Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-02-08

Alderman Mellen replied to Mr.. Pot-
ter, saying that he was sorry he quoted
Secretary Gage instead of William Jen-
nings Bryan. He went on further to
say that he has not seen the wave OF
prosperity which republican senators
had insisted was sweeping over the
country.
Acting President Brannon interrupted
Mr., Mellen to ask him if he was talk
ing on the question before the board,
and his reply was that he was replying
to Mr.. Potter, which he had perfect
right to do. Mr. Mellen said he had
| been opposed to Mr.. Bartons election
for two years back, and he thought no
new charges against him had been pre-
sented this year. His age, weak eyes,
pals!ed limbs and incapacity to perform
his work had been known for some time.
! In the past Mr.. Barton had been a beau
ideal official, one that met rich and poor
alike with courtesy, an example that
| it would be well for other city depart
ments to emulate. He thought it was
no time to raise salaries, not even Mr..
Eddy's, whom he thought a young man,
bright and able.
/ Il purpose, however" he said, "ques-
tioning some of his official acts, | de-
sire to know why he has given Jim
/ Draper $4,000 during the past year for
pipe which could have been secured for
$4,000? MIR. Eddy is certainly responsible
/ for this.
It'll recently the heads of depart
ments have been running the city. We
know how narrow they are. \ Swedish
American. a French-American or an
lr!sh-American girl cannot get employ
ment. I'm not in much humor for re-
warding such people. | am content to
/ have the matter go to a committee of
I conference, but | am not content to
+ have the figures changed much. The
+ proper thing to be done was to elect
another in Treasurer Barton's place.
Alderman Russell said that the word
indignity used in relation to the reduc-
ton of MIR. Barton's salary was possibly
/ a strong one. ] am not going to discuss
! Mr.. Barton's merits as an official, he
I sad, | simply want to repeat that the
method taken to Supplant Mr.. Barton is
wicked and unjust / do not question
/ the statement that the expenses of the
! department are greater than they ought
to be be, but Mr.. Barton is not re-
4 sponSible for all the expense. He is,
+ however responsible for all persons en-
/ ployed in the department. That is the
i reason why / say that his salary ought
4 not to be reduced If he is not the per-
I son for the Office, then vote him out
/ next year While he is there don't let
I us step on him In closing he said a
/ pleasant word for Superintendent Eddy.
/
| reconsideration of the vote wherein the
! board concurred with fixing the salaries
/ of first-year hosemen, and the motion
| was carried. He then introduced the
| following;
Whereas, this board has non-con-
| CURED in the amendments which the
/ common council have made to the sal
/ airy bill; voted, that we adhere to our
| first action in the premises and request
a conference with the common council
upon the order relative to salaries, and
that we appoint a committee for that
purpose.
Aldermen Brannon. Thompson and
! O'Connell We're appointed a committee
| to represent the board in the committee
| of conference
A short recess was then declared
THE CONFERENCE.
! Immediately after Chairman Brannon
called the conference to order, Council
man Wall stated most emphatically, be-
fore any one had expressed an opinion
| that ne would listen to no reduction in
| City Treasurer Barton's salary, no mat
ter how small He would listen to no
compromise whatever All attempts to
effect any failed in the session that fol-
! lowed, though it is understood the COM
mittee agreed in the increase in fire.
mems pay made by the common coun-
ell.
When Alderman Brannon reported to
| the board with request for more time,
| Alderman Mellen said he was willing the
( time should be granted if there was any
prospect of an agreement. If not, he
| thought it would be wise to appoint a
! new committee. Alderman Brannon
! said it was the intention to hold a meet
ing Monday. The report was then ac-
! cepted and the time granted.
just before the adjournment of the
| common council President Hall gave
| the members something of surprise by
calling Councilman O'ConneI to the
chair and taking the floor himself for
the purpose of introducing the following
| order:
Ordered, that the city hall commits
! sioners be and are hereby requested to
cause a tablet to be prepared and placed
/ in the new city hall building, which shall
/ contain the names of all of the members
! of the city hall commission from the
! date of the creation of said commission
to the time of the completion and dedi-
| cation of the new building said tablet
! to be substituted for any which may
have been procured which shall be
found not to contain the names of all
! who have served on said commission
/ 1t will be remembered by the readers
! placed in the new city hall corridor by
the city hall commission, gives the year
in which the city hall was completed as
1897, and makes no reference whatever
Il to Mayor Rufus B. Dodge, who, by viz
tue of his office, is a member of the
city hall commission at the present
time. The order offered by President
Hall is intended to rectify these errors
by making the year of completion 1898,
i and to place Mayor Dodge's name on the
list with the other members of the com
mission.
In offering the order, President Hall
took occasion to criticise the tablet
which is now in the new city hall CORR
I dor, saying that it was not historically
i correct He said the committee on ded-
4 ication of the new city hall held
4 a meeting Saturday afternoon, ana. for
I the purpose of finding out the exact
I date when the city hall would be COM
pleted, they had Chairman William H !.
i Sawyer of the city hall commission be-
fore them SO they could fix the date for
| the dedication Mr.. Sawyer had a let
ter in his pocket from the Messrs. Nor
cross, the builders of the city hall, say
ing that they could not have it ready
for six weeks to come. If that be 80,
the tablet in the city hall is not correct.
and it should be changed so that it will
conform to facts as 1t gives the date
). of completion as 1897
The tablet has been further criticised
because it does not bear the name of
Mayor Dodge, who is a member of the
city hall commission and will be until
4 the building is completed. 1t has been
said that there was a reason for leav-
4 Ing Mayor Dodge's name off the tablet.
and that ex-Mayor Sprague was respon-
sible for it. President Hall said that
! Gen. Sprague was too honorable a man
u stand bahind any such movement.