Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-06
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Fix Up Another Salary To Be Drawn
 From City Funds.

Journed meeting last night, Chairman Goss presiding and all the members being present except Messrs Walker, Chesson and Foley. It was an inter- esting session and by the time it came to close the majority had shown as 1t had often done before that it can economiZe in certain quarters and squander in other directions while at the same time leading the public to believe that the end sought is the best interests of the public. The other day the board voted to pay the build ing inspector q salary of $1 500 year, about $6 a day. Last evening it was voted to fix the deputy's salary at $5 a day. Some of the members, notably AL dermen Brophy and O'Brien, didn't think it using people right to pay 8 man S6 day for doing job and then employ another person at almost as much salary to attend to it in the oth- CT fellows absence, but this did not sound just right on the ears of the wise heads and it was decided that the city should come down with the dust for the deputy as well as for the in- spector.
 This matter was taken from the ta- ble on the motion of Mir Ford, who also moved that the salary of the dep uty be fixed at So day Alderman O'Brien looking about in surprise): '.Well. isn't that pretty steep. Aren't we paying man 1,SO0 a year for looking after that?''
 Alderman Brophy: 'I think this very inopportune time to be creating new offices with big salaries People are taxed high enough now and as all this money comes direct from the peo- pie 1t seems that we ought to be care ful about adding to the public ex- pense. One man can do that job and the cfry shouldn't be paying two sal aries for it. If the inspector wants to go off on vacation or happens to be out of town on business let him call in the deputy to act during his absence and pa! him as much as he likes. Why should the city pay Mir Chatfeld a salary and then employ somebody else to do his work? Sup posing Mir Chatfield should be taken sick for year. would we have to pay both right along. This same system obtains ill the courts. A man is paid large salary and no matter how long he is away he gets. his pay and the people also pay the deputy who acts in his place. I think we should dis courage that rather than show a dis position to make it more general"
 City Attorney Kellogg was asked if such condition as referred to by Mr Brophy should confront us would the city be obliged to pay both the in spector and the deputy. Mir Kellogg said he didn't think so. but he did not appear very sure of his ground.
 Mir Goss: s'I understand the dep uty has $4:5O a day where he is em- ployed now"
 MT Blakeslee: '.The understanding is that the deputy shall not be em- ployed except during the disability or absence of the inspector. He has re- ceiyed permission to get off from his regular employment on such occasions and I think we ought to let him know what we are going to pay him."
 Mir Brophy: ''I don't see why we should pay him anything. Let the inspector settle with him."
 Alderman O'Brien thought it would be we'll to lay the matter on the table until the next meeting and then of fered a motion to that effect. It was lost. all the democrats voting for it and the republicans opposing such a course The motion to fix the sal ary at S5 per diem was then put and carried. all the republicans favoring it and the democrats taking the other side.
 As soon as the deputy's salary ques- ton was disposed of MT Ford started things up again by moving that the recommendation of the board of pub lie safety recommending it be given power to appoint two new policemen be taken from the table. It was ear. nied At this juncture Alderman Filling gave the police and the police department q call. He wanted t6 know where the expense of the police department was going to stop. 4 year or two ago the expense of the q department was S3S.000: now it is over S44. 4.OOO. When the police sig nal system was put in. he said. tht people were told that it would strengthen the efficiency of the depart ment more than the addition of sev eral patrolmen. They got the sigma system and five new men and nov they want two more.
 T think" continued the alderman ssthe beats could be arranged so tha the men. W0ulu uOL 1ldNe IllHe lO JiO1S so many confabs on the street corners Sometimes you see as many as tire of them chatting on the ends of thei beats. I have noticed them sitting O verandas and railways resting them selves. I suppose they get sore fee from constant walking. but even sc that is no reason why they should no do their duty. The manufacturing COT cerns employ men to patrol their plant and for less pay than the officers rs ceive. and they have to keep on the 2 all night and register at all the place they call so that their employers ma have evidence of the fact that they q their work we'll. Why don't they us these signal boxes and show that tG,. are money savers for. the city?'
 Alderman O'Brien: T think the send in signals at stated times. I hay noticed them at these boxes quite frs uuent1y and it isn't likely that they 2 there for fun."
 Mir Filling: s'Why have we round: men going about to look after the me if they can be kept track of from tin office by the aid of the signal boxes 2''
 MT O'Brien: q suppose the round, men are something the same as bosse fn fbe shonS Afan at q ben.ah may h