Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-08-09
oUa HAmDEN NErcHBons.


Here's state of Things-what n
Committees Report Discloses-A
Vigorous Retrenchment Policy Adj
vOcated.
The town of Hamden is in state of fer
ment in consequence of some disclosures
which have been brough to light by means
OF a committee which was appointed by
the town to investigate the administration
OF the selectmen. The committee was com
posed of the following gentlemen: John T.
futile, Henry futile and Samuel P. Crafts
Each of these gentlemen submitted his own
report. Mr.. Crafts, as a result of his in
vestigation, said among other things:
"Any individual who should carry on his
business as the town carries on its road
making would soon go into bankruptcy.
| "The rate paid for teams is too high.
-Four dollars and half per day of ten
hours is SO much betterthan is earned
elsewhere as a rule that there is a scramble
for the work and dissatisfaction at failure
to obtain what parties consider their just
proportion of employment.
There has been paid for teams in the
last year s., 600.62, which is % per cent.
more than is paid for hauling brick-an
excess of 1872. But this is not the worst
feature for the town voted in January,
1888, that work should be done on the
roads only between March and Septem-
Der 1. Yet there has been expended on the
roads in September s277.70, in October
$347 09, in November $500, in December
S514SS, in january $1,000, and in Febru-
airy $13. 50; in all 81 1868
Hardening roads is not included in this
estimate. Ten hours work done in Decem-
Der and January must some of it be done
by faith and not by sight"
! Mr.. Henry futile in his report says:
eve find that the first selectman has
charged and received pay for eighty seven
days as services in town business at 50 per
day, amounting to $261; also for thirty
three and one-half days for Office work. at
So per day, $100.50, when it does not APP
pear that he ever performed any part of
said work and it is not charged on the
dates when saide Office work was done.
We find that this charge is without pre-
cedent; but if it was proper and necessary
to employ clerk to perform the duties
which the salectmen were elected to per
form, the clerk should have presented g
bill in his own name, the same as any
other man who had claim against the
town and had it printed in the selectmen'.
report.
Your committee find that the second Sc
: lectman has received for official service q.
, selectman 1928, which your committe,
, consider as excessive and unjust for sec
ond selectman. We find that the thirt
selectman has received for official servic,
! s43, leaving $3.50. received by the othe
two.
We find several bills which were illegal
! ly contracted and paid when the bills d,
not correctly show what the work wa
that had been paid for. We find that tn,
first selectman and son and = Rice hav
! drawn from the town treasury the pas
year 81 ,406.44. The selectmen's service
in this town in 1880, with the competen
business men, G. P. Augur, w. w. Wood
ruff and E. w. Potter, cost only 1929.
s The town farm under his late manage
ment is a very expensive legislation. Man
believe it would cost less to board the poo
q at first class hotel Your committee d
< not recommend any additional appropria
ton for the ordinary repairs of highway
n at present.
: In conclusion the committee recommen
: retrenchment, and emphasize the necessit
) for such action by contrasting the salarie
of the selectmen of other adjoining town
!, with those paid to Hamden's selectmen
:. They figure out that Hamden is now pay
+ ing her selectmen four or five times a
!; much as any of the neighboring towns O
Bethany, Woodbridge, Cheshire, Walling
ford or North Haven