Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-01-06
DEMOCRATIC
 HEADS FALLING
Board of Public Works Cut Off Some Last Night
 Other Business Trans acted By New Board.

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 The new board of public works met yesterday afternoon. all the members being present except Alderman Holmes, who was out of town. Mayor Elton called the meeting to order and Assistant City Clerk Francis T. Reeves administered the oath of office to the chairman and four commissioners.
 The pay rolls of the several depart nlents and few miscellaneous bills were approved. Claims for damages to vehicles by reason of defective highways were read from Charles Leonard, of Bucks Hill and William c. Buell. of Woodtick. They were told to address their communications to the city clerk who would present them to the aldermen.
 On motion of MT. Goss it was voted to request the city attorney to inform the board whether or not committees from the board can legally hear peo- pie regarding assessments and all other matters pertaining to public improve ments. The commissioner said that this plan would be much better than. taking out the whole board to investi- gate petitions for new work. A com mittee would be more likely to act promptly and besides they could take their own time to do 1t. Much of it, the commissioner remarked jocosely. could be attended to Sundays.
 Mir. Goss created a genuine scare in connection with the city hall building and at times the commissioners and his colleagues acted as if they felt like rising from their seats and rush. ing into the streets. He thought 1t was not safe and suggested that action be taken to ascertain how many people might be allowed in the auditorium of the building without risk. MT Goss talked as if the doors stairways and exits are not the same S0nes that were there when he ewas on the board before-the selfsame ones he knew in ye olden time, when he ina agined he was long ways from home when he tramped as far as the green or the city hall. Mayor Elton was very much disturbed over the matter too and remarked that the catastro- phe at Chicago was sufficient to prompt the closest inspection of every building of that character in the city. The main door of the hall swings in- ward instead of outward and the mayor spoke as if he couldn't sleep until this had been changed. MT. Wade felt the responsibility keenly and was not sure but 1t would be well to close the door then and there. MT. Jackson and MT. Brown didn't turn pale, but they changed color just enough to show that they didn't care how soon they got on the outside. MT. Brown finally moved that the matter be referred to committee consisting of Mayor Elton and Com missioner Goss for investigation and report. It was voted that no further engagements be made for the hall and strong hint thrown out that 1t would \ she well to cancel all engagements all ready entered into.
 City Engineer Cairns submitted report relative to the claim of Thomp- son Brothers for balance which they claim to be due for the Mill street re- taining wall It showed that the bu- reau of engineering had made no mis- take, and according to MT. Cairns, the company was very much in error. The communication was ordered on file and a vote passed on motion of MT. Goss refusing to pay the claim and ordering the bill returned to the con tractors accompanied by copy of the engineers communications.
 This was followed by a long pause during which the members looked at the mayor and the mayor returned the compliment After casting alter nate glances at his honor and the rest of the board. MT. Goss moved to pro ceed to elect superintendent or streets. The motion was carried. Then MT. Wade said he should like to hear the mayor nominate some one for the position. His honor begged to be excused. adding that he preferred to leave this to the commissioners. This didn't suit the commissioners, for none of them appeared to have anybody particular in mind, and in order to get an expression of opinion it was decided to take an informal vote on the matter. When the votes were counted by Teller Jackson 1t was found that by strange cotncl- dence the four commissioners had written the same name on their bal lots, that of Henry D. Hotchkiss. The only thing needed then to complete the job was to pass vote making the election of Mir. Hotchkiss formal and unanimous and this was attended to right off. MT. Hotchkiss was then u0cldFGQ SupGTlnJCHuOuI Ol SCW WCI D.
 Henry D. Hotchkiss was born in Prospect in 1850. About twenty three years ago he came to Waterbury and became Interested in the real estate and contracting business, having been engaged in that ever since. He was an alderman from the First ward dur ing the administration of Mayor Thomas D. Barlow, MT. Hotchkiss owns very handsome farm on Bucks Hill.
 A similar performance was enacted with reference to the election of a superintendent of the bureau ofwater, all voting for Edward Johnson,
 Edward W. Johnson. the new super intendent. was born in Waterbury, Sep tember 29, 1860. His father was Will lis Johnson, mechanic, inventor and manufacturer He was educated in The public schools. Was first employed by his father in 1876 learning trade of machinist; continued here eight years. Went west to work for Parrot Silver and Copper Go at Butte, Mont, owned