The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-05-16

companies the average rate or assess
ment per front foot would be four and
one-half cents.
Ex-Alderman A. Maxcy Hitler invited
attention to a bill that was now pending
before the legislature which provided
for street sprinkling and for assessments
against the street railway companies,
provided assessments were made against
property owners; as the committee I'M
derstood Mr.. Hitler the city could not
assess street railway companies for
street sprinkling unless the property
owner was also assessed.
The concensus of opinions as ex-
pressed at the hearing was in favor of
the city sprinkling the streets without
assessment against the property own
ers.
The committee find that the board of
finance omitted to make provision in
their estimates for street sprnkling and
that the committee of the court of
common council, to whom the estimates
were referred did on the Sth day of De-
cemher, 1898, address a communication
to his honor, the mayor, and the honor
mittee stated that they respectfully in
vited attention to the fact that I'VE do
not find any provision in said estimate
to defray the expenses of sprinkling
the streets. We therefore respectfully
asked to be informed what provision
has been made to cover said expenses.
In reply the committee received a let
ter bearing date of December 9th, 1898,
which reads as follows:
Alderman Felix Chillingworth, Chair
man:
Sir:-In reply to yours of Sth inst
addressed to his honor, the mayor, and
the honorable board of finance, asking
in behalf of the joint special committee
of the honorable court of common coun-
ell to whom was referred the estimates
of moneys necessary to be appropriated
for the expenses of the city for the year
1899, submitted to said court by the
board of finance, asking information re-
garding said estimates, | am directed to
say:
In regard to "the expenses for sprink
ling the Streets that it was not deemed
advisable to appropriate any money un-
der the provisions of the act CT 1897.
Very respectfully,
Richard f. Lyon,
City Clerk.
1t will be seen by the above that the
present board of finance were not dis
posed to make appropriation for street
sprinkling Notwithstanding this fact
the board of aldermen made provision
for street sprinlling in passing the es-
Inmates for the year 1899. The council,
failing to concur, the action of the
beard of aldermen became dead letter,
and the recommendation to the board of
| finance went into effect on the first day
of the year, which recommendation cam
not be changed in any way. not even
by transfers, without having been first
recommended by the board of finance,
and now under the pending new char
ter, the board of finance are given alb
solute power to make transfers without
reference to a committee, public hear
ing, or any action on the part of the
court of common council The commit
tee on legislation appointed by the
court of common council strongly OPP
posed this Capitalization of power before
the committee on cities and boroughs of
the general assembly upon the ground
liidl II was Ibl GOUu PuDllG putty "
take all power away from the people
and those whom the electors should
elect to transact their business.
Your committee find from the audit
ors records that the city received So
2SO.65 in excess over all appropriations,
and extraordinary expenses for the year
1898.
Your committee are informed, from
the office of the town clerk, this 18th
day of May, that the rate book shows
a valuation of the city Of $66041, 453.
They also find that the estimates made
by the board of finance is based upon a
valuation of $50, 4S9 06S. showing an un
valuation of $685., $50 Eighteen
mills based upon 90 per cent. of this
will amount to s109, 1901.
Your committee recognize that this
asset has not been appropriated for any
purpose whatsoever, but they are in
doubt as to how the matter can be
reached. The court of common council,
under the charter being without power
to appropriate or to transfer.
Your committee have no reason to be-
leve that the present mayor and the
present board of finance could be in
uuttu W ldFDi tHe SplluhHHS VI tlle
streets by the city, but your committee
find that the term of office of four of the
members of the present board of finance
terminate on the first day of June next,
provided the court of common council
should elect at that date or at the meet
ing following that date, members of that
board from the aldermen and the coun-
cilmen of this court They also find
that the term Of office of a fifth member |
of the board OF finance expires on the |
first day of July. and that the incoming |
mayor will have the appointing of his
successor.
Under these circumstances and the |
limit of time between now and the first |
day OF June, your committee believe |
that the best interests of the public will |
be served by referring this whole mat
ter to the incoming mayor and the new
board of finance.
They therefore recommend the passage |
of the following order:
Ordered, That the incoming admins
tration of the city of New Haven is
hereby respectfully invited to the fact
that public necessity and convenience
requires that all the streets of the city
of New Haven should be sprnkled dur
ing the dry season, and that provision