Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-03-14
THE PARK QUESTION
ssvssal People Ezyssssss opiaisns ss
 Last Nights hsstinf.

Library park question, after which the following resolution was passed:
 Voted-That the city attorney be in- structed to introduce in the general assembly. now in session bill or amendment to q bill authorizing the city of Waterbury to issue bonds to m amount not exceeding $250.O0O. the proceeds to be devoted to the enlarge ment of Library park. so called, so that it shall include all of the land between the present park and Grand, Cedar and Meadow, streets.
 All the democrats and Mir Filling of the republican side of the house voted to comply with the request of the Real Estate Dealers association and give public hearing on the question with view to hearing what the public thought of the project. but the vote to hear the taxpayers was turned down, Six taking the ground that they de- served hearing and eight holding to the other view.
 The attendance was large. but the number who spoke was small. The preliminary step consisted of a vote to, take the park question from the table. and this was followed by an other resolution from MT Beach to the enect that the report of the board of public works relative to the enlarge ment of Library park be adopted.
 Alderman Murray was the first speaker. He said he was not opposed to the project nor could he say that he would favor it until he had heard what the people thought of it. He considered it of sufficient importance to give the taxpayers public hearing on the question and hoped that nothing would be done towards committing the city government to it until the con sensus of public opinion had been got hold of.
 Mayor Elton said that after the pas sage of the resolution offered by MT Reach the matter would go back 10 the board of public works. before whom all who desired would be given a hearing. He considered the passage of the vote in question at that meeting very import ant step inasmuch as the city is wait ing to know what to do with reference to bond issues. '''''''
 'oAh .NOi ipt'ss lFli tut- Real Estate Dealers associat ton. asked that action be deferred on the matter for q week to give the association and others interested an opportunity 10 give the question little more cOnsid- eration.
 ]. Judge COwell followed and said: If this is q good thing it will bear inves- tigation. Waterbury is an energetic community notwithstanding it's well known conservatism. This is shown Tn many respects and probably in none more plainly than that within the past fifty years it has grown from hamlet of few thousand people to city with population of over 6O.OO0. Let us look into the matter thoroughly. If I were an alderman should hesitate before voting on this question and I'm glad I haven't the responsibility. 1t means a great deal to take S1OO.O0O worth of property out of the grand list, devote. it to adornment and bond the city for S25O,OOO for such pur- pOses''
 City Attorney Kellogg intimated ysry clearly that the tactics, put, for, ward by the opposition looked like 1T scheme to kill it and strongly urged the passage of the resolution. and also another authorizing the city attorney to appear before the legislature with reference to the hold question. Hc said it was necessary to have these preliminary votas passed in order to do anything at Hartford. The action. Inc claimed. would not commit the city to anything. Mir Kellogg thought this park project the grandest thing that came up in Waterbury since ha was horn. still if the people didn't want it they would have an opportunity to say so before the board of public works and then when it comes hack to the aldermen the board mary reject it if it sees fit.
 Louis RHffel answered by saying: What is the use of attending a hear ing before the board of public works? ? This board is already on record as be- ing in favor of the park and don't see the sense in talking to men who have made up their minds and decided what they intend doing Do you think there would he any likelihood of get ting them to submit different report from the one before the aldermen at the present time:' f, .,.,....,..,.
 Judge Cole ifl his remarks said: "ThiS vote is the most important step fin the whole transaction. It decides that certain lands he taken for park and after it pass?s all there is left for the board of public works is to define these lines. Now. we don't want any thing done until after a public hear ing. We don't want people running 10 the legislature on the strength of votes passed here tonight and making rppresentaticns that are not true. You never can tell what the legislature will do when men go there and tell the legislators that community wants certain things. Didn't the legislature last week appoint half-witted. bro- ken down merchant to life position and no public heating was called to inquire whether the taxpayers wanted 1t or not:''
 Chairman Blakeslee wanted to know from Judge Cole if he was not aware that all such matters as the board had under consideration demanded 2 pub lie hearing. Judge Cole replied that trolley extensions call for public. hear ings. but in this case the only parties entitled to a hearing were the owners of property that is 10 he taken for tn. park. He wanted to know why Mr Cairns was afraid of q public hearing and said that the board of public works would give scant hearine to anybody who might c:,lI to I,c heard on the question unless he was cited in.
 At this junctura Mayor Elton asked Judge Cole if he ever appeared before the board of public works and was de