The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-05-21
COURT OF COMMON COUNCIL
MEETINGS OF ALDERMEN AND
 COUNCILMEN LAST NIGHT.

A Breezy Debate in tho Lower Board
 Over Sale of West Rock Property-One
 of the Mayors Vetoes Overridden-
 New Bids for SprInkltng Car Track
 Streets Favored by the CounciImen-
 The Gas company's Petition Granted 1 by the Aldermen.
 l The aldermen and the councilmen
 held adjourned meetings last night. It
 was probably the last meeting of the present board of councilmen, but che al- dermen will undoubtedly hold another | special meeting before the new board | organizes next month. The aldermanic session was brief one, but the coun- clmen continued in session until 10:45 and held a breezy meeting. Two of the mayors vetoes were overridden, but the matter which took up the most time and called forth the most debate was the report of the committee recommen- ding that a portion of the land con- demned by the city and purchased for to L. Wheeler Beecher, of the Diamond Match company. The aldermen had al- ready adopted the committee recom- mendation at previous meeting, but the councilmen had tabled the report Last night Councilman Goode, of the Thirteenth ward, Westville, moved to take the report from the table and 1t was so voted President Stoddard then called Councilman Sullivan, of the Third ward, to the chair MT. Stoddard taking his seat on the floor.
 Councilman Miner moved to concur with the aldermen in adopting the rec ommendation that a strip of land com- prising about two acres and being a part of the tract recently condemned and purchased by the city for $3,000 be sold to l.. Wheeler Beecher for $700. Councilman Dawson spoke in favor of concurrence, while Councilman Yard ley, of the Thirteenth ward spoke against it. Councilman Davis, of the Eleventh ward, said that no one except
  which was owned by the Hartford h. sane Retreat, which, under the terms by which the land was acquired, could not sell it. The only way to get the land from the retreat was for the city to condemn it. He honestly believed that some one was back of the scheme to condemn the land. He believed that some one was back of it to get valua- ble land cheap for themselves for busi- ness purposes, land which they could not otherwise purchase. He said that he had opposed the acquisition of the land by the city, but now, since it had been acquired, "let those people who have been leasing it lease 1t from the city by the year. Let the city get some adequate return"
 Councilman Mansfield, of the Four teenth ward, spoke in favor of selling | the land to MT. Beecher. He said that | the park commission had reported how | MT Beecher was assisting the city to | secure the land and how he had per ] suaded the retreat not to oppose the 
 Councilman Davis denied that there had been any notice that part was to
 
 that when the condemnation matter was considered it was denied that the land was wanted by private persons for business purposes, and that it was said that it was wanted for park purposes only.
 Councilman Dawson said that the po- sition of the land wanted by MT. Beech ar was the poorest part of the tract of twelve acres, which was purchased for s3, ,000.
 A number of lawyers had been about ,ity hall prior to the opening of the meeting lobbying in behalf of the sale ,f the land and during the meeting occupied the seats in the rear of the chamber, interested spectators of what vas going on. After the last remarks ,f Councilman Dawson, Councilman 5toddard, of the Eighth ward, president if the board, took the floor and said: If this strip wanted by MT. Beecher is he poorest part of the tract then it is if no value at all. If it is the poorest part then why have you gentlemen ,een approached and why has pressure been brought to bear to put the sale through? Apparently MT. Beecher has l engaged. If the land is poor and worth 10 little is it probable that MT. Beecher would have gone to this expense? It is ,ard to get counsel or aid for a thing ike this for no expense. Men are talk ng an interest in this, not apparently ,, ,ecause they are friendly to MT. Beech r. but for some other reason It is not probable that MT Beecher went to MT. : Blake and said, Condemn all of this :, ract and then let me have piece? ,be power of condemnation is given to he city for public use only, and it is zrong for the city to use a power given c or public purposes only to the advan- age of private citizen. It is bad E E to set, giving people with polit- !, ,al power tremendous advantage over ther citizens. If such person wants uch a piece of land he could get the F ity to condemn it and then buy it from a he city. It is bad precedent. The II ity has no right to sell this land. If n eell # at all we ought to sell it to he highest bidder and not for set :, gure." o At this point Alderman Miller enter <, I the chamber, and, stepping up to '. le presidents desk, he began whisper ,g to Chairman Pro Tenn. Sullivan. IF. Stoddard objected to this and re- s uested that the alderman be required , leave the floor Alderman Miller said l., ,at he had bee nsent as a committee ~