Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-15
Contractor Webb Asks for More
Time in Which to Build It.
POLICE SALARIES RAISED.
But the Chief and His Deputy
Get Left in the Deal.
The Consolidated Street Railway Asks for
an Extension Through Cambridge and
Webster streets-The Annual
Street Watering Order.

The lake bridge question was further
complicated and the members of the
city council were given a surprise Mon
day evening at their meeting, by COM
munication from the Webb Granite and
Construction Company. asking for a
modification of the original contract
made for the construction of a stone
bridge at the causeway, last July, so
that the work may be carried on, Pres
ident George D. Webb, who signed the
communication, saying that it will be
impossible to build the bridge under the
conditions of the old contract. The
communication in full is as follows:
Worcester, Mass, March IA, 1898.
The Honorable, the City Council:
Gentlemen: The Webb Granite and
Construction Company made contract
July 80, 1897, with the city for building
bridge at the causeway. The company
at once. began the work, and could have
bought materials and progressed so far
before winter set in that the contract
could have been fulfilled as originally
made. The injunction laid upon it COM
PEELED the abandonment of the work,
and has made it impossible for us to
carry out the contract on the terms
contained in the instrument
We would suggest that authority be
given to some representative of the city
to make the notifications necessary
and advisable for the performance of
the work We are yours respectfully,
The Webb Granite & Construction Co.
BY George D. Webb, Pres.
BY many Of the members of the city
council, it was understood that the
Webb company had thrown up the con-
tract altogether, but Mayor Dodge who
was seen by a Spy reporter after the
meeting, says that the communication
simply means a request for more time,
as the company cannot complete the
bridge in the time specified in the con-
tract, the first of next September, on ac-
count of the legal ENHANCEMENT of last
fall. Some time ago Mr.. Webb sent a
letter of notification to the mayor, but
the latter suggested that the informa-
ton be sent to the city council, as that
is the proper body to consider the mat
ter.
The communication was referred to
the special bridge committee, consisting
of the members of the finance and street
committees.
A couple of new petitions relating to
the bridge were also received, one
signed by Thomas G. Kent and about 1S0
others, asking the city council to desist
from building the bridge at the cause
way; and the other from Walter w.
Bragg and about 40 others, declaring
themselves in favor of the stone bridge
already ordered. Both petitions were re-
ferred to the joint special committee.
Another matter that caused consider
able excitement and a rather lively de-
bate was the report of the committee on
police, recommending that the salaries
of the chief of police be fixed at $4,000 a
year, a raise of $500, the captains of
police at $1,000 year, raise of 500, and
the lieutenants of police at $1,000, raise
of $50 When the order was presented in
the board of aldermen, Alderman Bran
non said he understood that the ques-
ton of salaries had been fixed for the
year some time ago, and in reply to a
question from him. Alderman OConnell
said the police committee had carefully
considered the matter, and all the mem
bers were satisfied that the extra
amounts recommended were deserved.
Alderman Barrett wanted to know
why no change had been recommended
in the salary of the deputy chief, and
this brought Alderman Russell up with
an amendment that the deputy chief be
given a raise of $780, making his salary
$1,000 a year. Alderman Mellen opposed
any raise in any of the salaries. Alder
man RusselPs amendment was carried,
Aldermen Thompson, Hildreth, Russell,
Barrett and O'Connell voting for it. The
order as amended was then adopted.
The common councilmen could not see
the raises made by the members of the
upper branch, and those which related
to the salaries of the chief Of police and
the deputy chief were killed by vote
of two to one, but the captains and lieu
tenants were given the raises that the
committee recommended.
The matter was not finally disposed
Of however. because after the smoke of
the battle had cleared away, the advo-
Gates for the chief and the deputy chief
moved a reconsideration of the vote
whereby the raises were rejected, ana
then they moved a postponement OF ac-
ton on this motion until the next meet
ing next Monday evening, hoping that
in the meantime they will be able to
get the absentees to join hands with
them, and also that they will make
enough converts from the other side to
carry the raises through.
This action was not taken without con-
siderable argument, and nearly every
member who spoke on the question had
the floor anywhere from three to half a
dozen times. Councilman S. c. Kendall
started the ball rolling by opposing any
raise in the salaries and calling for a
yea and nay vote on the question. Coun-
Gilman O'Leary asked if any provision
had been made in the appropriation bill
for the raises and Councilman OCon-
nell said the finance committee certain
lv had not made any provisions for
them because the matter had not been
brought before that committee. He sug
gested, however, that the raises might
come out of the balance of $5S which
was left last year. This caused some
amusement, but Councilman O'Leary
said it was serious matter, and he was
opposed to making any raise in the sal
ary of the chief of police. An argument
had been used in the case of other city
officials, that the city might lose their
services il their salaries We're not raised,
but there was no danger of losing the