Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-04
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
supernumeraries Explained TheIr Ab-


 sence from Annual Inspection.
 Three of the five supernumerary po- licemen who were absent from the an- nual inspection of the fire and police departments without leave were be- fore the board of safety last evening to explain their absence. They were Samuel Roun, Patrick Roche and Charles King. Roche is a foreman at the Benedict & Burnham Co.'S plant' and said that on account of break in the machinery he could not get away in time. Roun said he was sick ana that he sent word to the chief of police to that effect, and King said his unl- form did not arrive in time and that when it did he had to move the put tons. !. F. Bagley and F. J. Meehan sent apologies to the board for thelr 1, inability to attend. Both will have TO appear at the next regular meeting or the board. Action upon those who dld appear was deferred until then.
 Captain Heitman of Engine company No 2 reported Callmen James Bowes and Simon Cronin absent from duty without leave. They will be dealt with at the next regular meeting.
 The Connecticut Railway and Light ing Co reported it's inability to keep a whole globe on one of its two-cent in- {candescent lights on Cherry street. The letter from the company said that evidently some one who did not want the light was living in its neighborhood They tried to catch him but were unable to do so. The matter was re- ferred to the chief of police, who said he also had man on the watch there for some time and was unable to ma the stone thrower.
 Chief-of- Police Egan filed his reports for the past two months and they were read and accepted In reply to ques tion he said there is about $3,4OO left Of the police appropriation, which Is hardly enough to meet the payrols un- til December 1.
 President Finley of the Butchers union appeared before the board and said that he had come with reference to the boards inaction on the unions petition to have the grocery and meat stores closed Sunday. He came, ne said, upon the solicitation of business mon who endorsed the union's action to close such business places. He con- sidered it the duty of the police to see that such places are closed Sundays, and it was unfair expect members of the union or of another union to see 4o it that they are closed. Such Is not {the duty of citizens. It is the duty of ( the police, and the police are we'll paid for doing what he considered their duty. He has advised with legal eoun- sel and was told it is the duty of the board Of safety to see that the stores are closed Sundays. This is no blue law, but a law of very recent date. 1t ! is not hardship in other cities to the : poor to have such places closed Sum- days, and he could not see why 1t { should be a hardship to the poor of this city. Tn Massachusetts, Pennsy1- vania. Illinois and such places as he has been there is no such thing as an open store on Sundays.
 President Finley said he was cen sured by his union for his lack Of action In this matter and now he wished the board to understand that he was present at the request of q number of business men. union men and employers to ask the board to close the stores on Sundays. He asked how would it be if such places as Orr ran's or Reid & Hughes opened their stores Sundays. Yet they have as good right to open as have the small gro ceries and meat stores.
 Commissioner Reeves informed MT Finley that the matter was in tn hands of a committee. and Commis- sioner Hardie said the board has been very busy and that it has a good deal of work on It's hands now and 1t can. not take up this matter right away To which MT Finley replied that it was very small matter for the board to instruct the chief of police. who he saw present, to carry out the law. to see that 1t was enforced. With this Mir Finley withdrew. and the board ad- 1ourned after approving the bills and payrol1s.