The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-01-09
HUGO STRIPPED OF POWER
BY TOTE or THE SELECTMEN YES
TERDAY.

Baldwin, Chairman of the Purchasing
Committee--J. T.. Goodhart Appointed
Town Counsel--other Places Filled
Democrats May Make Further Contests
The office of the town agent was yes
terday delivered to Philip Hugo, who
has been seeking to get possession of
the same through the means of the SUI
perior court for more than month,
the last legal steps in the case being
the recount made Thursday.
4 1t was a few minutes past o'clock
yesterday morning when Mr., Hugo
walked into the office and said to Mr.
Baldwin that he was there in accord
ance with, the vote he received on the
evening before, and was ready to as
sumo the duties OF the office.
About 10 o'clock the other members
of the board began to assemble, and
then for the first time it was known
that there was to be b meeting of the
selectmen. The result of the meeting
was to make some appointments and
to pass vote which strips Mr.. Hugo
of all Independent action as town
agent except signing his name to the
receipt. book when he draws his sal
airy.
The following is the vote, which was
offered by Selectman Sucher:
Voted, That First Selectman Philip
Hugo be and he hereby is authorized
and empowered to draw orders on the
treasurer of the town for the payment
of all bills and claims against the town
as have been approved by the finance
committee.
Voted That Selectmen Baldwin, HUI
go and Ludington be and they are
hereby appointed a committee to make
purchases and sales of such goods and
commodities as they may deem proper
in the administration of the affairs of
the town and to employ such persons
as they may deem necessary, the en-
ployment of whom is not already pro-
vided Cor.
Mr.. Hugo objected to the appoint
ment. saying that it looked as if the
majority of the board could not trust
him.
Selectmen Cunningham and Kinney,
democrats, both protested against the
passage of the resolution.
Mr.. Baldwin said it was an extraor-
binary condition the board was now in,
and that the republicans being in the
majority, had on them the responsible
ity for the conduct Of the affairs of the
town. 1t was necessary then that they
should have charge of all the official
acts of the hoard
Selectmen Sucher said that the reso-
luton was introduced in the interests
of harmony
The resolution was passed by the fol-
| lowing vote: Yeas-Baldwin, Luding-
ton, Kelly and Sucher. Nays-Hugo,
Cunningham and Kinney.
| After it was passed it was voted to
notify Town Treasurer Mersick of the
action taken.
| Mr.. Baldwin proposed the appoint
ment of J. P. Gooahart as town counsel
and the vote was passed.
| There was democratic protest
against this. Hugo advised going along
without a. regular counsel and then If
the town needed advice it could employ
the services that might be required He
said that years ago this used to be
done, and that the counsel fees for the
town in any one year only amounted to
about $500 Now they are from 81, 500 to
SO, 500.
Mr.. Baldwin proposed the appoint
rnent % Thomas W. Kinney as watch
man at tie almstouse at $12 a week.
and r. A. Smith engineer at the stone
crusher at SIS a week, and the appoint
ments were made.
The prominent feature of the discus
sion upon the resolution curtailing the
power of Town Agent Hugo by the
| board of selectmen was the effect it
would have upon the financial clerk.
| The position has always been filled by
a confdant of the town agent, he be-
ing the only responsible member of the
board of selectmen.
Retiring Town Agent Baldwin was
asked last evening as to the bond of
the clerk, whether 1T was responsible
to the town or the town agent.
Mr.. Baldwin said that the town
agent was the responsible person, and
he could demand a bond of the finan-
cial clerk Is he saw fit. The democrat
ic friends Of Mr.. Hugo were disposed
to comment severely on this feature of
the case, saying that 1t did not have
the appearance of Justice or fairness
to make the town agent accept a finan-
cial clerk that did not have his fullest
confidence. What steps the new town
agent will take to secure what he and
his friends believe to be his fullest
rights had not been agreed upon last
evening.
Financial Clerk Perry was reelected
financial clerk at a previous meeting
and the attitude of the republican
members of the board on the resolution
Yesterday would indicate that he will
be retained.