Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-01-31
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
Alderman Holmes Says Something
 About Sidewalk Laying.

Dr hodman and W. $. Jones of the department of public health appeared before the board and explained the need of such legislation as the health board desires. The aldermen have not made up their minds what to do with the recommendations of the board of health. There is no political advan, tage to be gained by asking the legis' lature to pass upon them and there is too much merit in them to turn them down off hand The whole matter was referred to q committee consisting of Aldermen Beach. Holmes and Hurley, to confer with the health board and report back at the next meeting The committee agreed to meet Friday night at Dr Rodman's. near the club, re- marked the doctor with q knowing wink, as he eyed the republican mem- bers of the committee.
 The proposed charter amendment relative to life berths for the building inspector and his assistant was taken from the table and for time nobody was willing to father it. but later two of the republicans had no objection to owning it as their child. though they never saw it until it appeared in the meeting
 I'd like to inquire" remarked Mir Murray. when the matter came up. ''where this came from. l think we ought to know
 This was followed by great si' lence during which the republican members looked at each other. but not one of them budged until Mr Murray made another demand to know who presented the resolution. Then some body said the clerk might be able to tell, but the clerk knew nothing about it. The situation was becoming des- perate and finally out of what appeared to be true Christian charity Chairman Blakesiee said he would father it, all though he never saw it before.
 All right then" said MT Murray "we'll take it that way. although if cared to tell what I know I think it would readily be seen that the resOlu- tiOn came from the official directly con- cerned. I don't think this is right. If some board that had knowledge of an officials ability and thought it would be well to keep him all the time peti' toned that such an act be passed.
 
 to pass such il resolution because the man who holds the office wants it does net look like treating the public right I don't find fault with any man for trying to get in out of the cOln. it is natural. but it is the duty of this board to look at these matters from the standpoint of the public good rather than of private ambition. I'm goins to vote against that resolution because there's no merit in it. The idea of this board acting favorably on q matter of such importance and then saying they don't know where it came from or whether it is q good thing or not.'
 Mir Beach: "I shouldn't hesitate to father that resolution if the chairman hadn't. consider it a good thing to remove these offices from politics. Look at the engineer the chief of the fire department and the chief of police. You don't hear anything about politics in these departments. Supposing this hoard should he republican, for the next hundred years, that would not mean that there would not he trouble over thc filling of these positions. The same thing might he said with refer cree to this iob. If you leave it as i, is he has got to come around here fo sec that he is reelected. while under the other system all he has to do is to attend to the duties of his office.
 Nlr Murray: "Oh, you people are getting so conSideratc that you don'' want to put q man to the trouble of coming in here once in two years tc he reappointed to q fat iob. You may have good building inspector now hut Ilc may he growing old and some future board may want to change him for Il younger man. and the aim is tc sec that this cannot he done. I don't think there is any comparison between inc building inspectors work and tii;i of the other officials referred to. look IIpon this as an effort to faster men on the public whether they want them or not. +, is unjust to the tax payers and taking an unfair advantage Of orr successors in this board.
 The motion was put and carried by very indifferent vote. All the demo crats answered no and but few "f tli' republicans said anything. hui as no body questioned tine decision it went and perhaps it was right.
 \ short time ago. oh recommendation of the mayer the board voted to peii ton the general assembly for pcrmis sion to open q sinking fund to rciir, the S2OD.U0u school bonds. Ii scem' there was no need of this. and th' proper way to undo what had heeI done was to send in q veto. hence th' veto from his honor which sustaine, unanimous vote.
 Aldermen Callan and Macaulcy. th' sidewalk committee. reported that tn law as it now stands is all right am recommended that inc department q public works be so informed. The IF port was accepted and the rCcommei' ,lation was adopted. In voting fo this. MT Holmes said that while h' might like to see if go th" other way he took into consideration the fact tha many claimed the law had not beel given q fair trial. and now that il lla' been decided to continue it lie hoped |, see an ordinance passed regulating tn kind of sidewalks to Inc laid in the fu turc. so that some people wouldn't p'i down I0-ctnt walks and pawn then off oh the city Mr Callan said tlH committee had that in mind when the. submitted their report. Evrrylo,ly. h said. that had ieen spoken io abou the matter wanted ihc law re.sr,lini rcpairing <ideyalks tried out. and th only way to give ii a fair trial was | have the original done to ii," satisfac t.nn q. some boar,I.or city ofiiciai.
 The proposed amendment [" ili charter which came in from the boar O. education was Knocked "IIi in "ii ..etu. r.-I.ssIa ,..t.l n.-.a.. rE.a~s.a