The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-09
AGAINST THE WATER co,
COUNCILMAN ISBELL'S SAMENDMENI a
DEFEATED.

At the councilmanic meeting last
evening the resolution passed by the
aldermen at their last meeting, in
structing the corporation counsel to ap-
pear before the legislative committee on
corporations to oppose the granting of
power to the New Haven Water COM
pany to prohibit fishing, skating, etc,
on the sources of the company's water
supplies, was opposed by Councilman
Isbell.
The Tenth ward member explained
that he was opposed to the power be-
ing granted to the water company, but
he also thought that the passage OF the
resolution would precipitate conflict
between the company and the city
which would result in the prohibition OF
citizens using the lakes for fishing and
skating, which he would very much re-
gret. He did not believe that it would
be difficult for the water company to
give the legislative committee sufficient
data to get favorable report on the
bill. He thought If the matter could in
some way be referred to judge of the
superior court that it could be satisfac-
torily arranged. 1t was in accordance
with this sentiment that he offered the
following amendment:
Unless provision is made that the
exercise of the power to issue the order
by the water company shall never be
used except by permission of a judge of
the superior court on application and
after hearing all parties in interest,"
Councilman White opposed the
amendment. He did not believe that
the court of common council Of New
Haven was ready to give to one of the
largest and most powerful corporations
in the city the power to prohibit any
part of it's citizens from taking pleas
ure on the lakes. 1t had been said that
the water company did not want to ex-
ercise the power it asked for. If this
was true, why did they ask 1t? If the
water company wanted to abate the al
legged nuisances more police force could
be used to prohibit them. We are told
that the water is impure and then we
go to a chemist and find that the
water ranks high in analysis. The
water company tells that the water is
the best in the country. We know that
in the spring it is the worst. But that
is the fault of the water company.
Councilman Dow did not think the
passage of the amendment would do
any harm.
Councilman Graves was in favor of
concurrence with the board Of alder
men. If the water company got ag-
gressive the citizens would probably be
found equally so.
The council wished to hear the
amendment read once more. This re-
quest was complied with by the clerk
and when a motion to adopt was made
Councilman White moved to lay it on
the table.
Councilman Isbell called for an aye
and nay vote.
The motion to lay it upon the table
prevailed by vote of 33 to 8. Those
voting nay were Messrs. Isbell, Stewart
and Fuller.
The council then concurred with the
aldermen.
| Alderman Chillingworth's resolution
| instructing the corporation counsel to
keep the court of common council in
formed as to all legislative matter was
thought to be too broad in its scope.
1t was referred to the committee on
ordinances.
| A petition, signed by about seventy
five horsemen, requesting the passage
of an ordinance allowing them the
privilege of a speedway on Orange
| street from Gamer street to the Orange
street bridge.
| Councilman White moved to Law the
matter on the table, which was done.
but the action was reconsidered at the
suggestion of Of Councilman TsbelI. who
said that he thought the gentlemen
were entitled to a proper hearing. He
did not think that the municipal legis-
lature had any right to shut off it's
petitioners by laying their prayers on
the table. The petition was then re-
ferred to the committee on ordinances.
| During the discussion Councilman
White asked if there were any sgners
to the petition who lived on Orange
street.
Councilman Brown for the benefit of
his colleagues from the Eighth ward
read the names of several of the sign
ers, many of whom lived on Orange
street.
a resolution was passed which takes
the power of granting to street rail-
way companies any layouts for
switches or turnouts within the CITY
limits and redelegates it to the court
of common council, to be granted upon
the recommendation of the committee
on railroads and bridges, which shall
| give public hearings.
A petition was received from H. G.
| Shepard asking that the iron fence
| around the old green be donated to the
| commissioners of public parks upon the
condition that they remove the Same
| and that they fill up the postholes, the
work to be completed by the first day
of May, 1897. The matter was referred
to the committee on squares.
President Burton made the following
! announcement of the committeeman on
the part of the council for the year
1897:
Annual reports-Councilmen Thorpe
| Burgess, Stewart.
Appropriations Councilmen Beers
| Riggs, Cronan.
Audfting-Councilme Isbell, Burgess
Coffey.
Bath houses-Graves,F Flanagan, Nah
er.