The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-04-02
FINAL CHARTER HEARING
COMMITTEE WILL
PASS UPON THE INSTRUMENT.

Mr.. Carroll Offers Several Amendments.
The final hearing before the commit
tee on cities and boroughs at the capitol
in reference to the amendments pro-
posed for the city charter took place
yesterday. The different charter COM
mittees were represented. Corporation
Counsel Ely and Town Counsel Good
hart were also on hand to look after
the interests of their respective clients.
Henry C. Robinson appeared in behalf
of the Consolidated road Charles II.
Fowler was before the committee for
the first time, and George L. Fox of the
Hopkins Grammar school went up to
look after the amendments he offered
on Tuesday relative to the matter of al
lowing the citizens of the different
wards to go outside their limits for
representative in the court of common
council Anthony Carroll was also
present with a marked copy of the
amendments, having followed the ad
vice of Chairman Goodrich on Tuesday
and secured a copy of the document
50 as to familiarize himself with its
provisions.
The first matter taken up was the
section referring to the building of
bridges over the Consolidated roads
tracks. The company, through its at
torney, expressed the wish that this
section be amended so that the
building of the bridges be taken
out of the hands of the court
of common council where it is now and
where it is proposed to leave it in the
amended charter. Mr.. Robinson said
that the provision of which he COM
planned was not only antiquated, but it
was not good law. 1t had been elimin-
ated from nearly all the charters of
cities in the state. Indeed, he did not
think there was another city except
New Haven that had such a provision.
The section practically annulled the
rights and the power of the railroad
commissioners. 1t was not good law
to make one of the parties in interest
the sole judge of what the other
should do. -...+
Mr.. Ely contended that the court Of
common council was not an interested
party, but the agent of the law. He
quoted from decisions of the supreme
court to substantiate his claim. The
court of common council stood between
the Consolidated road and the travel
ing public.
After considerabl discussion it was
finally settled between counsel that
they could agree on certain facts con-
cerning the number of bridges affected
by the section. and that the result of
the conference would be submitted to
the committee. There is no likelihood
that the city and the railroad will be
able to agree, and it is possible that
the company will submit an amend
ment
Attorney Charles H. Fowler said: LAS
to the charter as a. whole, l am in fa-
vor of it. I hope to live to see the time
when there shall be a general law gov
erning city charters, but that is for an
other day. The objection ! make to
this charter is its partisan character
The people in favor of this charter, like
the men who favored the old charter,
have not separated politics from busi-
ness. which is the fundamental princi-
pie that should govern cities. The may
or of any city should be it's head, and
he should have it's responsibility rest
ing upon him."
Mr.. Fowler thought the section CIV
ing the mayor the power of removal
should be amended so that the removal
should be made upon competent evil
dence.
The speaker said that the principle
that man should declare his politics
in order to become a police commission
er, which the bipartisan system
makes necessity, was entirely wrong.
It would be the only requirement under
this system to get an appointment to
the police force.
Mr. Fowler advocated the elimination
of the bipartisan principle from all
the sections providing for the appoint
ment of the commissions.
Mr.. Fowler appealed to the commit
tee to strike out from the school board
this bipartisan idea that has taken
possession of the men who draft char
tiers. DO not, gentlemen, make the
public schools the football of politics.
George l.. Fox said: 81 offered an
amendment here to-day that I said
would be acceptable, but Mr.. Ely in
IOTlDeu NE lilott II Nouiu llOI bS' VI
the charter generally I wish to say that
no right minded man expects to get
perfect charter. ! agree with the last
speaker, that bipartisan boards are
breeders of disreputable politics, They
should be done away with: This
amendment makes the charter more
definite. The new charter does not
deny the right. Now, gentlemen. let US
go further and specify that the citizens
of the ward may go outside of their
boundaries"
Mr. Troup said there was nothing
more to add in opposition to the char
ter. He was anxious that it be sub
m'itted to the people, but it was patent
that this would not be done. LAS to
the bipartisan boards" he said, 1
am Of the opinion that they
are not conclusive to good gov
ernment. 1 am in sympathy with
what has beeen said by'Mr. Fowler, and
also by Mr.. Fox. For three years we
have had no superintendent of streets.
At present we canont retire the super
intendent of police because of this sys-
tenn"
Jacob P. Goodhart. counsel for the
town. called the committees attention
to the section providing that the resi-
dents of the outlying wards be allowed