Morning journal and courier., 1890-02-04

church property, which was by common con-
sent deemed the best site in the city for the
purpose and plans are already prepared for
and remodeling the church build
ing, 30 as to adopt 1t to the use Of the H.
brsry.
The money available Is not sufficient to
make all the alterations, both inside and out,
which might be wished tor, but the direc-
tors have deemed 1t best to put the building |
in perfect repair and to finish and equip the
interior in q thorough manner befo1e devot~
ing their attention to the appearance of the
front. There Is every reason 10 believe that
before the end of the year the building will
be ready for use.
THE MARETT BEouEsT.
By the death of Mrs. Ellen n. Clifford in
September last, certain legacies contained in
the will of her father, the late Philip Marett
of this city, who died in 1868, became paya-
BILE. By this will, Mr.. Narett left nearly his
entire estate, amounting to over $3.50. 900. to
be used for benevolent purposes, chiefly In
this city. Bsquests no muni6csnt and phil
anthropic have never before been made with
in the history Of our community, and IL
seems proper that some public action should
be taken to testify tho gratitude Of our peo-
his memory by some suitable and lasting
memorial I recommend this subject to your
consideration.
Among the leeacies of Mr. Marett was one
"to the city of New Haven In trust, the in
come to be applied by the proper authorities
for the purchase of books for the
Young Mems institute or any public
exist in said CITY" Under this bequest
the trustees of the estate paid over in Octo-
Der last to the city treasurer the sum OF $780,
600 for the uses and purposes of the bequest,
and by vote of this body in November last
the income of this fund was directed to be
paid to the free public library; but the bsne-
fit of the bequest is claimed by the Young
Mems institute, and suit is now pending to
determine its application. 1t may be proper
for your honorable body, If you shall deem
it advisable, to consider whether an AMIGA
BILE arrangement might not be made for the
division Of the fund between these two in
stitutions, both of which are important and
useful to the community.
By another legacy in the will of Mr.. Marett
one-ffth Of his residuary estate was be-
held in trust by the town authorities and the
revenue to be applied through said agencies
as they see 6t for the supply of fuel and
other necessaries to deserving INDECENT per.
sons, not paupers, preferrtng such as are aged
and infrm."
On an application of the trustees of the
estate inquiring whether the city would
accept this bequest with the accompanying
trust, special committee was appointed
by this body in November last to considers
| report to the Court of Common Council what
course would be desirable in the premises,
The committee held several sessions but
thought best not to make any report, pend
| ing the decision of the court. I would re-
commend that actions be taken for ths
| appointment of q new committee. Serious
| legal questions az we'll as questions
| of public policy are involved in the decision
of this matter, and q careful consideration Of
| it In all its bearings is important. Under
other provisions of the will, If the city
should decline to accept the bequest, thu
fund is to be divided among other charitable
and benevolent institutions named in thu
will. Whether under these circumstances II
is advisable for the city to enter upon thu
new and untried experiment of charitable
distribution, even II 1t has the legal powel
to do 90, and whether the benefcent pur'
poses of Mrs Marett would not be better
carried out by allowing the fund to pass int
we'll established and favorite channels o.
benevolent work, are questions which, among
others, are raised and should be discussed
only on careful and deliberate reflection. and
so as to promote on the whole the best use O.
the fund and the best interests of the com
munity.
RE-DIvIsIoN OF CITY HALL.
Almost the only officer of any importance
of the city or town of New Haven who Is no
provided with a separate or suitable office 4
the mayor. In one instance the clerk of
committee has been given private Office, blu
the chief executive has none. Citizens ant
ladies who desire to confer with him ar
| oh1iood IN 10 in a moat Dublfc manner ant
are often subjected to great annoyance. Tn
necessary confusion in the Office, which is tn
rendezvous OF all who have business at Cit
Hall and where almost the entire business o
the city is transacted, makes ID impossible a
times for the mayor to attend to his duties
quartered in this Office. which IL frequentl
used for committee hearings.
J The need of tho auditor and cit
, clerks Is much greater even than tn
Mayors. They are cramped for room an
/ entirely deprived Of any storage vault for th
papers and books which regulate the cit
business, and obstructed in their work b.
the causes before mentioned. I deem 1t m
= duty to call your attention In this matter I
the somewhat startling fact that tho ancient
valuable and only records Of the city an
, council for the 100 years of its existence az
, all exposed in an unlocked case in this room
where they are always liable to loss, mutils
} ton and destruction. In what other tnstsnc
have such priceless records been carelessl
exposeda The city clerks and auditor shout
. have an Office with fire proof vault.
Realizing the condition of affairs the cour
ell of 1889 appointed q joint select commit
tee to meet with the selectmen and max
some plan to relieve the difficulty.
The committee met with the sslectme
several times, but were unable to obtain an
concessions from the town officials, a. two Q
|. / hi. via
the town clerk and assessors. common
!. this matter to your earnest attention, 40 III
day is not far distant when the existing stat
of affairs must be remedied.
CHARTER AND oRDINA NoKs.
!. Near the close of the Court of Commo
: Council committee was appointed to com
pile the charter and ordinances. This CON
mittee Is industriously at work on the same
have no doubt it will be systematically q,
ranged, so that each subject oan readily b
referred to without being obliged to 60 owe
all the pages, as was the case In the last
OLD STATE HOUSE.
The Court of Common Council for 10S
have removed this bone, which has been th
cause of go many years Of strife and conten
ton and upon which 20 many pages of litert
, ture have been expended. While the settle
|, ment ia a disappointment to many. its settl,
ment In any manner WAS relief to all. It
hoped, however, that when the grading An
hall have been completed the improve
: appearance of the Green will temper, IL nc
entirely relieve, the disappointment of th
state house admirers.
HARBoR IMPROVEMENTS.
The Court of Common Council at its fri
, meeting this year, in response to q petitio
. for the purpose, authorized a committee
60 before the river and harbor committee
Washington to urge upon that body II
necessity of an appropriation for the pu
Q pose of further improving our harbor, b
building q breakwRter In . southwesterl
direction from Luddington rock, in accort
ance with the recommendations OF the GO
: eminent engineers. This would, togeth,
{ with the eastern breakwater, form q harbt
of refuge which would -be prote cted frol
l storms in all directions.
= A petition sigued by the leadin 6 shippiu
= merchants of New York was presented to Il
: committee, showing that this work was fl
= the benefit of the entire commerce of Il
Sound.
The dredging of the harbor, in oonneotio
! with the building Of the breakwater, was II
cluded. This would be of great benefit
> the shipping interests of our city. The con
. mittee went to Washington January 10th, "a
: rangements having been made for the hsa
= ing for Friday the 18th, at 1890, by YOU
very able representative from this dtstric
Mr.. Wilcox, to whom the committee feel II