Morning journal and courier., 1889-10-15
aoAnp OF oouro1LmEN.

BOARD OF CoUNOILMEN.
McNamara and Kelley |
Make q Vigorous Flight and Garry |
Their Point Against tho Lamp Conn
mittee-The Electric Light at the
Corner OF walnut and MILL River
streets 20 be Replaced-ActiOn ON tho
special APPROX Ration for the Board
or Public works Postponed Until
Friday.
It was so rainy last night that quite Q
number of councilmen were absent from
their accustomed places, but this did not de-
ter tho clerk from disposing of the large
amount of business on hand. There were
many new petitions presented, principally
for street lamps. .-is4.
What brought forth the most oratory of
the evening was q accommodation from the
street committee not to replace an electric
light on the corner of Walnut and Mill River
streets. The unique thing about 1t was that
Councilmen McNamsra and Kelley of the
Seventh ward carried point that they had
been working at for some time. 1t is the old
story regarding the authority of the lamp
committee, and the vote of the board last
night was virtually slap at that body, or, to
express 1t mildly. to show them where their
precedent, as previous lamp committees have
gone ON doing about as they pleased, doing
away with this or that lamp, and establish
ing one at another place. The councilmen
from the Seventh. claimed that matters had
gone about far enough and that the commit
tee had been overstepping Its bounds.
Some time ago the committee discontinued
the electric light already mentioned, it having
been ordered about five years ago.
tad 1,at~ orl
to pass an order backing them up. Council
man Lee of the lamp committee explained
that the light was not needed. He said he
thought the whole thing had simmered down
to personal thing against the lamp con-
mittee.
Councilman McNamara was on his feet,
with fire in his eyes. He vigorously up-
braided the committee for exceeding its au-
thority, and went into detail to show why
the light was needed. He denied the accusa-
ton that 1t was personal fight. His argu-
ment was q strong one.
But the oratorioal effort of the evening
came vhen Councilman Kelley arose, and
with firm and determined look dwelt on
| the merits Of the case. He became eloquent
| toward the close He said the meetings of
| the lamp committee were held behind closed
doors, and that no notice had been given of q
hearing to be had on the matter. This, he
| thought, stamped the action of the committee
az illegal. All that was wanted, he said, was
Justice; and justice required that the light be
replaced.
As several counoilmen thought they could
| tee had failed to agree In recommending that
that light be not replaced, mo-
ton was made that the matter
be referred back, with instruction that
hearing be advertised. Before the motion
was passed Councilman Asher said that in
times passed the football to be kicked about
was the old State House; since that had been
disposed of 1t was the lamp committee,
Councilmen McNamara and Kelley object
ed to the matter being referred back.
A motion to order the lamp committee to
replace the light was put and carried by an
aye and nay vote, as follows:
,Ayes-Coffey, U!lman, Peat, .Clarkson, Hubbard
shaw, sanborn, Matin. Bromley, Asher, Kelley
Nays-Lse, Lowe, Loveridge, Hamilton. Moran,
WaFdeil. Beers sonnenserg srchoff Anthony,
Later on Councilman Wardell changed
his vote, making 1t 10 to 10 to have the
light replaced. This disposes of q question
that has excited considerable argument.
The next bone of contention was on the
recommendation of the board of finance to
appropriate 50, 900 for the board of public
works use, It did not create as much talk
as was expected. President Chandler called
OOuuClluhu WAIuelL TO Inc cnhlr, ana look
the floor. President Chandler was in favor
of appropriating but $4,000, as the Orange
street extention could not be finished any
way, and he had heard that the board of
public works had said that 1t could get along
with that amount If need be. He had been
to the city officials and could not find where
there was $4,000 in the treasury, as was
claimed.
Councilman Bromley explained the position
of the beard of finance when 1t passed the
recommendation, the idea being that there
was plenty of money on hand. He made q
motion that the whole matter be tabled to in
quire and find out from Auditor Lake how
much money there Ia in the treasury, which.
was seconded by President Chandler. It
was passed, there being but few dissenting
voices.
An order to appropriate $2,844 for the
board of public works, the amount that AL
derman Gessner of the board of finance says
there In In the treasury, was also tabled until
the next meeting, which will be held next
Friday night.
In regard to the Dewitt street extension,
an order was passed ordering the board of
public works to cause survey and layout
FOR the discontinuance of said street, and
that the matter of settlement with property
owners on that street for assessments col
lected by the CITY be referred to the commit
tee on claims.
The recommendation that the chief of
police see to 1t that horse oars do not violate
the city charter by stopping on street cross
ing to the detriment of public travel, was
passed.
The petitions to recall the layout of park
ct State and Franklin streets be recalled
from the board of compensation and refer 1t
to the newly created park commission, was
tabled.
The petitioners for an electric light corner
of Third street and Howard avenue were
given leave to withdraw.
Councilman Hubbard introduced petit
ton, signed by John N. Coffey, asking for
an exemption on taxes on the value of one
thousand dollars for the years 1884 and 1885,
and that he be paid back the overcharge, on
the ground that he Ia veteran of the late
war and was disabled. The petition was re-
ferred.
The following orders were passed: Abate-
ment of city taxes of Mary Yale, amounting
to $506; abatement Of city taxes on the lists
Of 1885, 1886, 1887, of Frank Gross, amount
ing to SIS. IS; abatement of taxes of Edward
CALDWELL on the lists of 1878 to 1887, amount
Ing to $74. 50; to gas lamps to be erected on
Humphrey street, between Whitney avenue
and Orange street; naptha lamp on Foster
street, between Ferry street and Clinton
avenue; gas lamp on Chapel street, between
Temple and College streets; three naptha
lamps on Conner street, between Whitney
avenue and Orange street; gas lamp on Elm
street, between Winthrop avenue and Norton
street; gas lamp corner of st. Roman and
Conner streets; three gas lamps on Bishop
street, between Whitney avenue and State
street; gas lamp on Middletown avenue, at
the junction; gas lamp on Winchester ave-
nue., between Webster and Sachem streets;
gas lamp on Mansfield street, between Sachem
street and Prospect Place; gas lamp on Elm
street, between Sherman and Winthrop ave.
nues; gas lamp on Orchard street, between
Mulberry street and Gilbert avenue; gas
lamp on Ward street, between Oak
street and Sylvan avenue; two naptha
lamps on Whalley avenue; gas lamp corner
Of Avon and Foster streets; three naptha
lamps on Elm street, west of Brownell street;
two naptha lamps on Peck street, between
Ferry street and Clinton avenue; four gas
lamps on Elm street, west of Norton street;
three naptha lamps ON Orange street, between
Gamer street and the bridge; that the board
OF public works cause . survey and layout
for watering trough at the corner of Dix
we'll and Shelton avenues; that the sidewalk
on the south side of st. John street, be-
tween African and Olive streets, be relaid
of the same material as at present construct
cd by the property owners fronting on the
south side Of said street to the acceptance of
tee board of public works on or before De-
cember /; that the board of public works
carry out the curbing and grading of Ed
wards street Immediately, that the board of
public works cause cobble cutters to be con.
etructed on Munson street from Winchester