Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-12-12

nnance, at an executive session, had a conference at which the matter was gone over when an offer of $1 300 from l Colonel Burpee in settlement of all he
 owes for back assessments was re
 ceived, but the board didn't accept it, l and this offering, together with the re- l port of the experts, came before the l aldermen without recommendation The experts report is the same as has
 already appeared in the papers and
 proves nothing except what was
 known before it appeared, that accord ing to the books there is nothing to
 show that Colonel Burpee owes the city anything. At the request of Chair
 man Blakeslee the concluding para
 graph of the report was read second
 time. Here it is:
 | Tn conclusion, we have to report 1 that, for the reason above stated, the ! condition of these accounts is such that | they do not furnish sufficient evidence 1 to show that any assessments collected
 by you Colonel Burpee). have not been paid to the city; and consequently we I have not been able to ascertain that
 any amount of such payments has not
 been in some way accounted for by I you"
 This is where all interest centers | just now. What does that paragraph
 mean? This is what the board of 1 finance wrestled with in the afternoon
 and differed so widely over it that some
 of them forgot themselves and talked
 so loud people on the green heard them and wanted to know what was mp. The aldermen analysed it for a time, some of them going so far as to phrase it to make sure that it was grammati-
 cally correct, but even then, although 1t stood all these tests, none of them
 was willing to say that he knew ex-
 actly what meaning the writer of it
 meant to convey, and they gave it up.
 A communication was read from Col l onel Burpee explaining the whole mat
 ter and calling attention to the agree
 ment entered into between the city and himself whereby both parties were
 to agree with the finding of the expert.
 and asking the return of the bond of
 $11, GOO filed by him with the comptrol-
 Ter pending the investigation and sub
 mission to the board of the experts
 report. The report also adds:
 Tn accordance with this agreement
 l employed an expert accountant ac-
 ceptable to your honorable board and
 after long and thorough examination
 lie has submitted his report I have
 transmitted the original to you. You
 are aware that he reports in conclusion that these accounts do not furnish suf-
 ficient evidence to show that any as- sessments collected by me have not been paid to the city. and that he has not been able to ascertain that any amount collected by me has not been already accounted for by me in some way.
 While, therefore, by the terms of the agreement between the city and myself, am not now legally liable to pay the. city anything,sI still am aware, as I have stated from the beginning of this controversy, that some amount is due from me to the city which has not been paid because the books and pa pers containing these accounts were destroyed by fire. and I have never been able, as have expected to be, from the city books and papers. to as- certain what that amount is. In the circumstances, since the report of the accountant was rendered, have final | ly been compelled to try to estimate, as well as can, what the amount may be. From the best information and recollectlOns at my command am sat | istied that I may owe the city not ex- ceeding $500, after making all req sonable allowance in the citys favor. | Estimating closely, I believe that I | owe not more than two-thirds of that | sum.
 Accordingly I enclose my check for | to do so, nor as an offer of com promise. but because. considering the | result of the eity's agreement with me and the circumstances of this contr0- versy, this seems to me fully to meet | all my obligations on account of city | assessments, and certainly to be all | that anyone can fairly expect me to do."
 The next number on the program | was the reading of an opinion from | City Attorney Kellogg. going into the history of the agreement entered into between the city and Colonel Burpee. and concluding as follows:
 ''In view of the fact that hy this | vote of the board of aldermen the con ditiOn set forth in the foregoing com munication was accepted by the city. that is. the city agreed to accept his | report as 10 the condition of these as- sessment accounts as final cannot advise you otherwise than that this re- port of the expert Is final. and if final it is certainly conclusive. and being I must advise you that. in my opinion. the city of Waterbury Is barred from any further action upon these assessments.r
 Chairman Blakeslee said he shouh prefer to sec the whole matter tabled for a short time so as tO give tho mem- hers an opportunity to consider it adding that he shouli Ike tO talk it over with the members. Mr Blakeslee said the hoard Of finance was not in agreement on the meaning of the concluding Of the experts re- port and the interpretation put upon the language by the city attorney. and as a consequence he should like to see further.
 "why can't we have that talk now as well as any other timeTr inquired Alderman Murray. apparently In a quizzieal tone.
 Because replied NIr BIakeslee. "I lOn't want t0 talk before the reporters pr do anything which would lead pao- pie to believe that I'm playing to the grand stand. I'm free to confess that am one of the members of the de 1artment of finance who does not lgree with the opinion of the city at torney. but I may be wrong and if So