Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-22
BOARD OF ALDERMEN
Recommendation For Municipal
 Lighting Passed Unanimously.

Recommendation For Municipal
 Lighting Passed Unanimously.
 The board of aide. en met last night, there being present Chairman Hall, Aldermen Morris, Mahaney, Boy Ian, Foley, Kane, Phelan, Tyrrell. White, Blakeslee, Cross, Callan and City Clerk Ryan.
 The recommendation of the board of public works in reference to munich pal lighting was called from the table and amended so that the application to the general assembly will include the right of the city to manufacture electricity or other kinds of lighting. It was then passed unanimously.
 When the matter was called from the table Aldermen Callan said that he should like to hear something re- Rarding the advantage of such plant }and asked if the board had any tangible information of that kind. Alderman Mahaney said there was no lack of information on the subject and pulled a marked copy of the Democrat out of his pocket which he said he should like to have read by the clerk. Sheriff Mcdonald passed the paper to the clerk, who appeared to be clearing his throat to read the article when Alderman White caught Chairman Halls eye and said: 1T want to say that I'm in favor of es- tablishing an electric lighting plant here provided we can satisfy ourselves that it would pay, but 1 would not vote that way now. I understand this recommendation means nothing more than that the city attorney be in- structed to procure the passage of an act empowering the city to go into the business if it wants to. I don't want to be misunderstood about this. 1 want no vote passed here that would give the mayor or anybody else per mission to commence the work of in stalling the plant in case the bill should pass without an order from this bonrd-''
 MT Mahaney: There can't be any misunderstanding about this. All the board of public works asks for at present is that the city attorney be directed to get permission for the city to do it's own lighting. We couldn't rush into this if we wanted to. Our contract with the Connecti- cut Lighting and Power company won't expire for two years more. so that there is no need to be alarmed about anyone trying to start plant before that time
 Alderman Callan: If we have a two years contra t on hand what's the use talking about putting up plant now. Wouldn't it be well to wait until towards the close of our contract and then if we want to try it all right
 -Alderpan White: 'The legislature won't met for two years more and we can't do anything until we get per mission
 Alderman Callan: Hasn't Water bury the right to engage in that buSi- ness without asking permission from the legislature? If not we ought to get it whether we use it or not
 Alderman Blakeslee and Tyrrell were satisfied that the recommenda- ton included nothing that would bind the city to go into the business. It was simply to get the permission.
 Alderman White: T wanted to make sure about this thing, because you couldn't tell but what the Doard of public works might think they saw their way to going ahead with it on the strength of favorable action by this board. Look at what the board of education is doing. picking out a school lot in the north end and getting plans for q building to be put on it before the bonds have been issued. We haven't voted to issue those bonds yet and the school board does not know when we will.''
 Clerk Ryan: There was q direct appropriation for the West Side Hill school.''
 Chairman Hall: q don't think they are doing anything but looking at sites and getting plans
 Mir White: Perhaps that's true. but the school board has acted so reckleSsly in the past, you are always in doubt as to what they might do."
 Alderman Cross wanted to amend the recommendation by striking out the word electricity" so that in case something better than electrici- ty should turn up We could take advantage of it. Chair man Hall suggested that everything in the recommendation be left there and that the words 'or any other system be inserted after electricity and then there could be no doubt about taking in all. After q long chat the amend ment was carried and the recommen- dation as amended adopted unani- mously.
 The recommendation of the board of public works that the city attorney be instructed to procure the passage Of an act empowering the city to issue bonds to the amount of S1OO,0OO for the purpose of installing an electric lighting plant was amended to con form with the action taken on the pre- ceding vote and was then passed unanimously.
 The recommendation of the board of public safety that $50 license money be refunded to the Union Athletic club brought out considerable debate. Alderman Morris moved that the recommendation be adopted. Mir Cal Ian asked for an explanation and was informed that the license was taken out but for some reason or other the entertainment did not come off.
 Does the city guarantee success to clubs taking out licenSes:' inquired Mr Callan. If those people asked for a license and got it that was all the city had to do with it, and I don't see any reason why it should be refund ed'
 Alderman Cross: When the advance agent for a circus comes along and takes out a license and afterwards cancels his date does he get back his license moneyY'
 It was agreed that he does not but some of the members, notably Alder