Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-04
WINDING UP BUSINESS.
Members of Public Works and Safety
 Boards Say Adieu.


 Boards Say Adieu.
 The board of public works met Sat urday afternoon in the mayors office and held quite an interesting session. 1t was the last meeting Of the old board and all the members were pres ent except MT Whiting, who is on the sick list.
 Attorney N. R. Bronson appeared and was heard relative to balance due the Connecticut Railway and Lighting Go for lights that failed to burn as per contract. Some time ago all unusually large number of electric lights were out of order right along and the board thought that inasmuch as the city was receiving no service from them it would not be right to pay at the rate of something in the neigh borhood of $1O0 year for a light that was no use to the public except for an occasional sputter. The company was asked to make rebate and replied that it would pay such q bill when 1t was properly made out. Thereupon the whole matter was referred to committee consisting of Mayor Kilduff and Commissioners Whiting and Ches- son, who had the whole matter gone over and found that the company owed the city big bill While this was being done the board withheld payment upon a portion of two lighting bills to tile amount of SLIGO. This, they thought, was about what the rebates would figure up. 1t took long time to do the work. consequently the final re- port of the work never reached the old board, although it Is now ready and can be acted upon whenever the de- partment sees fits to take it up.
 MT Bronson asked that the bill be or dered paid, adding that the company wanted to straighten out the years work He believed it business way to pay the claim of the company and then let the city render a statement regarding rebates, and he knew it would be paid if it was all right. MT Bronson said it was not using the com pany right to withhold payment on a portion of the bill simply because the board thought that 1t would be able to offset part of it in rebates. That. he said, might be all we'll enough with some junk dealer or irresponsible con tractor
 'sOh, I don't know about that, MT Bronson" remarked Commissioner Ma nancy. If somebody agreed to give you $10O worth of stock and delivered but half of it, you wouldn't care to come down for the full amount, no matter how good the company was. We paid them for such service as they rendered and I don't see what more feyh fr of tc matter is strengthened out.''
 Mir Bronson (with considerable eml phasis): "It is your duty to order the balance of the bill paid. The company is good for the rebate, no matter how much it amounts to-
 MT Mahaney (furious1y): ssYour companv's credit isn't any better than the city's. I believe it the duty of this board to know for sure whether the bill is due or not before ordering it paid"
 This followed by a short talk upon law during which MT Bronson ap peared to have the pole, but the mem bers stuck to their determination not to take any action on the matter at that time and finally got out of 1t by informing the attorney that no funds were available for that purpose and 1t would have to go over until next year.
 W. S. Strong was granted permission to cut ice on the East Mountain reser- vOfr.
 Resolutions were passed compliment ing Mayor Kilduff, who was chairman of the board, City Clerk Ryan, Super intendent Kelley of the street depart ment, Superintendent O'Brien of the bureau of water. Engineer Cairns and Sheriff Mcdonald for the able manner in which they had performed their sew eral duties during the past four years. It was also voted to thank the press and to extend the greetings of the board to Commissioner Whiting, s3the noblest Roman of us all,' as Mir Ma nancy put 1t, who is just recovering from a severe cold and was not able to be present.
 X Then followed short addresses, as follows.
 Mir Cairns: T never acted with a board that showed a better spirit. They did all in their power to help me and in this way we were enabled to perform a vast ahount of valuable work without any friction. But of all the men whom you have thanked I know of no more deserving official than MT Kelley. For the past four years he has filled very important position and given first-class satisfaction. have said this before. All his work is where it can be seen, 50 that there is every opportunity to- criticize it. He was hampered for lack Of, funds and yet he has succeeded in pleasing a very large number of people in posi- ton and under conditions where it was extremely difficult to please anybody. I have no hesitation at all in saying that in my twenty years experience I have never met a more faithful public servant than MT Kelley. He under stands his business and as result he is able to do his work we'll and not quarrel with anybody
 MT Chesson: All I have to say Is that I hope the new board will see the wisdom of retaining Mir Kelley in his present position. I think 1t would be good job for themselves and an ex- cellent thing for the city"
 MT Blakeslee: Speaking for the minority I must say that have noth-