Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-09-13
BOARD OF CHARITIES.
City Will Pay Bill of St Francis Or
 phan Asylum.

 New Haven for the care of children from this city The bill was approved at the meeting yesterday, after the 1 opinion of City Attorney Kellogg had | been received stating that the bill has caused considerable discussion, mas stirred up much feeling and friction, and was the cause of q newspaper at | tack upon Commissioner Combellack, l who was accused of being opposed to Catholics. It was at MT Combellack's l suggestion that the bill was held up, and an attempt made to have the county commissioners pay it, but the latt6r refused. Then the bill was re- l ferred to the city attorney for an opin- ion as to it's legality. The city at torney's opinion, as submitted yester- day is as follows:
 "Waterbury, Aug. %, 1904. gro the Honorable Board of Commfs-
 sioners of Public Charities, City of Waterbury: \
 "The bill of St Franc1s's ~Orpnan l asylum presented by Rev William J. Slocum having been referred to the city attorney for his opinion as to the legalities of paying one half of the amount of the bill, as heretofore done, I would respectfully advise you: "That at the annual town meeting | tober 8, 1888, the following vote was passed viz
 Voted: That the selectmen of the town are hereby ordered to pay over to St Francis's Orphan asylum of New l Haven, Conn.,, S2 per week for the SUD- port of each child belonging to this town maintained and supported in said asylum. Pursuant to this vote, find upon investigation that orphans be | longing to this town have been main tained and supported in said asylum continuously since the passage Of this vote, and that all of the orphans now is said asylum and for the maintain ance of whom this bill is presented, have been received by the asylum in accordance with said vote. I am therefore of the opinion that these or phans are maintained in said asylum pursuant to contract obligation be- tween the town of Waterbury and the city of Waterbury as its successor in these matters, and the St Francis's Orphan asylum, and that the bill presented Is a legal bill against the city of Waterbury"
 'RespectfuIlv.
 (Signed.) "J. F. KELLOGG, I "City Attorney" I Tn the discussion that followed l Mayor Elton stated that it was his opinion that the bill was legitimate and should be paid but in the future, he thought, such bills should be acted hupon by the board of aldermen. Com I missioner Combellack thought that Catholic children should be educated in their own faith.
 Sunerfntendent Doran also joined in the discussion. He had received the imnression from talk with MT Com belIack that the commissioners thought that he was the person who gave rise to the report that he was opposed to Catholics. MT Doran said: ''No one has ever known me to interfere in any persons reliefon or in any religious matter. Various clergynen have ask ed me about MT Combe1lack, and I will leave 1t to them what have stat ed in regard to him. As far as this matter is concerned want 1t under stood that I did not give out hhe irl- l formation, and leave that to Father SlocuITn. Even the reporters criticise me because do not give out enough news. simply want it understood l that ann no news bearer. It Is simply this. MT Combellack told me that someone had carried the news to Rev Father Socum, and received the i'm pression that he referred to me"
 MT Combellack assured MT Doran that he had no reason to think thus. He further said: 1T have been written IT'D fn the papers as being opposed to the Catholics. It first came out in a church paper, and the article placed me in wrong light. I am not against Catholics. The reason why the bill was held up was in the endeavor to get the county commissioners to pay it. and this was the onIy reason. But somehow the impression hat got around that I am opposed to Catho- lies"
 Mayor Elton stated that he had en- deavored to find the source of the in- formation. but had been unsuccessful in his search. He knew that the Rev Father Slocum had not oiyen it. Both the mayor and MT Chase lauded the work which MT Combellack is dolr '; in this city, and stated that 1t was < ot fair and just that he s',o11ld be made the target for such newspaper articles which had appeared, and his policy , is conducting one of the largest char. ftable institutions in the city was broadminded and liberal, and not af. fected by any narrow religious views They also praised MT Doran, and de clared him innocent of being connected in any way with the circulation of the reports about MT Combellack.
 : A bill was received from the Nc Linden Bros, druggists. for clothes l bandages, scrubbing of floors, etc This bill was connected with the free , for all fight which took place on the . Long Hill diamond short time ago when two teams from Scovills shoT were playing. The bill was referred back to the firm, with the suggestion that they collect it from the people for whom the work was done. 7 The special committee was author r ized to make contract with the Tracy :. Bros company for placing cornices or
 the main building at the BrookaIdt
 home. The work will cost $91o.