Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-11-21
TO CLEAN THE srRERrs.

The Board of Public Works APpro.
pirate SIX Hundred Dollars for
That Purpose Despite the Mayors
Protest-CommissiO states Dis
solves Two Tie votes-Was His
Action Legals-An Interesting Meet.
Ing Yesterday.
The cleaning Of the city's streets was
again yesterday morning the all-absorbing
topic of discussion at the meeting Of the
board of public works and the result was
that by an unusual mode of procedure,
that of one member voting twice, 1t was
decided to put force of men at work and
clean the streets, even though there are no
funds in the city treasury with which to
pay for the work.
The meeting of the board was called for
the purpose of arranging some details In
| reference to the Edgewood avenue road.
Commissioners johnson, Brown, States
and Sullivan and Mayor Sargent responded
to the summons. The question for which
the meeting was specially called was easily
| Opposed of by referring it to q committee,
consisting of Commissioners johnson,
Msley and Sullivan.
| After this matter had been disposed of,
| Commissioner States brought up the ques-
ton of the unclesnliness and disgracsful
condition of the streets of the city and
claimed that it was necessary to clean the
streets as q matter of public heslth. 'The
streets are q disgrace to the city and
| want to go on record as saying that We
should clean the streets, even if we have
to go outside of our legal duty to do It,"
| said the commissioner.
"But," interposed the mayor, "the char.
ter expressly provides that We cannot &C
outside of our appropriation. The Law
Is explicit and we must obey It,"
CHATS the same old song we have had
sung to us for some time" continued Mr..
States, "but that does not change my ar
gument. Mr.. Mayor, If your shops wert
burning and the fire department had ne
money to pay the fremsn, do you sup
pose that the city would wait until 1t hat
the money before sending the fremen tt
put 1t outa Why, 1t is absurd. The fact
whether the department had a dollal
or not would not count in such an extrem
ity, and the commissioners would be justi
fed in assuming the obligation. Tn
same with the police department. I
they put on more men the commissioners
are bound to pay them their salaries ant
the city must foot the bills"
eyes," UNEXPECTED Mr.. johnson, 'bu
they never put on moro men unless the.
have the money to pay them"
"The law is such in this case that "
must obey it," retorted the mayor.
At this point the mayor was called on
of the room and he called Mr.. States to tn
chair.
Hardly had Mr.. States taken the chat
when he said: cat the last meeting of til
board made motion to the effect tbs
we should go ahead and clean the street
at an expense not to exceed $500. l no.
propose to call that matter up again.
now renew that motion, and all in favo
will signify the same by saying Aye"
The motion had been seconded by Con
missioner Sullivan. The vote was taker
Commissioner Sullivan voting in the affirm
alive and Commissioners johnson an
Brown In the negative. When the vot
had been taken, but before 1t had been d.
clsred, Commissioner States said: 81 hay
not voted on this question yet, and I thin
I nave the right to vote, which do in til
, | affirmative. Inasmuch as the vote is no
a tie, think have the right to dissol,
the tie as presiding officer, and I declal
| the motion carried"
II doubt the legality of the VOTE" sal
, | Commissioner Johnson, but 1t Is said tn,
ali that Commissioner States heard of th