Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-02

administration told a few friends last night that the reason why the end ill view was withheld from the aldermen was because if the minority knew. that O'Brien and Byrnes were to be deposed they would have objected to the passage of the amendment here and possibly make fight about it at Hartford. They knew they were able to put it through the aldermen on q party vote, but they wanted more than that so as to ward off any oppo sition in the general assembly and de cided to let O'Bren and Byrnes alone in the original draft and drop them after it had been indorsed by the al- dermen. This is what was done and it worked like charm, because it put the men behind the scheme in posi- tion to say that the amendment had the unanimous approval of the board of aldermen and so long as 1t had it was but fair to conclude that it repre- sented the wishes of the whole people, consequently no opposition was looked for at Hartford and none appeared. Il was not intended to let this leak out until the act became operative in the present month. but unfortunately for those who had the matter in hand a reporter noticed the omission of the names of the assistant engineers when the certified copy of the draft was re- turned to the city clerk after it's pas sage at Hartford, but that didn't amount to anything. The work had been accomplished at that time and the men who cooked up the job were willing to stand for it. Of course there were no politics in it and in this as in everything else the public were "sharers in a well managed municipal enterprise and not pawns in well played game of politics." The tired and true men on the republican side of the house knew nothing about it, but those who were suspected of lit- tie independence were kept in the dark with the minority representation.
 Everybody expected that the alder men would ask City Attorney Kellogg why he permitted the draft as passed but for some reason or other this was forgotten and the thing passed off without much comment. It has been said that MT Kellogg was not a party to the change. but even so he is still open to censure, for it was his duty to see that it passed as ordered by the
 aldermen. or at least apprise them on
 time to be heard on the matter after
 the charter members patched it up to suit themselves.
 Nobody grudges Captain Dodds the position he has been elected to. but
 most people who like square deal even in politics find fault with the un- derhanded method employed to create the office for him. Mir Dodds is as
 well entitled to the position as any
 body in Waterbury. He has all the necessary qualifications for the duties of the office, is well liked by the men and in general way it might be said that his appointment has caused no
 friction in any quarter It does not appear that the retired men feel very much hurt at what has happened, al
 though they must naturally share in common with others the feeling that the means resorted to were not cred itable. The first assistant. MT 0'Brien, is said to be worth SJ0,OOO or SI5,0OO, and if this be so he will not miss the small salary attached 10 the office Mir Byrnes Is able to take care of himself, too. and as for Mir Walker 1t would seem that he has all he car swing into in his pharmacy making out prescriptions for people who want something to do battle against the ills to which the human system is heir. In any case. it Is hinted that the -rug
 gist was consulted about what was under way. and while he might Dot be willing to say so, it seems to be u.ider- stood that he was one of the few per sons in Waterbury who was not sur prsed when he learned that the three assistant engineers had been relegated to the grave of oblivion, so far as their connection with the fire depart ment was concerned.
 The vote passed yesterday taking the control of the fire and police signal system out of the hands of the super intendent of the police department and transferring it to the chief eng neer of the fire department is simply the step to Tightening the labor on the new superintendent, who by the way is the leader of his party in the alder manic chamber and a commissioner of the department of safety. It is aiso said that there are other things con- ing in that direction which will relieve the new superintendent of much work which the present incumbent has always done of his own volition. to be sure. and in the opinion of the present board of commissioners. Co the detriment of his duties in other respects. The men now at the helm take the ground. and perhaps they are r1ght. that the head of the police de partment should have more time to eei out and see what Is going on than Superintendent Egan ever had. and iB orler to do this that he should not be reIuirel to do any clerical work 1T this plan Is carried out it is quite Ike iv that when Superintendent Ezan re- tires and Superintendent Beach comes In the office will be provided with a clerk. something the democrats want ef to io a few years ago. but af that time the move Was booked upon as s political game and it was knocked in the bead at Hartford. some said part Iy through the infiuence of the heai If the police department himself who was saH to have been averSe to hsy ing anybody d0 the clerical work os the offce. Bat there were no politics in IL. so the public has been assured and tbis ss<s1ranre has been azzsn r-- frrrsfpf now that the leader of the rzrty In the sIderTnsnic chamber is s-pn to be placed st the head of tb> police department ef a sslzry Of &2Oc q year snd the p-e-ent i1cuuh>nf vhose fitness nobody ever que<fsones- i< fo r-rrsvr ur-m7rert leave If eh