Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-02-17
/ sEr-sAcK ron THE mAYon.

SETBACK FOR THE MAYOR.
nder Alderman HamiIton,s Lead,
the Mayors scheme for Municipal
Control Of an Electric Light Plant
In Squelched-The Fight Over the
water Petition - Committee AP.
by Mayor Sargent-New
Board of Compensat1on-Com
s1oner Whitney's Resignation Net
Accepted.
Alderman Hamilton made q vigorous
nd stubborn fight against the petitions in
,oduced to the common council embody-
,g Mayor Sargent's ideas regarding
control of the electric light and
gater plants at last nights meeting of tho
ldermen, and under the leadership of the
alderman from the Second ward, the cleo
rio light part of the mayors echeme was
'ffectually squelched.
When the petition, which asks, in ef-
:ect, that the city go into the electric light
ng business, and is signed by citizens,
most of whom, are connected with Trades
council, was read, Alderman Hamilton
moved it be taken from the table, as it
mad been tabled at the last meeting for
future consideration, and indefinitely post
poned. He considered it not legally before
the borad, nor could it be legally taken be-
fore the general assembly. If you are to
bring petition to the general assembly,
said he, to establish an cleo
trio lighting plant here, OF to
take the one now in operation,
the statutes provide that the proposed &C.
ton must be advertised two weeks before
the opening of the general assembly. It
would be placing tax upon every home
in this city, besides trampling under foot
the statutes laws of the state. The matter
has no legal standing before this body or
take up this petition even if it were prop
erly before us. If we load this city down
with dabbling and experimenting with
these water and electric light ideas we
shall overload the city and our government
will become failure. When we come to
that position in which everything is gov
erned by the city we get to position
which is the most despicable which can
characterize government. The less gov
eminent we have the better off we are
say the members of this board would vio-
late their oaths to uphold our charter if
they voted for this petition.
Alderman Daley said the matter was not
legally before the board, no one would
doubt this; but even if it were, he thought
the plan would be detriment to the city
We have bonded debts for our parks,
schools and other affairs, said he. Shall
we overload the people with this needless
extravaganza trust no gentleman would
vote for such measure.
A vote by roll call was taken upon Al
derman Hamilton's motion, and it was
passed by vote of 81 to 3; the three vot-
ing against the motion to indefinitely post
pone being Aldermen Mccain, Sheehan
and Falsey.
Alderman Hamilton then moved to re-
consider this action of the board in order,
as he stated, to prevent any reconsidera-
ton of the matter after this meeting and
to kill it effectually. He declared he in
tended to vote against his motion to recon
sider 30 that the reconsideration should
be denied and any future motion to recon
slider should be invalid.
Mayor Sargent declared this motion out
of order, and Alderman Hamilton appeal.
ed from this decision and the board sus-
tanned the appeal by large vote.
The motion to reconsider was then en-.
phatically denied with not vote in its ia
vor.
petition and resolutions for the city's pur
chase of the New Haven Water company's
plant, which was tabled for printing al
the last meeting, be taken from the table
and also indefinitely postponed. He said
the arguments which had been advanced in
favor of the electric light petition applied
equally to the water petition.
Mayor Sargent declared his motion out
of order, as the water petition had been
tabled for printing and had not been print
ed as yet.
Alderman Hamilton appealed from THU
decision and the board voted to sustain
the mayor by vote of 20 to 4.
Alderman Hamilton moved the resolu
ton declaring the offices upon the boarc
Of compensation vacant be taken from the
table and passad. This was done. Mich
ael Fitzpatrick, Charles T. Coyle ant
Charles T. Matthewman were then nomi
mated for the positions and the clerk wa
instructed to cast the ballot of the boart
for these men.
The resignation Of Eli Whitney, IT,, a.
commissioner of the board of public work
was read and Alderman Prince moved tina
it be not accepted.
Alderman Daley moved to amend tina
it be accepted, for, said he, Mr.. Whitne,
has served for five years and knows hi.
own mind and feelings in the matter bette,
than we do.
Alderman Hamilton seconded tn,
amendment and Alderman Chandler sec
onded the motion.
Alderman Callahan moved the motion
to amend be tabled. This was not passed
Mayor Sargent then declared the amend
ment out of order, as it killed the origina
motion, and vote upon Alderman Princes
motion was taken by roll call. The mo
ton was passed by ID votes to 10, an6
not accepted.
Those voting against the acceptance were
Aldermen Mccain, McKiernan, Cunning
ham, Andrews, Kelly, Sheehan, Sonnen
berg, Avis, Prince, johnson, Callahan
Morgan and Falsey.
Mayor Sargent announced the following
appointment of aldermen to the joint com.
mittees of the common council:
Annual reports-F. H. Andrews, John w
Love-
Appropriations-Ter Kelly, W. E. Chand
Auditing F. Callahan, W. E. Chandler.
Bath houses William Keane, Michael Sonnen
B1ildings-A. M. Hitler, D. M. sheehan.
Building lines. W. Lowe, Peter McKiernan
ClaimsSC. s. Hamilton, T. F. Callahan.
Michael sonnenb berg F. T. AndreWss interests
Fire Department.. B. Cunningham, w. E
Morgan
Lamps and street ighting-D. NJ. Sheehan, c.
E. Prince
Licenses-G. w. Bromley, Hugh Daley
Nominations-Peter McKiernan, A. j. Beers
Numbering streets-John Doody, A. j. Beers.
Ordinances-Hugh Daley, William Maley.
Printiag-Patrick Falsey, c. S. Hamilton.
Railroads and bridges-John Nolan, A. NJ
Hitler
Retrenchment and reform-William Maley, T,
B. Kelly.
Sewers. E. McGann, W. E. Morgan
Squares-C. E. Prince, j. B. Cunningham.
StreetS-L. H. johnson, William Keane.
Waters. r. Airs, L. H. johnson.
Petitions referred: Sherwood o. Preston,
John H. McDermott, George R. Miller,
Charles Stanter, Edward Miller, Loren n.
Scranton, Samuel D. Belts, Lawrence Han
nouhan, for appointment as special consta-
bles; building line on Pine street, between
Monroe and North Front streets; sidewalk
on Ellsworth avenue, between Elm street
and Whalley avenue; crosswalk on Ellis
worth avenue at Elm street.
An Unpald-for Dinner.
Patrick Kane went into the Central
house yesterday afternoon and ordered a
sumptous dinner. When he had put him
self outside of it he refused to pay the
bill and was arrested by Officer Louis
Was upon complaint of the proprietor of
the house.