The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-01
THE CITY FATHERS MEET
MATTERS DISCUSSED BY THE MAY
 OR'S GARNET LAST NIGHT.

OR'S GARNET LAST NIGHT. Prosecutions for Neglect to Clean Snow
 from Sidewalks-Contra Must Not
 Obstruct sidewalks-Sae0,O ,OO0 Worth of
 District Bonds Needed-A Hint to Police-
 men-Almshouse Inmates Must Work.
 A largely attended meeting of the mayors cabinet was held last night. nearly all the heads of departments un- der the city government being present. Several important matters of municipal importance were discussed and many valuable suggestions exchanged. As sistant City Attorney Webb was also present and stated that many com plaints had been received in the city attorneys office of people who had neg lected to clean the snow from their sidewalks. He stated, however, that the city attorney was unable to prose- cute, as the compliments had produce ed the names of no witnesses. MT. Baldwin, superintendent of streets, in formed MT. Webb that he could fur nish witnesses to testify as to the neg lect to clean walks. He said that men in the employ of his department had cleaned walks when the owners of the abutting property had neglected to do so, and that he could produce witnesses to testify in each complaint. It is probable, therefore, that prosecutions will follow soon, as there is nothing lacking now, complaints having been Jo police acting under instructions the past winter, have reported hundreds of cases of failure to clean snow from walks, the intention being, when the police were instructed early in the win- ter, to report all such cases found so that prosecutions would result at once- No suits have been brought, however,, and the fact has been commented upon severely by the police who entered com plaints and by owners who cleaned the sidewalks of properties adjoining those of which the sidewalks have not been cleaned.
 Corporation Counsel Ely announced that he had under consideration all the resolutions passed and other actions taken by the court of common council }concerning the contemplated new Chapel street drawbridge. Several resolutions concerning this bridge lave been passed by the common councils and just at present the council is rath- CT tangled in the matter, not knowing exactly where it is at" Last year az resolution was passed instructing the city engineer to advertise for bids for the bridge. The bids were received and opened, and then it was found that no appropriations for the work had been made and no issue of bonds authorixed. The contract could not, therefore, ba let.vg The corporation counsel Is now considering the several resolutions passed by the common council and he stated last night that he would en-S deavor to straighten them out so that when the common council acts again on the matter 1t may accomplish what
 is desired. MT. Ely also incidentally remarked that for one entire week he had not been called upon to give an opinion on any question concerning the city government.
 There was some discussion of the nu-
 merous violation of that section of the building ordinances which requires that contractors and others erecting
 new buildings keep the sidewalks and gutters in front of the new buildings clear of Instructions. It was arranged | between the superintendent of streets and the city attorney that violators of l this section of the ordinances would be prosecuted at once.
 | President Whitney of the board of education reported that the board had | finally strengthened out it's finances and. | had found that an issue of $220, ,000
 worth of bonds would be necessary to clear up the floating indebtedness of5 l the district These bonds have already
 been authorized. About year and a half ago the debts of the district were I figured up and it was then thought | that an issue of $300,000 worth of bonds would be necessary, but now the board of education has figured so closely that
 it is thought that an issue of $S0,000 less than that sum will be sufficient for new guildings and to settle floating
 debts.
 | Superintendent Hotchkiss of the de-
 partment of charities and correction
 announced that his board intended to
 begin carefully studying up on the 1 workhouse question with view to arr ranging for the establishment of a. | workhouse as is required under the
 new charter The board will study up matters pertaining to workhouse estab- 1 lishment and the statutory regulations
 concerning commitment. Suggestions 1 from citizens in regard to the matter will be gladly received by the board.
 A large number of men come to New
 Haven in the fall, and although they
 are able bodied and well able to work.
 they gravitate between Springside and
 the jail. It is proposed to make these
 work. President Blake of the park
 commission and Superintendent Hotch-
 kiss will arrange to use some of these
 men, inmates of the almshouse,in cut ting the brush and picking up loose
 wood in East Rock park and West | Rock park.
 | President Mix of the police board,
 when asked to say something about his 1 department, stated that the police board had decided that it was neces-
 sary, in order for policeman to keep 1 his place on the force, to remain sober
 twenty-four hours a day, 365 days in
 the year, when on or off duty. Presi- dent Mix said also that he thought that 1 the member of the police force who 1 knew his duty and did it would be ap- 1 preciated but that the member who