The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-01-31
WATER CONTRACT MATTER
(continued from First Page,)

Continued from First Page)
 adopted by the board of councilmer The charter provides, in Section l2S that no resolution or measure (such a the adoption of contract with tn Water company shall be put upon it passage except by unanimous consent until it shall have been referred to ant reported by a suitable committee afte a public hearing. I believe that by tho words suitable committee" is meant { committee composed of members of tho court of common council and l have some question whether the corporation counsel can properly be named as ( member of such committee or coulC properly vote as a member thereof Whether the corporation counsel may properly be named as a member of the committee or not, there are reasons which suggest themselves why it would be better that he should not be mem Der of such a committee, IS he should be left free to advise the committee and to consider the legal questions in volved in a proposed contract or any
 
 of passing upon the merits of such con- tract or such action.
 The mayor may properly be made a member of such a committee, but in my judgment it would be better that the mayor should be left free to ap- prove or veto any action of the court of common council without embarrass- ment and without having committed himself by having previously voted as q member of the committee concerning the same matter.
 I believe that not only the continuing contract, but also the other proposi- tions of the Water company, should properly be referred to a committee for public hearing before the adoption of contract, especially as I understand that there has been no public hearing by the joint standing committee on water since the propositions of the New Haven Water company were received by such committee.
 A joint special or standing commit tee, having before it all three proposi- tions of the Water company, may hold public hearings thereon and may take
 
 as to the meaning and effect of the pro- visions of the several contracts in de- tail, and may have the opinion of the corporation counsel upon any legal question which arises. Such committee, having received the testimony of citi- zens and having the advice and assist ance of the corporation counsel, and having also any further amendments of the contracts which may be pre- sented by the Water company, may make it's report to the court of com mon council, recommending the adop- tion of any of such contracts. and transmit with such report all written communications received by it from the counsel and the Water I feel sure that the common having before it the report and recommendations of the committee and such communications transmitted by it, would be in position to understanding ly give to the whole matter the care ful consideration which it deserves.
 While I feel that it would be better for the mayor not to be a member of such committee, yet if at any time I ,an be of any assistance to the commit tee, or the committee desire to confer with me, I shall be at the service of such committee.
 In making my communication to the court of common council dated Janu- Try 27th, 1902, I did not consider the lraft of the so-called continuing con- .ract as presented by the Water com 1any, to be a complete and final draft hereof and did not intend to intimate hat the same would have my approval Intil after a very thorough examina- ion of it's terms by the corporation 'ounsel and myself to ascertain wheth- r it in fact in detail sufficiently guarded the interests of the city.
 I therefore suggest, if in the judg- nent of the boards of aldermen and it seems wise, after consd- | ration of the matters referred to in his message that instead of the reso- ution already passed by the board of 1 ouncilmen and now pending before the 'oard of aldermen, resolution be | dopted referring my former message, ! with the amendments herewith trans nitted, all three proposed contracts of he New Haven Water company and ny of the other communications re- eived from said company, and all ther matters and papers relating to a roposed contract with the Water com any to such joint committee as your onorable court may deem best to ap- ont, to be composed of members of he board of aldermen and board of that such committee be in tructed to hold public hearings upon he three proposed contracts and to re- ort it's recommendations to the com lon council, together with any further ropositions which may be received 'om the Water company, such report ) be made on or before some specified ay not later than February 11th.
 Respectfully submitted,
 JOHN P. STUDLEY,
 Mayor. New Haven, Conn, January 29, 1902. After the reading of this Alderman [oyle moved that the board recede 'om it's former action in adopting the )nt inuing contract and concur with le councilmen in referring the whole ,ntract matter to committee to con- st of the mayor, the corporation coun- I, three councilmen to be elected by e board of councilmen, and two alder an tn l, al toI l,y-t tba gf,