advocate it's passage
 This measure aroused considerable discus sion, the minority bitterly opposing it, and finally Hon. Lynde Harrison amended the res olution so that it read as follows: Voted, That the president of this chamber be, and he is hereby instructed to request the commit. Assembly to hold such hearings on the subject of the consolidation of the town city and school gov ernments as the committee may deem necessary, in suitable room or hall in this city. Voted, That the president be directed to provide suitable court room hall in this city for the
 to give proper notice of the time and place selected for the first hearing. if the committee agrees to visit New Haven for that purpose. Attorney Gallagher, in remarking upon this measure, said that if anything in this way was done it ought to be in perfect fair ness to those who oppose the measure in the matter of expense and obligation of gong to Hartford to appear before the legislature, He considered the motion as a fair compromise.
 Captain James M. Townsend said he didn't think the legislature ought to have anything whatever to do with taxing the town. 'sWe don't want to have to come over here to the common council at every meeting to lobby and wait around in the hope of opposing some scheme concocted by the city to ieop- ardize our interests"
 Attorney Kleiner said it would be much more convenient to have the legislative com mittee here and save time, travel and ex- pense. "As to the common council" said he, ''I deny that it's actions are not up- right"
 The motion before the chamber was dogged- ly but hopelessly resisted by the minority and finally passed by large vote. The following motion was then offered by ex-Mayor Lewis and passed by the chamber:
 Voted. That the executive committee be author ized to pay the expenses of the committee cities and boroughs while in New Haven holding hearings pursuant wiht vote heretofore passed.
 This was also objected to by the minority. They declared that the committee would not be their guests and as the chamber was di- vided they should not have to pay for the en- tertainment of those invited by the larger part. The minority here forgot that the coming of the legislative committee to this city would save them the trouble of a trip and probably an extended stay in Hartford.
 Colonel CoWles, in remarking upon the matter, said that he remembered when the subject was before the legislature three years ago those who went to Hartford in support of consolidation had their expenses paid He asked if anyone could inform the chamber whether the other side did also.
 Ex-Town Agent Reynolds explained that the selectmen who went to Hartford at that time all drew pay and full expenses for the trip.
 After few further remarks the important business of the evening was over. Four new members were voted into the chamber. They were Attorney Livingston Cleaveland Chas. Fleischner, Samuel F. Punderson and R. A. Belden.