Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-02
WANTED: AN OPINION.

the Doaru or aldermen last nlSnt. All the were present.
 The following petitions were referred to their respective boards: Of NJ. c. Kelly | for crosswalk on Scovill street at east line of School street; of Peter Skehan for grade ane sidewalks on Slmons street; of D. F Murnane for crosswalk on Washington street at South street; of Patrick Ryder for crosswalk on Pleasant street: of c. A. Col ley for permi ssion to connect with the sewer in West Main street; of James Elan nery for the extehsion of the water main in Baldwin street 1l2 feet southerly; of Patrick Kelly for the abatement of taxes on lists of 1891 and 1892; of James Slavin for sidewalks on Dublin street.
 The committee on law reported that in asmuch as Sarah Fully and Matthew Shelvey have already brought suit against the city for damages the settleme mt of their of Thomas Fitzgerald no one appeared to substantiate his claim and the petitioner was given leave to withdraw. James Hart nett, who was seriously injured on Liberty street last winter by being struck by double ripper. and who petitioned for damages. was also given leavo to with draw.
 Alderman Condou Said he could not see why the law committee should refuse to at least pay Mir Hartnetts doctor and medi- cine bill. Mir Hartnett was carried home unconscious with bad gash over his eye; two of his ribs were broken and he was otherwise injured. "'We have very poor police protection up thers." said Alderman Condon, "and when coas ting Is going on there it is almost impossible for one to pass at the junction of River and Liberty streets without being injured Removed that MT Hartnett be allowed $l25 damages.
 Alderman ksefer said the city was not liable for damages done where coasting is permitted by the mayor. Let pedes- trians look out for themselves" he said The committee had learned that Mir Hart nett was out in A couple of weeks.
 Mir Condons motion was lost and the report was accepted.
 A comm unication was received from the American Pm company, asking the coun- cil to arrange the rental for water to be used by the company from the Branch supply. TLe matter was referred to the committee on additional Water supply The mayor thought the city should move cautiously in the matter of selling water He believed in extending the water mains in the city instead of selling it to out slders. It appears that the city cannot distribute water outside the city from the East Mountain reservoir, and in order to overcome this objection tbe following vote was passed:
 Voted, that the city attorney be and hereby Is requested to draft an act grant ing the city of Waterbury the same power to distribute and sell water from it's east ern supply as is granted it to sell and dis tribute water outside of the city limits from the Branch supply. so called. and present the same to the present session of the general assembly for passage"
 The report of the committee on public lands and buildings, in reference to illu- minating the clock on Clty hall tower at an expense of $249. provoked considerable discussion. What seemed to trouble the board most was the probable cost of keep ing the new clock in repair. Finally Councilman Brewer was called h to ex- plain the situation. He sad there would be no new clock-no standard electric time. It will be the same clock and the only change there will be about it Is that the dial will be illuminated
 The mayor thought the money could be turned to better account by cleaning up the lobby of the City hall, which Is adorned on all sides with cobwebs. As citizen of Waterbury he said he felt ashamed of the entrance to the City hall. It is not as good as you can find in a fifth rate city. Anyway he thought the spend ing of money on a clocA was a reelection on the contemplating finn that Is making watches Tn the city. He supposed every one in Waterbury carried one of their time pieces. After a few salliss of wit between Councilman Brewer and the mayor the report was accepted and the work ordered done.
 A petition to be presented to the rail road commissioners requesting that action be taken 10 compel the railroad companies to maintain a gsteman at Washington ave nue and West Main street was passed | The city is paying $64S per year to ths gateman at the Washington avenue crosse ing. Mayor Kilduff thought the railroads should meet the expense.
 The following resolutions were then | read:
 Whereas if there be any impression that the city of Waterbury. by considering the question of issuing bonds for sewage disposal purposes or by the employing of Mir Rudolph Herring to look into this mat ter of sewage disposal or by any other act l that the city has done or any talk tha, there has been or any position that it has taken. that it recognizes any liability for | any damage to anyone on account of its sewage or any responsibility tor makiug q change iu its present disposition Of th ( same. therefore
 l Voted. that the city of Waterbury does l not recognize and does hereby disavow any liability or responsibility by reason of | the same.
 Voted, that the vote passed at the meet, ing of this court held March 1, 1895, velat ing to the city of Waterbury asknig for au. thority to issue bonds to the amount oi $500. .Oo0 the proceeds of same to be expend ed for the purpose of sewage disposal. and for authority to condemn land for sewage disposal purprse, right of way. etc. by the | same Is hereby rescinded.
 l Voted. that the request of this court ot common council on behalf Of the city oI Waterbury asking the general assembly oi this state to grant permission to this city to issue $S00, 900 sewage disposal bonds
 be and the same is hereby withdrawn"
 The aldermen debated for almost one
 hour on these resolutions. Alderman Hal
 pin contended that inasmuch as the legis
 lature had granted the city the privilege of sewering into the N augstuck river thi.
 mode of dlsposing of our sewage should
 not be abandoned until the city had con
 tested every inch of ground and had car
 ried the case to the highest court in th'
 United States. Aldermen Gregory anC
 Kiefer agreed with Mir Halpin. but Alder
 men Cross, Barlow and Sanford though
 differently and believed that it would b,
 well to be prepared for defeat in case the
 worst should come Mir Cross said: Tn
 asking of permission to issue $500. 0.O0t
 bonds does not make it incumbent upol
 us to issue the bonds. Neither do l thinl
 it would prejudice our case in court. Tn
 confession of crime does not convict tn
 the accused" The matter was tabled fo
 two weeks and vote passed requesting tn
 city attorney to give an opinion as to tn
 legal aspect of the case.
 Alderman Barlow reported that nothin
 had yet been done in relation to the con