Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-17
REPORT BROUGHT OUT.
AAd Iurned Over to Attorney vuypss
 by Board of Finance.


 The board of finance held meeting yesterday afternoon. Mayor Elton pre-. siding and all the members being pres. ent except Mfr Northrop. Although the mayor appeared somewhat surprised at being asked If reporters would bc ad- uiitted and ridiculed the idea that the finance board would use the dark lam tern, still the winding up showed that his honor was only shamming when hc disclaimed any knowledge of the star chamber, for after doing q few stunts in daylight the board pretcnded that there was nothing else on the pro. gram and q vote to adjourn was put and carried. and the reporters mean. dered out. but not without strong presentment that the best part of the performance was yet to come off. And they were right. for as soon as the scribes stepped out the door was closed and the blinds pulled down and the mayor produced the report of the spe- cial committee. regarding missing money paid for street and Sewer as sessments, and after q long chat it was decided to let Colonel Burpee into the secrets which the document rc- Vealed. There was some question as b the wisdom of putting such a lot of evidence into the hands of the man who collected the funds, but this was brushed aside after Colonel Burpee had been called in and exchanged opinions with the board and resolution passed turning over to the colonel every scrap ot evidence which the committee picked up after it's hunt through the city records. After Colonel Burpec gets through with it he will return it to the board and then some time later or it may be sent to the aldermen
 The meeting was called at f o'clock. The reporters were rather shy about going in and finally representative of the Democrat stepped forward and asked the mayor if this was an open meeting.
 Il never knew this board to conduct any other replied his honor. appar. ehtly tritie ruttled at the question. Why do you ask such a question: he added.
 Because. said the reporter. "so many of the meetings are private we don't know one from the other.'
 T never heard of an executive ses- sion of this board,". reiterated his honor. have you?" fa
 "Why, yes, MT Mayor answered the reporter; this board held very important executive session the other day"
 "Oh, well,'' replied the mayor, that was not regularly called
 The reporter said he didn't see what difference that made so long as the beard got together and added that it was an important meeting which con ccrned the public, but the public could not find out anything about it. The matter rested there and the clerk brought forward the business.
 The first matter trotted out was the resolution from the board of aldermen asking that the report of the assess ment committee be forwarded to them. Nobody took much notice of the com munication and after Il long pause the mayor asked Commissioner Blakcslee when the aldermen will hold their next mceting. Mir BlakeSlee said that they had adjourned until March 6. The mayor said that the board would have tG go over that report thoroughly be- fore it goes to the nl1rrmen., to. which 5Mr Blakeslec rcpliedrthat' it would he well to have it correct if possible be- fore sending it in there. Then there was another long breathing spell and after waiting for somebody to break the silence and nobody daring to Judge. the mayor said it was moved and seconded that the communication he received and placed oh file. Some body said yes. nobody said no. and the mayor said the motion was carried. aud there the matter ended for the time being.
 EX-Collector C. J. Griggs was heard r, ,garding the condition of the lists from 'y1 to 'Gi. There is about S1O.OON still outstanding. hut little if any of it is collectablc. Mir Griggs wants to get credit for anything that cannot he col lected and then if there is anything coming to the city from him he vii: settle and get through with the whole natter He was requested to submit complete list of the account as it now stands.
 After signing the bills the mayor drew a deep sigh of relief. then stood m and walked around and T few seconds later the meeting was declared adjourned, and the clerk and members of the press ushered themselves out, leaving the board alone in it's glory. At that time the mayor and the commissioners were looking through the windows and talk ing about the weather. so that hardly anybody would suspect that they wer. planning a secret conclave with Col ,ncl Burpee as n guest. One remark made during the open session that if would he we'll to have tho report cor .ect before sending il to the aldermen aay have had something to io with landing it over to Colonel Burpee. In al probability i, needs touching up. md as the board is composed of men sho have no time to spare. evidently they concluded to let the job out. and i this he So nobody will say that they .ould have hit upon q more competent nan.