Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-04-25
BOARD 0r ALDEnllEla.
Will EaAsavss ts Csllsce Bacn 1asss
 From Istates.

At meeting of the aldermen last night Chairman Blakeslee presiding. the report of the law committee on the proposed charter amendment rela- tive to abatment of taxes was read. approved and the city attorney in- structed to see that 1t is taken care of at Hartford. The aim is to prevent an abuse which is growing right along in Waterbury. People with large equity in property, sometimes as high as $5,OO0 or $6,0OO, but not enough in- come to maintain themselves and pay taxes and interests, have been getting their taxes abated. The board be- lieves that when cases like these come up the proper course to pursue is to defer action on collection of the bills until the property changes hands, and then gather it in instead of abating the tax year in and year out and when these parties die let the heirs step in and reap all the benefit. It will also shorten the list of paupers on the city clerks records. The uninitiated would naturally turn to the department of charities for the names of all who are recorded as paupers in Waterbury, but the number there is small compared with what you can find spread through the doings of the aldermen. All taxes abated except cases of clerical errors, are on the ground of poverty and they are so entered in the minutes.
 Alderman Murray created a pro- found sensation by asking City Attor- ney Kellogg if the pension bill now be- fore the general assembly was con- stitutional measure. The city attorney and Commissioner Larkin, the father of the bill, were in the ante-room, and the shock produced by the audiences of the question almost knocked the breath out of them. MT Kellogg re- piled evasively,. stating he supposed it was and adding that he never heard that phase of the bill discussed. As the alderman dropped in his seat and the city attorney resumed opera tions on his cigar, MT Larkin peered out into the chamber with an we'll let you know all about the constitutional ity of that bill one of these days, look on his face Not another word was said about it, but after he noticed that no further as- sault was being planned on his pet hobby he smiled and leaned back ill HIS CIldlF aSSuIuiLS HIS dCCustOACu happy frame of mind.
 The following matters were referred to the board of public works: Petition, of A. J. Patten and the Waterbury Business Mems association for naming and remaining the city streets; petition of John F. Gallagher. ct. al., for wa ter main in WOlcott street; petition of George Kazmekas, et al., for sewer in James street. petition of James J. Mcdonald for abatement of interest and costs on aSsewer assessment for South Leonard street.
 All the recommendations of the board of public works were approved except the one asking permission to report building lines on Round Hill street from Wood street to camp street. This was laid on the table because the aldermen thought the commissioners 1 have no right to establish building line on private property. The report of | the bureau of assessments concerning building lines. layout and grade for Roseland avenue, from North Willow street to the Columbia boulevard was | accepted and the benefits and damages awarded in accordance herewith. The communication from the board of edu-
 cation asking for a special apprOpria-
 tion of $2.OOO with which to purchase
 two lots adjoining the Driggs school
 property was referred to the commit
 tee on law.