Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-04-06
CITY PAYS THE FREIGHT

A Big Bill of Prosecuting Attorney
O'NeilI Creates a Sensation-Mayor Kill
dun Declares the City Charter Relic
of a Bygone Age.
The board of finance held its regular
meeting last night. The bond of Charles
J. Griggs as tax collector was approved
after considerable discussion.
The board voted to approve the bill of
Health Officer Robbins, less ten per cent,
which represents the sum of 1913 60. The
bill of H. w. Leach for rubber goods,
bought by the health officer. was tabled.
Prosecuting Attorney O'Neill presented
bill of S592.5O, for services in
relation to the matter of bringing suits
against parties for violation of city ordi-
nances, most of them icy sidewalk cases
The following items were included in the
bill: Prosecuting attorneys fees, $3.50;
fees of Justice Brett, Sill .65: fees of Off
GERS, Sl41.75: witness fees, $3i so. Mr.
ONeill also presented a bill of 500 for
professional services for the city in the
city in the case of Cherries H. Miller.
Mayor KiIduff said he was not prepared
to sign either of the bills. I'VE have
law officer he said, ''at 50, 500 a year,
and another at 81 500 and are now asked
to pay extra fees. l will not approve of
these bills tonight" This seemed to
meet the approval of the board and Mr.
ONeill's bill was laid on the table.
The mayor brought up the matter of the
amount of bonds city officials should file,
and thought that the city attorney should
furnish bond for the faithful perform
ance of his duty. There are over 100000
in assessments in the hands of the attor-
nty for collection. The city auditor gives
n bond for SIS, 900 although only required
to furnish one for 81 900. The matter will
be further considered at the next meeting
of the board. The clerk was instructed to
notify all city officers to submit the neces-
sary bonds on or before May 3, 1894.
An interesting discussion regarding the
charter and city ordinances was INDUCED
in by the mayor and Alderman Barnes.
II here seems to be a general opinion,
said Mayor Kilduff, that the court of
common council can pass any ordinance
that they desire. This is not so. We are
limited to the powers given under the
charter. We are nearly fifty years behind
the age. When the charter was adopted
in 1871 it was made up mainly from an old
charter of New Haven. 1t is a relic of a
past age
Aldermen Barnes maintained that the
law was good enough when it was properly
applied. He called attention 70 various
abuses, saying that the city allowed prl-
vate parties to encroach on the street lines
and to open lanes through private prop
erty for speculative purposes.
Il don't doubt that there is law enough
behind us" said the mayor. The
trouble is we do not apply it at the proper
time" He then explained how private
parties opened streets and erected houses
without consulting the city authorities I'M
til they desired water, sewers and lights.
Then it would be learned that the streets
had never been accepted by the city. and
in every case the spectators would have
friends in the council and would secure
the privileges desired at great cost to the
city. The mayor declared that we ought
to have an up to date charter. The man
agement of streets, sewers, water and
lights should be placed in charge of
board of public works. There should be
bureau of collections and the business of
the city should be conducted in a sys-
tematic manner