Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-26
PUBLIC BE "BLOWED. a

legislative body at Hartford. there were quite a good many people who sad that they did not believe that any reputable body of citizens would undertake to per- form such an act of injustice. But the ac- tion taken on the issuing of sewer bonds, after the court of common council had voted not to ask for the permission to is- sue them. disabused the people of any feeling of confidence they might have en- tertained in regard to these matters, and now they will not be surprised at anything that may present itself.
 "The people of Waterbury pay the city attorney the sum of g. 500 a year for look ing out for their interests" said promi- nent citizen this morning. ''and notwith- standing the fact that the representatives of the people stated that it was not good policy to ask for permission to issue S3OO,- 900 sewage bonds, the city attorney disregarded this vote and went to Hart ford and made strong plea as to why the bonds should be issued. If corporation pays an attorney to take care of its inter- ests it is his duty to abide by the decisie of 6 meeting of the directors instead of doing something to suit himself. If he acted differently he might look to someone else for his wages. That's just how Water- bury is fixed to-day. The men who are paid to guard its interests are working tooth and nail to defeat the will of the people sS expressed by their legally con- stituted representatives, either that or they are as dumb as an oyster when something
 Is going on which the taxpayers should be fully informed. There are doubts in my
 mind as to whether the legislature has
 right to saddle such an expense on the town as the sum appropriated for building
 the new court house without ordering a l town meeting for that purpose. If the legislature has right to saddle an expense of SAC, 900 on the town what is there to
 prevent it from making the amount $1 ,000. 900 or more and bankrupt the city.
 If all these things can be done without | consulting the taxpayers and sometimes
 against their will, as expressed
 by the court of common council, I don't see what is the
 use of holding an annual election and
 putting people to the expense of electing
 board of aldermen and councilmen. They are nothing but fgureheads. for as you
 see yourself two or three scheming poli-
 ticians can nullily all their work and run
 matters to suit themselves. The select
 men pay John P. Kellogg for lookin, out
 for the interests of the town I have not
 heard what he said in reference to this
 0,000 appropriation for the new court
 house. wonder what stand will he take
 on the proposed charter. We know where
 the city attorney will be found. He has
 already appeared before the legislature,
 in opposition to vote of
 the court oi common council and we won't
 be surprised to hear that he is in favor of
 the new charter"
 Selectman Morris was asked what ac-
 ton he would take on the matter. He
 said: We will go to work and fight that | for all we are worth"
 Selectman Pinney said: Il think they
 are after doing enough up there now,
 without consulting the people. What
 kind of men do they think live down
 here?"
 When asked abou. the proposed new
 charter Selectman Brooks said: T thiRk
 it would be a more just and fair way for
 both thu town and city that the matter of
 consolidation and ntw charter should be | submitted to a vote of the citizens and | taxpayers, aud wh ltever decision they | should arrive at. let their representatives govern their action accordingly. The se-
 lectmen, all the business men aud the humbleet real estate owner in the town | and city should have some say on these matters. If this Is a movement of merit l and Is being done in the interest of all,
 as it should be if we are to have such a l change, I cannot see why it should be | AVSCoooAy SO ~ bhc lCRlo- | lature in this underhanded manner. Now
 about that court house appropriation.
 While there may be question about the | selectmen having the right to borrow money
 on behalf of the town for such a purpose, | there was no provision made for this when
 we went into ofics, consequently you see | we will be forced to make a loan of $40, 900
 with no means of paying it except that, it
 must come out of the taxpayers of the | town, many of whom have not a deeent
 roadway in front of their homes. But be-
 fore the work on the new court house is commenced and the towns portion of the
 money is paid out, we shall make a posi-
 tive demand for complete details and com- peting prices from reputable bidders so
 that we may know just how much VIC will
 have to pay. If the proposed new court
 house exceeds in cost what the legislature specified we think it will be our duty to
 refuse to sign for any more than $40,0O0.
 We don't want our $S0.000 house to
 cost SI01, ,O0O"
 Mayor Kilduff said: Il hat nothing to do with the introduction of a charter into
 the legislature. don't know what charter | it is nor could I tell you the names of the
 men who are engineering it, TOT by what | authority it has been introduced. As a
 member of the charter committee per
 formed my part of the work and sub
 mitted it to the representatives of the peo- pie. When tho court of common council l refused to indorse the draft so submitted then was through with it. don't want
 to be party to securing anything for the people which I have reason to believe
 they do not want. When the representa- tives of the people reject a measure, you
 wont find me crossing lots to get ahead
 of them. The people are the sovereigns | and hope they will always remain so."
 What do you think of the recommen-
 dation in reference to the issuing of sewer bonds?" was asked.
 "The people know where 1 stand in this
 matter, " said the mayor. 'I am opposed
 to it and notwithstanding the favorable
 report hope that the senator from this district and our two representatives will oppose the acceptance of such a report | and the passage of such a bill. know
 that such an action on their part would | meet the approval of a majority of tho | taxpayers of this town"
 A prominent republican, who said it | might injure him to use his name, said it 1 was all lost time to be talking about these matters. for the republicans had all the pow CT in their own hands and were going to make the most of it for their own bene-
 At. 'It is all politics" he said. "and don't know but it is fair. The opportu- nity which the republicans now have to secure a charter according to their own ideas may not be as good for some years to come as it is now. Why not make the most of it, then. wouldn't you fellows?" City Attorney Burpee when interviewed this afternoon denied that it was his work, although he expressed a hope that it would be fAyorably acted upon by the leg islature. He said it has received the en- T -R Al the council, six other republicans and six democrats, whose names would bs made known at the proper time.
 Town Attorney Kellogg said he knew