Morning journal and courier., 1890-12-17
ANorABLErowNm EEr1NG.

A NOTABLE TOWN MEETING.
4 stormy Time Indeed-One of the |
Most Exciting In Many Years-A Big |
Turnout OF People-Tho Appropri- |
alton of Ten Thousand Dollars for |
Free Books Passed mt Last-Much |
Confusion OF Opinton-The Moder-
ator Interviewed.
Bedlam was let loose at yesterdays town
meeting at Music hall. It was the iveli
est town meeting which has been held in
this city for years and reminded many of
the older citizens of the exciting times at
the town meetings Of fifteen or twenty
years ago. The adjournment was voted
and declared in such excitement that few
in the hall knew whether any action re-
garding the SIC, 900 appropriation for free
books had been taken or not. The great
est difficulty was experienced in conduct
ing the proceedings of the meeting, and
Moderator Isaac Wolf sent ous for an ex-
ira detail of police, and even then the
crowds could not be controlled.
There were over six hundred persons in
the hall when the meeting was called to
order by Moderator Isaac Wolfe at Q
y ClOCh. IIOM1ucuI ClklE6u6 hlu OllClhlb
were noticed everywhere about the hall,
each intently interested in the strife upon
one side or the other. A resolution to ap
pirate $4,000 for books in the public
schools was introduced, and directly a mo-
ton was made to table it. This was lost
and Councilman Bree offered an amend
ment making the appropriation for the
free schools of New Haven. Attorney
Goodhart thought the motion out of order
and Moderator Wolfe so declared it.
An uproar of dissent followed. Attor-
ney Bree and Ward contended the amend
1nent was in order and that the state con-
trolled all the children and hence should
do as much for one as for another. Attor-
ney Fowler declared the amendment out of
order, as only public schools had been Gre
ated by statute.
The question of sustaining the decision
of the moderator was put to vote, but the
ayes and nays were 80 great in volume that
it could not be distinguished which was
the greater. A period of confusion fol
lowed. ALI in favor of sustaining the po-
sition of the chair were told to face the
left side of the hall and those opposed to
the right. Several minutes were spent in
this. When there was apparently divid-
ing line established the moderator
said that in his opinion the chair
Was bu5eoAAONs Lib Was tOCllOIOuSly
| doubted and a storm of shouts and wells OF
all kinds burst forth. The sides broke ur
| in the excitement and Fire Commissioner
Farnsworth came forward to insist that
| the division be maintained. Moderator
| Wolfe appointed Messrs. Farnsworth and
Bree to designate the line through the cen
| ter. Alderman Chandler moved the chail
| appoint committee of suitable persons tt
| procure a rope and maintain this line. The
| moderator then asked some of the opposi
| ton to come to the platform and judge i
| the vote did not sustain him in his decis
l ion. Undertaken Linahan came forward
and declared it did not. "You are lyinl
| dewitt" shouted some one. Another storm
of shouts and yells broke forth.
Attorney Goodhart then moved tn
original resolution. T. H. Sullivan aros
and declared the meeting not legal one
He said the moderator had not been ap
pointed legally. He read section from
the general statutes stating that tn
moderator of a town meeting shall be ap
pointed by the meeting itself. He declare,
Moderator Wolfe not legally appointed a
he had been chosen by the selectmen.
The moderator said he had been legal
appointed by the selectmen and propose
to continue the meeting. He was SUI
ported in his position by a statute enacte
a few years ago which provided that tn
selectmen of the town of New Have
should have power to appoint the moders
tor of town meetings
Another period of confusion and excite
ment followed. Cries of "Put the model
ator out" were heard as were numerou
| motions to adjourn. The question of &C
journment was put and again it was a
most impossible to distinguish betwee
the volume of the ayes and noes. tt
| chair declared the motion lost. This We
| also doubted. Undertaken Linahan an
l T. II. Sullivan arose to insist that eac
voter be counted. John Hanafin, Thorn.
, Il. Sullivan and Attorney Bree were Gale
, to the raised platform to pass judgme1
, on whether the ayes or nays had it. II
assistant moderators believed that thol
favoring adjournment we're in the mino
r ity. Somebody threatened to put n
| Sullivan out of the hall. The latter W,
defiant and said he would remain Agai
: a deafening storm of bowls, yells an
cries arose, all trying to talk at the san
time.
i In the midst of this Father Bray ascen
ed the platform. Silence reigned for
t short time. The priest raised his hand
address the mob, but his voice was drow
ed by cries of Question:" He final
gained a hearing. He declared the iss,
3 not a sectarian one at all. We simply a.
for what belongs to US, said he. AS lot
4 | at it the question is on the meaning of Il
| word public" I have searched. the a
{ thoIities carefully and I cannot find an
q thing that shows that our schools are N
! public schools. All are welcome to o,
f | schools; there is nothing sectarian abo
: them, and we only ask for a portion of Il
l | funds which our poor people supply.
Father Mulholland then arose to spea
8 Thomas Forsyth objected strenuously
s further argument. Again scene of CO
t fusion followed and Moderator Wolfe Sc
Q | out for an extra detail of police. Two
q | them kent the crowd back from the plf
f form and Father Mulholland spoke for SO
1 eral minutes. He reiterated the statemen
. of Father Bray and urged the Catholics
Y secure for themselves the benefit of Il
money they pay in taxes.
r After he ceased Moderator Wolf put &
y original motion to appropriate $4,000 f
t the public school free books and the sar
t confusion of yells ensued. Both sides g
Q deayored to out-yell the other and again
f was extremely difficult to distinguish /
8 tween the ayes and noes. Moderat
q Wolfe declared the motion carried amid
- great excitement. His decision was sire
2 uously doubted" by hundred perso
. who strove to obtain the floor. Motto
Q to adjourn were heard and this mott,
: was put and carried.
i MR.. WOLFE INTERVIEWED.
II Some confusion having arisen at t
4 close of the meeting and uncertainty ext.
ing in the minds of many of those prese
e as to the decision of the chairman, Mode
ator Wolfe was interviewed by CouRr
2 reporter last evening in reference to t
matter. He said: 81 decided the questi,