Morning journal and courier., 1891-11-17

md this enormous dividend could be paid nto growing sinking fund for the pay nent of 8 loan issued for the purchase of the works there would be good reason for not objecting to the rates. It would then go back to the people, where it properly belongs, rather than to this water monop- oly. There are, according to the data at the command of your committee, about 160 cities in the United States of over 2O,- 900 population having waterworks. Of | these 59 are operated under private owner | ship. Seven of these 59 are as large or larger as the city of New Haven.
 According to statistics collected by the census bureau of 273 cities, having pop ulation of 15, ,24O, ,504, 56 per cent. of the cities and 77 per cent. of the population own and operate their own waterworks, the private works prevailing in the smaller cities.
 It would not be burden of debt to the city to purchase the waterworks, it would be an investment and good one. If man should borrow thousand dollars at per cent. interest and lend it at 6 per cent. he is not to be burdened with debt, he would have an income from his debt. If the city of New Haven should purchase the waterworks and issue bonds to raise money for the purpose she would just as surely reap an income from her debt. Cir culars are often issued by banking firms in New York offering municipal bonds for sale and in stating the indebtedness of the cities issuing the bonds should any of such cities have waterworks (owned and oper- sted by the city) and also water debt, the water debt is always deducted, it being considered among the assets, as has been stated where cities own their waterworks the rates are uniformly less to families, and yet the revenue from the works is sufficient to pay for the works. It has been said and urged as an argument against the purchase of the wa terworks that in some cities money to pay for waterworks is raised by taxation. That is true, but it is also true that money to pay the charges made by private compa- nies for hydrant rental and other munich pal purposes is raised by taxation. The one will offset the other, except that in one case the city pays it into it's own treasury and in the other into the treasury of private corporation.
 Your committee recommend, therefore, that New Haven take her place at as early date as possible among the larger cities, where she properly belongs, and they, therefore recommend the passage of the following order.
 Ordered, That a committee consisting of the mayor, the corporation counsel two aldermen and three councilman be appointed to conclude @ contract WlGl the water company UO Suppy the city with water at cost of $aO,OOO per year for two years from the expi' ation of the present contract.
 Ordered, That the city proceed to secure the necessary suitable legislation to authorize and facilitate the purchase ., of all the property, assets and franchises of the Water company at ance with Section 6 of the contract now in force between the Water company and the city Signed-Samuel R. Avis, Lyman H. Johnson, Robert J. Tracy, Henry H. Guernsey, William Kaehrle.
 OTHER BUSINESS TRANSACTED. Immediately after the board was called to order Alderman Prince moved that the board resolve itself into committee of the whole in order to receive the minority re- l port of Alderman Prince. The motion | prevailed and the alderman submitted the report. The report sets forth Mir. Browns failure to obtain an opinion from the cor poration counsel, having asked him in vain for his opinion as to the propriety of l commissioners becoming bondsmen for l contractors, the only reply received being l that the aforesaid counsel had 'smore i'm portant business to attend to-" Hence MT. Brown was obliged to ask the board of aldermen for instructions as to whether or not the board of public works has a legal right to buy stone crusher or au- | thority to buy road roller. MT. Browns letter of inquiry manfully acknowledged | that he had been misled into the belief that stone crusher had been purchased by the public works board, and thereby he with | drew all questions relative to the purchase | of road roller.
 The sub committee find that it is true l that the corporation counsel had not sub- ! mitted his opinion for twenty-one days | after it had been asked for; and that it is | equally true that it was the intention of at | least part of the members of the public works board to buy road roller; also that nothing was adduced to disprove Mir. Browns claims to alleged excessive charges for the Harrisburg road roller. 1 They find that MT. Brown in his ina quiries for light was simply doing his duty as | public official.
 They find that the communications o1 MT. Brown are entitled to reply and ask for the passage of ap order requiring that | answers be made by the city clerk in writ | ing to MT. Browns letters of June 1 an6 19 also they find that the evidence does not show that the board had authorized buying road roller, and that it does show that the board was destitute of authority to buy one.
 The committee also finds that the prac
 tice of commissioners, having direct o1 indirect interest in furnishing the city
 with supplies, or doing work for it, or by
 becoming bondsmen for contractors, ii
 liable to lead to complications, tarnish tn, good name of the city and cast reflections
 upon the acts of it's officers.
 The committee further recommend tha
 orders be passed that the city officials o1 employees must obey the charter regula
 tions, that "No person shall be 8 member of more than one of said boards at thu same time; nor shall any member of sait
 boards furnish any materials or be em ployed to do any work for the city,"
 They recommend further that it be or dered that commissioners or city officials
 must make no expenditures except as au
 thorized by the common council, nor incul any liabilities or expenses unless so au
 thorized; and also that said city officials must obey the law as to furnishing or pro curing furnished any materials or employ
 ing labor, etc., from which said oficia may derive pecuniary benefit. For vio lation of same the penalties of fine or i'm
 prisonmet, or both, to be applied.
 Al.o that it be ordered that no city off
 cial be allowed to become bondsman fol
 the fulfllment of city contract or bid fol furnishing supplies, etc., for such city
 work.
 l Ou "Ob1Ou or AluorInau CnanQl6r It wal | voted to recommend that the board of al de,men receive the report and place it o1
 file and that no further action thereon be
 taken. This motion was carried by vote
 of 13 to 3. The committee of the whole
 then arose, after which the report of th'
 committee of the whole was accepted by
 the board.
 l REGISTRAR CARES PETITION.
 Registrar Carr, in a petition to thu
 board asked for hearing to be accorded
 him in regard to the question of bette
 protection for the records of vital statis
 tics, which are of inestimable value in es
 tablishing claims to inheritances and tn
 interests of the widows and orphans O
 the soldiers of the late war, who may b.
 in search of evidence, which will entitlt
 them to assistance from our national gov
 ernment. The petition was received, ac
 cepted and ordered on file.
 | MISCELLANEOUS.
 The joint committee to which was re
 ferred the matter of the New Haven Ere
 Public library and the New Haven Colon,
 Historical society as to the advisability O.
 permitting the Historical society to occu py part of said free public libary build
 ing reported that in their judgment i
 would not be advisable to grant the so
 ciety such permission.
 The proposed ordinance making min,
 hours the length of days work for city
 laborers was passed, thirteen member
 voting in the affirmative and seven mem
 bers not voting.
 It was also voted to eliminate the wort