The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-15
PATRIOTIC FIRE QUENCHED
ALDERMEN FAIL TO PASS RESOLU.
 1IONS FOR CITES DEFENSE.


 Dewell's Fearless Opposition-Charac- terized the Memorial as Foolish ana Kidiculous.
 The board of aldermen held a special meeting last night to consider tha memorial of the chamber of commerce. to President Mckinley asking that coast defenses be built at the entrance to New Haven harbor, the intention being to adopt resolutions endorsing the memorial and then to telegraph to Washington this morning notice of the action of the court of common council to Henry c. Rowe, Mayor Farnsworth. General E. E. Bradley and Corporation Counsel Ely, who will at 10 o'clock this forenoon present the memorial to Press ident Mckinley.
 The plans were somewhat disarrangs ed, however, and instead of being adopted the memorial was referred to a committee which is to report at special meeting of the aldermen to be held tonight, when if a meeting is held (which now seems doubtfuD and the resolutions are passed it will be too late for the purposes of Mayor Farms worth and the other New Haven gem tlemen in Washington in the interests of the memorial. The resolution was as follows:
 Whereas, New Haven city and har- Dor are absolutely without fortif1ca- tions or other means of repelling atz tacks from the sea. and
 Whereas, There are many and in- portant reasons why, if llostilities be- tween this and some other nation should at any time result, New Haven would be likely to be vigorously attack ed; therefore be it
 Resolved, That this court of conl- mon council earnestly endorses the pe-s tition of the New Haven chamber of commerce addressed to the president of the United States and praying that immediate action be taken to provide adequate coast defenses for New Ha- ven city and harbor.
 After the reading of this resolution Alderman Dewell took the floor and said: This is all foolishness, to antic- ipate at this time that there will ba any war. That there is likely to be- any war in New Haven harbor is ridic- ulous. Does any one think for a n1in- ute that in case of war Spain could get ships to New Haven? am in favor Of defenses for New Haven if we can get them, but to ask for defenses heoanse there is liable to be war is foolish. If that petition asked to have taken otits of New Haven harbor some of the stones which have been dumped there and which prevent ships coming in, 1t would be all right and would be In favor of it, but this is a foolish meas ure and am opposed to it.
 Alderman Chillingworth moved that unanimous consent for the considera- tion of the resolution be given. Alder- man Pickett said that the gentleman from the Eighth (Mr. DewelD differed in his opinion as expressed by eminent military authorities, who thought that coast defenses should be erected, and at New Haven among other places. He said: "I do not believe that we will have war, but ninety-nine per cent. of the people do think so. If some of this $50, 100000 just appropriated is used now it will be a guarantee against attaoiS. It seems to me that this measure $ a wise one, and hope that unanimous consent will be given"
 Alderman Dewell-"If New Haven was liable to attack think the naval officials would have provided for New Haven's defense at once without liS asking. Because they haven't fixed upon New Haven as a point to be de- e. k.~ %l~& l. -~a are putting the defense where they think defenses are needed more than at New Haven. I am not opposed 10 getting what we can, but to ask it be- cause of liability of war, I repeat, is rediculous"
 A vote by ayes and nays on the mo- tion of Alderman Chillingworth to give unanimous consent was then taken and resulted in sixteen in favor and two against giving such consent, which was necessary under the rules in order for the resolution to be put on its passage without reference to a committee.
 Alderman Chillingworth then moved that the resolution be referred to a committee to consist of two aldermen and three councilmen to hold hearing with instructions to report at an ads journed meeting of the common coun- cil to be held tonight. This motion was carried and the aldermen then ad- journed until S:30 o'clock this evening. Aldermen Chillingworth and Corcoran were appointed aldermanic members of the committee. It is not probable that enough aldermen to make up a quorum will be present tonight.
 The Councilmen's Meeting.
 The councilmen met in regular ses- sion immediately at the close of the meeting of the aldermen. The resolu- tion concerning the memorial to Pres- ident Mckinley was the first matter brought up. After it's reaing Council- man IsbelI moved that unanimous con- sent for it's consideration be given and it was so voted. The resolution was then read and was unanimously adopt ed. It then became known that the al- dermen had taken a different action, and Alderman Chillingworth. who was in the rear of the chamber was asked to explain to the councilmen the action taken by his board. He did so, and prefaced his explanation by saying that he was ashamed to say that one member of the board of aldermen had