Waterbury Democrat., 1902-03-26
BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS.
City Will Demand Deductions in Bills
 for Poor Light Service.

 for Poor Light Service.
 The board of public works held a meeting last night and listened to City Attorney Kellogg's answer to the question directed to him at the last meeting of the board regarding the right of the city to deduct from bills rendered by the Connecticut Railway and Lighting Go for lights out.
 MT Kellogg said he preferred to att tend the meeting and answer any queS- ton that might occur to the members on this subject rather than send in a written reply which possibly might not cover everything the board desired to know. He looked over the lighting contract, which holds until year from now and has been in force for the past four years, and then read the following paragraph: "Said party of the first part Connecticut Railway and Lighting Co) hereby further agrees that if any of the lamps in actual use under this contract, shall fail to op- crate for more than two hours on any night, then a proportional part of the amount to be paid for such lamp shall be deducted therefrom'
 This, he said, was so plain that , there could be no mistake about it. It gave the city the right to demand deductions for all lights out two hours during any one night. Mir Kellogg was asked if the city was in q posi- tlon to ask for q return of money paid Tor lights that had rendered no service at certain times. He said it was. provided it could be shown that the lights were out over the time men, | toned in the contract and that the city had paid the bills believing that the service had been rendered. The question then came up as to whether the board would ask that this matter be strengthened out from the time the contract was entered into or enter up- on the new plan from the commence ment of the present year. It was fi- nally voted to instruct the clerk to notify the traction company that in making out their March bill for lights 1 chargeable to the city that deductions be made for lights out from January ], l902. according to the record kept by the chief of police and in conform ny With tue contract covering this matter.
 A petition of B l.. Coe for the re- moyal of 9 dead tree at the corner of Mitchell avenue and North Willow street and for the reconsideration of a sewer assessment laid against prop erty of Mrs Margaret Grimes at the corner of Hill and Summer streets were placed on the list for inyestiea- ton. The application of R. N. Blakes- lee for permission to use the city water for sprinkling purposes under the same conditions as heretofore, was re- ferred to a committee consisting of Mayor Kilduff and Commissioner Ma nancy with power to act.
 Henry Tubbs appeared before the board relative to the petition for the grade and layout of Staryiew avenue. He said he wanted to get in the gas. put that the company would not op- crate there until they can tell the grade of the street Mir Tubbs also spoke of the hardship on property owners there who have to pay taxes and get nothing in return for them One of the commissioners asked MT. Tubbs how long he had been paving city taxes. He said he never paid full taxes. The place was brought into the city short time ago and is Ill what is known as the outside dis trict. What would you do if your property was taxed at city rates since the city was incorporated and was still in the shape you describe it?s Why" he answered, I'd be doing what I'm doing now, I suppose. But are there any such cases as you men tlonY He was informed that there are streets in the old city in worse condition than many of those on the outside and that people who live on them have to wait. It was voted that the engineer be instructed to report grade and layout for Staryiew ave- nue at his earliest convenience.
 The board adjourned until next Tuesday afternoon at o'clock