Morning journal and courier., 1890-10-28
TOWN GOVERNMENTS.
rh.tr value and Indestructibllity
Under the State Constitution.

Their Value ana huuossA |
Under the State Constitution.
70 the Editor Of the JouRNAIsAND CouhIxR:
read with much interest the powerful
sneech of Ex-Governor Harrison concern
ing the indestruoibility of town govern
ments. Permit me to subjoin few
thoughts from the very able address on the |
same subject made by Hon. N. D. Sperry |
when he spoke so powerfully against con-
solidation at New Haven city hall not long
since. After referring to the gradual AFRO
cation of town privileges and rights in
Now Haven by the city government, and
stating his persistent loyalty to the rights
pertaining to town governments, he chal-
lenged the opposition to trot out, If they
could, any glazing violations of trust or
power by our town government. Proceed
ing, he said: Why, my friends, don't
you know that the town govern
ments are the great governmental Those
little town governments are governments OF me
rrepubIic. The towns existed before the states
and they have their indefeasible rights They
have their rights, and they have rights that the
legislature of the state can't deny or set aside
like the old town governments, Why, il was
said here only a year ago at our chamber OF com
merce banquet that this town and city OF New
Haven had the smallest Indebtedness Of any
town of its size save one, in the United States,
and per capita, it was equal to any other town IN
the United States SO far as smallness OF debt IS
The town government, as have said, is gov
of the people, + ar
BILE; the constitution gives them perpetual exist
ence Now, If that be So, be very care s, my my
der one government the government OF the CITY,
the town and the schools, which have their rights
and interest tb fhs elect YOUR
| from the different parts Of the town, increase
their number if necessary, but keep up that old
the town of New Haven was the germ OF the
ven ali governments this side Of the
spfpn1gt ont N f% oG os dn Which sss s
sisted us to make an independent state and an
independent nation and strive for that glitter
cty Charter Where is its sacredness? charter
to city is no more sacred than is the charter
of bank or the charter Of manufactory-no
come of the legislature and OF legislative enact,
ment through town representation in the general
for I good government, and we should be careful
how we infringe upon the rights Of these t 9la
fer ho tMo on nre down and gg
have guided us we'll and honorably thus
Which my msf friend Governor Harrison made on
this very point; speaking Of the town govern
|
stitution confirms to them perpetual existence
| and the government of the state can't destroy
them It elects oil its own oficers-local Officers
| for the purpose of regulating and governing
sembly, but by its own right. The state govern
with it. The officers Of justice Of the courts and
the grand Jurors TaS po serve fhe1
cannot appoint them; it isn't in their province
| halo, tot Iaf o1 ftpvn
the government of the towns in this re
spect." l have quoted. I believe, verbs
ments. It is said that consolidation will save OK
pense. I confess don't believe it. You propose
to bring into one government the town and tn
eminent. We have selectmen and their duties
ers; this right exists in them alone and you can
this rght Toms are Ies
not. Therefore we must have town govern
ment in order to be represented in the state egis
under city charter that the town government
must be maintained, and you still have two gov
ernments if you consolidate on the city basis
| But if you consolidate under the town only one
| government is necessary.
| 1 believe, under consolidation, our expenses
consolidation, my opinion, salaries win be pai'
to the various boards. Do not make any mistake
board, to your board of public works, to your fir
board and to your police board. 1t is a step
/
you mark what say that in ten years after COZ
solidation those officials who are today dom
their duty for nothing, doing their duty .gratui
ously for the benefit Of New Haven as they col
ceive it best, will be paid handsome salaries, an
thus our expenses will be largely and unnecesss
will have to be performed by other officers, WI,
will have to be paid for services Are you goin
does today and the seieet%es DO toda
. doubt it.
taI Won oeprlamen 90 sloyv ,,nop this m attej
| Then again, the suburbs have their rights n
= member the time when portion Of East Have
implied understanding that they never should
| called into the city-forI was one Of those VIII
Coming to US, and now You say that there was
| written agreement do not say that there wa
until the people Of East Haven should vote
come in without their consent That know An
in 40 the not Committees nnm ss' that they WIN nc
| and pull it in, without their consent, because 70
, | say they are not paying their proportion OF tn
ed to pull in all of their outlying districts, Il
. | Legislature of Illinois said you shall not force
, people under government not Of their ow
V | choosing, and the attempt to consolidate we
| killed as it should have been.
A leap into consolidation is a leap in the dar
| leap of injustice--no one can foresee the end
the effect I have seen enough of it within Il
- last five years of my life. The history OF OF
town and what have recorded in my own mer
. | DRY is solemn protest against the positit
y which some are about to take in relations
consolidation. My friends, as ! said before, /
l. well enough alone. But should you desire OF
= government to the town you must look for tn
h government for a town cannot be destroyed.
; THE COURT RECORD.
CO Superior Court-Clvil Sfde-J uda
@ Fenn.
II The demurrer in the Usher vs.. Waddingha