Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-08-05
HALPIN'S BILL TABLED
Board of Safety Will Get City Attor-
ney's Opinion On 1t.

Board Of Safety VIII Get City Attor-
ney's Opinion On 1t.
This much discussed matter Of maxi
ing policemen pay for defending them
selves against ridiculous charges
brought by every complaining Tom,
Dick and Harry In the city, was dis
cussed by the board Of public safety
at the regular monthly meeting of that
body last evening. The matter came
up before the hoard by Policeman
James Halpin sending In bill for $40
for his expenses In the charges
brought against him few weeks ago
by Attorney Ell. r. Durant. All of the
other bills were disposed Of by the
customary approval, and this alone
awaited some action by the board.
Commissioner Hardie thought 1t very
peculiar why policemen should be
obliged to pay their own expenses in
matters OF this kind for 1t was nothing
more nor less than having them suffer
for performing their duty. He moved
that the bill be referred to committee
to consult the city attorney about 1t.
There were present at the meeting
only Commissioners Lahey, Beach and
Hardie. Commissioner Beach was
chairman and he said 1t was his opin-
ion that the board had power to either
approve or disapprove of the bill.
Commissioner Lahey moved that the
bill be tabled as other bills Of similar
character had been thus disposed of.
| The matter was put to vote and
was declared a tie, whereupon the
| chairman voted with Commissioner La
hey.
Commissioners Hardie said it Was
only proper that the board should get
| the opinion Of the city attorney, to
which Chairman Beach said 1t was the
opinion of the chair that the board had
full power to pay the bill and 1t was
| his individual opinion that the bill
ought to be paid.
Commissioner Hardie said he
brought up the matter merely to have
| it decided. He did not think 1t fair
that an officer should suffer for per-
forming his duty. At present it is an
| easy matter for anyone to bring chaIges
against policeman and thereby bring
considerable hardship upon him. OF
course there were many ways Of look
| ing at the matter, butt at present the
only view that presented itself to him
was that this bill in question should be
paid
Commissioner Beach: s'Don't ysu
think that an officer ought to have con-
| fdence in this board to trust his case
to it?''
Commissioners Hardie: 1--WE ouglA
not to entertain lawyers in these mat
ter at all. But If one party engages
a lawyer why the other party will do
the same"
Commissioner Beach said no one
could prevent either of the parties
engaging lawyer. Commissioners
Hardie agreed with him in this but
said that the board needed not TO lis
ten to any lawyers If it cared to take
that course.
eve can't prevent any party from
| bringing o lawyer here, can we" ark
ed Commissioner Beach.
| mo" replied Commissioner Harde,
| t'but we can refuse to listen to them
81 don't know that we legally CAM
said Chairman Beach, "but it is ~,
opinion that we can" So Policeman
Ha1pin's bill for defending himself
against Attorneys Durant's charges ID
tabled for the present.
Dogs were also discussed. On account
of the great number of cases Of people
having been attacked by dogs the
board Of aldermen took action the 9TH
er evening recommending the board or
safety to take immediate steps for the
suppression Of unlicensed dogs ana
checking all dogs that are inclined to
| be vicious.
The board thought that this work
should be done either by the police
department. or some of the constables.
II any Of the latter desired to get rash
| and retired from business all he need
do at present was merely to assume his
independence and run in all the I'M
licensed dogs in the city. He would
make fortune in day and could live
i the rest OF bis life In clover. The mat
ter was referred to committee con-
1 sitting of Commissioners Beach and
Lahey with full power to act.
Sergeant Cahey was granted leavG
of absence from August II to the 2Sth.
4 Fireman F. E. Moon Of the Burton
street engine house was allowed pay up
| to date from July 20. On July 16 he
4 sprained his ankle while going to fire.
His petition for leave OF absence from
! August % to % was tabled.
/ Captain Hoffman reported Simon
4 Cronin absent from duty on July 10
and 81. Is
Commissioners Beach and Reeves
/ were appointed committee to acer.
tain the cost of fences, sidewalk and d
retaining wall at the new Brooklyn
engine house.
A request from Chief Snar1 that the
department be equipped with Red
Cross emergency case, a box of med-
4 cine and directions how to use them
was tabled.
/ A request from DR. Poore for two
books in which he can keep the names q
applicants for positions on the fire ami
police forces. who go to him to be ex
amined was also tabled.
The customary bills and payrolli
were approved after which the boarS
adjourned.
HEADQUARTERS AT CAMP.