The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-03-23

SltlCt liltH luc pStibioii SFCiiiCu W ave
been spirited away, as 1t could not be
found to act upon at later meetings Of
the board.
Henry G. Norris, president of the
board of aldermen, said that the only
question which had arisen In that board
was as to whether the common council
or the legislature should fix the salaries.
He said that the board was agreed that
the bill was just. He thought that hav-
| ing fixed salaries would prevent the
firemen from being tied up to any po-
| litical party or party Of men. He
charged that an influence had been at
work in New Haven to prevent the fire.
men from appearing before the commit
tee, and said: "The mayor has attempt
ed to coerce members OF the department
to withdraw this petition. I know that
the mayor has visited engine houses
while this matter has been up, in COM
pany with other members Of the city
government, to get the firemen to with
draw the petition
Mr.. Ely-"This matter don't skip off
in this way If I can help 1t. How many
times do you know that the mayor has
visited engine houses for the purposes
you say?"
Mr.. Norris-"On December %, when
the president of the board of council
men ruled that this petition was not
properly before the councilmen and re-
fused to entertain an appeal from his
ruling"
Alderman Chillingworth favored the
amendment because he said that 1t
would take the fire department out Of
politics.
Ex-senator l.. Fl. johnson favored the
amendment and said that so far as he
was able to learn public opinion in New
Haven was in favor of it.
Alexander Troup said that "by the
grace Of God and the legislature of 1897
he was a resident of Greater New Ha-
ven. He said that he was astonished
at the innocence Of the gentleman from
the Tenth ward (Mr. Chillingworth)
when he spoke Of taking the fire depart
ment out of politics and taking the mat
ter to the legislature. He said that he
favored taking all municipal matters
out Of politics and running municipal
affairs on strictly business principles.
He said that a member of the fire de-
partment had recently resigned in dis
gust, and that that was simply part
and parcel of the whole business. He
favored having the common council ar
range New Haven matters, and not the
legislature He believed that If the
amendment was submitted to popular
vote in New Haven nineteen-tWentieths
of the voters would favor 1t.
Others who appeared in favor were
James A. Church, William F. Reynolds,
Councilman Spreyer, Major Lincoln, ex-
Judge Rufus S. Pickett, Mr.. Osborn and
Mr.. Petite.
F. C. Bushnell said that he had sign
ed the f1remen's petition and favored
the purpose Of it, but he thought that
the city of New Haven should govern
itself and this going to the Legislature
about everything had been carried to
the extreme.
He said: IF we come up here to ask
for the fixing of this and that salary
where are we going to stop? The prin-
ciple it seems to me, is entirely wrong.
Let us have our present charter long
enough to see if it works WELL"
George B. Martin said that he also
had signed the petition. but on thinking
the matter over he was opposed to the
city Of New Haven going to the legisla-
ture to fix the salaries of the firemen. |
He said that the legislature, when it |
gave a charter to the Consolidated road,
might just as well have fixed the sala-
ries Of all the employees of the road,
but that it was better to leave the reg
ulation of such matters to the people
who pay the bills.
Alderman Donovan thought that the
common council should fix the salaries
Instead of the legislature doing SO.
Councilmen Hall and Anderson also
spoke unfavoraby on the petition. The
hearing was closed by arguments by
Judge Robertson and Judge Pickett for
The amendment and by Corporation
Counsel Ely against 1t.
The committee will probably not re-
0ort on the matter before next week.