The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-09-18
SESSION WAS VERY SPICY
SELECTMEN VOTE TO TAKE CASES OUT OF Ex-TOWN COUNsEL'S HANDS.

From the Democrat Minority-Town
 Counsel GoodhaIt Win Hereafter Attend
 to All the Town Business-Po Con-
 missioners Meeting.
 The regular weekly meeting of the selectmen last evening" although unus- ually brief, was as inharmonious as any of the recent meetings of that body have been, owing to the fact that the repub- lican majority and democratic minority never seem to be able to agree upon any one thing. All the members of the board were present and Selectman Stahl presided.
 The controversy was precipitated up- on the board by Town Agent Baldwin moving that all town matters now in the hands of ex-Town Counsel w. S. Par dee be taken from him and given to the present town counsel, J. P. Goodhart. The motion was promptly seconded by Selectman Brown and immediately af- terward the discussion commenced.
 "Why, MT. Baldwin, what is the ob- ject of that motion" queried Selectman Bretzfelder.
 "In my opinion it Is better to be pay- ing one lawyer instead of two," replied the town agent. 'Mr Pardee has sent in a bill for $6O0 for services rendered since last December and it seems to me that the town might as well save some of that expense"
 Selectman Bretzfelder-Is that the reason for your motion
 Town Agent Baldwin-Yes, sir, it is.
 Selectman BretzfelGer-Well, I don't know anything about this bill of s600s but it does seem to me that it is not very courteous, to say the least, to take the business away from ex-Town Coun- sel Pardee after voting last spring to leave all unfinished business in his hands, without some very good reason for doing it.
 Selectman Forbes--Well, Mir. Baldwin, can you tell us what ex-Town Counsel Pardee has done to earn this $500
 Town Agent Baldwin-He has sent in an itemized bill for the $500. As re- member it, the bill is for motions in court, correspondence and other like business.
 Has Town Counsel Goodhart brought in any bill for his services" queried Ser lectman Cunningham.
 s .No, sir, he har. not" replied Town Age. Baldwin.
 Selectman Cunningham-Has he re- cefved any money this year?
 Town Agent Baldwin-Yes, sir; about $2OOO.
 "Oh, I guess that's the reason why 1t moved to take the business away from ex-Town Counsel Pardee," interposed Selectman Forbes.
 Well, in my opinion" said Se1ectman Cunningham, Tit is very poor business policy and exceedingly discourteous."
 Town Agent Baldwin--Last spring voted to leave the unfinished business in the hands of the ex-town counsel, but when I did I was under the impression that the work would be finished up some time and not run along for nearly g. year. or would have at that time vot- ed to transfer the business to the new town counsel when he was appointed.
 Selectman Cunning gham-In my opin- ion 1t would be better to lay the whole matter on the table for one week. Some of the cases which are now In the hands of the ex-town counsel may now be on the verge of settlement or coming up at the present term of the courts. It is nothing more than fair to give him an opportunity to explain in just what po- sition the cases are. Did you tell him, MT. Baldwin, that you were going to bring this matter up tonight?
 Town Agent Baldwin, certainly did not MT Cunningham. I am not requir- ed to do any such thing as that. It is simply matter of changing attorneys.
 Selectman Cunningham-Oh, I know that. I simply asked the question.
 Selectman Bretzfelder-Well the ex- town counsel has done one good thing. He has brought in ap itemized bill, which the town counsel under this ad- ministration has not. He certainly ought not to be laid off simply for send- ing in an itemized bill.
 At this stage of the game Selectman BrOWn Cdlleu tRueStiOH, nlu IiiC SVeC was taken resulting in the passage of Town Agent Baldwin's motion, the four republicans voting solidly for it and the three democrats as solidly against it.
 John H. Connor of Connor Brothers appeared before the board and stated that South Grove street in the annex was in an execrable condition and re- ouested that some action be taken to- ward remedying the evil. The matter was referred to the committee on roads and bridges.
 On motion of Town Agent Baldwin, William H. Bartram was appointed to distribute the tax lists at the same sal ary as last year, s90, and the meeting adjourned.
 POLICE COMMISSIONERS MEET.
 The semi-monthly meeting of the po- lice commissioners was held last even- ing, but owing to the fact that only five members. Commissioners Prince, Mor- an. Gilhuly, Toronto and Doolittle. were present but little business was trans acted. The applications of Bernard J. Smith, Theodore Witherwax, Thomas E. Ryan and Joseph Gallagher for posi- tions on the force were received and or dered on file