Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-05-21
DEFENDS HIS OFFICE AND CHARACTER
Yesterdays Hearing Hartford Brought Out Why Some of the Bridge porters Oppose lim..Attorney Allan w. Paige Met His
 Match in Representative BSSOnette.

ntdtIVe bISSOneCte.
 tlemen who appeared here ill favor of these and in opposition to the mayor are the very men who helped elect him. They believed he was the man for the place. Since they could not get what they wanted from him they now turn upon him. Only few men ask for the change. l believe that the railway company said 1t would not run it's cars last Sunday"
 gave notice to the police that it would run it's cars on Sunday morning"
 MT Bissonette: "The running of cars on Sunday when there was strike was very unwise, and I believe if the railway compainy lived up to it's agree ment there, would have been no trou- ble You of the committee have the power to pass these bills, but there is a higher power which will be heard next fall. Even though you stop Mayor Mulvihill now, he'll make the appointments next fall"
 Mir Paige: "Ir Bissonette, what is your occupationT'
 Mir Bissonette: "I am humble car penter."
 Mir Paige: That's not all. What is your position as labor organizer? don't criticise your rightsto be one, but I think the committee should know. I wish you would tell what position you hold by which you have egged on our employees"
 MT Bissonette: T was a carpenter when elected to the legislature. I have not received one cent from any labor organization since. I have the right to attend meetings of labor organizations, just as you have the right to attend meetings of boards as asEdirectors." MT Paige: i've agree on that"
 Mir Bissonette: T have attended meetings of your employees, and think you should thank me for what have said to them. Organized labor is we'll disciplined and it protects property. I refute the imputation that organized | labor Is to blame for the trouble in Bridgeport"
 Strike Exaggerated. Alderman John NJ. Donnelly said the strike in Bridgeport had been exagger- l ated. There never was a street rail- i way strike without trouble.
 | Deputy Sheriff Plumb, from whom 1t 1 is alleged Mayor Mulvihill took a pris- oner on Sunday, repeated the story all ready before the committee in his affi- dayit. In closing, he said: T believe the riot of Sunday would have had q far different ending if Mayor Mulvihill had not acted as he did"
 Horace Pigg, George Somers, E. F. Bullard and H. c. Rylands said the condition of affairs in Bridgeport was deplorable. Dr Fitzgerald of the health board said the board was able to do | l. oH x1,,n ! mayor. He had once heard the. mayor I say, ITO hell with the health board. l I'll have a health board of my own to do my bidding.' "We ask you to 1 check the mad career of this man since ] he took office'
 James H. O'Rourke, fire commissions CT, said the mayor by reason of his | "viciousness, perniciousness and mis- chievousness,' with malcontent had de- moralized the fire department. "He's political hyena," said MT O'Rourke. l MT Paige described the meeting of Bridgeport citizens on Monday and said the substantial men of the city had met together to devise means for l the protection of life and property.
 o'Rourkes $25 Check.
 Mayor Mulvihill again addressed the l committee and said: | told you this .l morning that it made no difference to 1 me whether you passed these bills or not, but tell you the people of Bridge port don't want them On Sunday l was two blocks away from the scene of action. saw a big crowd and there I found Sheriff Plumb and po- l liceman against a wall I called to the l people to get back and keep the peace. I or1H | man won't say there was. I believe prevented bloodshed, Then I went to the traction company's headquarters and telephoned to MT Paige. He told
 me to read the riot act. asked him 1 what would be the use of that with only four policemen. As for O'Rourke,
 he wanted me to put him on the police
 board and I would not do it. He sent me a check when ran for mayor and l I sent it back to him. Dr Fitzgerald had brother-in-law, who was de- I clared elected city collector, but the supreme. court revived the case and
 turned him out. I did not think the
 city should pay him when he wasn't l the collector. That's why Fitzgerald l is against me. He also has a bill against the city, which I vetoed. He had no authority to do the work" Dr Fitzgerald: That's not true"
 Mayor Mulvihill: "I have the floor;
 you keep still I deny there was ever
 clash between the police department
 and the mayor. But l don't think the
 policemen ought to go on the cars and
 act as motormen and conductors. They
 are needed on the streets"
 Mir O'Rourke: q did send the mayor
 $25 and he sent it back. I have no per
 sona1 motive in this matter. He asked
 me himself to go on the police board" :"
 At this point the hearing closed.