Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-02-06
BLUFF. PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

= a.Ouorum in the Lower Board, :
Mayor Kilduff presided at the meeting
of the board of aldermen last night After
the transaction of some routine business
the mayor announced the following as
members of committees:
Lamps and gas, Alderman Barlow; law,
Alderman kiefer; public lands and build
ingS, Alderman Halpin; Attachments, Alder
men Barnes and Begnal; auditing water
accounts, Alderman Gregory; auditing city
accounts, Alderman Altman: rules, Alder
men Cross and Halpin.
Alderman Halpin brought up the matter
of providing better accommodations for
the members of the press. He said the
people looked to the newspapers for a re-
port of the doinCs of the different boards
and thought that some place should be pro-
vided for them where they could write out
the reports without being disturbed by the
members of the board or by others who
might find it necessary to pass from the
meeting into the next room. Alderman
Cross could not see where there could be
place without tresspassing on the space
needed for other purposes. The motion
was lost, the republican members voting
against it.
Alderman Barlow offered the following
resolution:
"Noted, that Samuel {. Snagg be re-
qureted to discharge the duties of the
chief engineer of the fire department until
nm election is made"
The mayor ruled the motion out Of order
on the ground that the board had nothing
to do with the appointment of II chief of
the fire department.
Alderman Cross: Then l move that
City Attorney Burpee be instructed to as
certain if Chief Snagg cannot legally act
until a. successor is appointed.
Alderman Halpin asked if this motion
was not out of order on the same ground
as the previous one. He believed the
matter should be left entirely in the hands
of the board of fire commissions
Alderman Begnal thought the board
should not interfere in the matter.
The motion was declared ont of order.
=. Alderman Cross was bound to have
row and shouted: Il appeal to the city at
torney from Your decision.'
After several attempts on the part of
Messrs Cross and Barnes to turn the board
of aldermen into a fire board meeting the
mayor said:
"Gentlemen: This is most disrespect-
full proceeding, an insult to the board of
tire commissioners whom you have placed
III charge of the fire matters in this city.
You have no rights in this matter
Alderman Altman said the fire commits
Sioncrs had placed a man IN charge of the
fire department who had twenty one years
experience i'll the business and thought
things were all right under his manage
ment.
Alderman Cross motion that the city at
torney be heard on the subject was then
put and carried.
The city attorney said: The sole power
of appointing a chief engineer of the fire
department rests with the fire commits
sioners and don't think that the common
council has any voice in the matter. The
common council has the right to make re.
commentators to any of the boards but
such recommendations do not come with
the force of authority and would probably
have no more weight than if coming from
the board of trade or any other body If
this board wishes to ask my opinion as to
tine condition of affairs and also to instruct
me to submit my opinion rs to any other
body it can do So, but far rs any inter
ference is concerned you have no power"
This looked like Il roundabout way of
getting an opinion from the city attorney
upon the action of the board in dropping
Chief Snagg, and Mayor kildur declared
lllt MOTION Out bl olNtl, Will tuc Ill tlIlE
hit that some of the aldermen imagined
themselves members of the board.
The meeting then adjourned.
President Hart called the board of coun-
rilmrn to order in the absence of the clerk,
Councilman ]. NJ Gallond was appointed
clerk pro tenn. All the republican, mem
hers OF the board We're present, but not
one OF the democrats answered his name.
Instead of taking a recess or adjourning
to some future evening, there beng no
quorum present, President Hart reques ed
the city attorney to- draw up a summons
requiring the attendance of the missing
members and Sheriff Mcdonald was
handed the document
The sheriff was reluctant to have any
thing to do with the matter, stating that
he would like to have the opinion of the
ma or before acting. He wanted to know
if the board would stand by him if he
should get into trouble over, the matter.
Councilman Tracy said the board had no
quorum present and could not pass vote
to do anything.
The chairman assured the sheriff that it
was all right, adding: City Attorney
Burpee drew up the paper and he knows
more about it than the mayor
Sheriff Mcdonald said he should see the
y
ing any action. On being informed by
MIR Burpce that everything was all right
the sheriff after making a search in and
around City hall, returned and informed
Chairman Hart that none of the men were
i'll the building and asked if he wished him
to 90 to their places of residence
Yes, said President Hart, land bring
them in quickly, one and all"
The sheriff then started out into the
night with the look of a man determined
upon doing his duty, regardless of conse-
qucnCes.
While the councilmen were awaiting the
return of the sheriff City Attorney Burpee
was again called in and drew the following
paper:
The undersigned, being members of the
board of councilmen of the city of Water
bury, exclusive of the president of said
board, desiring by the order to compel the
attendance of the absent members of the
board at their meeting on the 5th of Feb
ruary, 1894, when no quorum is present.
do hereby order and command each and
every one of said absent members forth
with to appear before the board in their
usual place OF meeting and do hereby ap-
point n special messenger of the board for
the foregoing purpose and do empower
and order him to take into custody where
ever found any absent member and pres
ent him to the board forthwith.
Signed:
WARREN L. HALL,
J. NJ. GALLoND,
CLAYTON G. ANDREWS,
ALBERT E. THUNBERG,
II. f. SANFORD.
Dated Feb 5, 1894.
While this was in the hands of the
chairman Sheriff Mcdonald entered and
said: MIR President have called at the