Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-12
uch occasion is worth ten men on

l George M. Beach, superlntenden'
 of the police department, was asked
 regarding the need of the additiona
 men recommended by the board. He
 stated that such course Is neces
 sary if the public is to have the pro lection 1t is entitled to. All the
 present beats are too long and some districts are practically uncovered
 As a result of this considerable dam. age is done and complaints are con.
 stantly coming in, but under existing
 conditions the department is not
 able to give anytnlng like permanent
 relief nor will it be until the mum
 Der of men Is added to so that beats that are too long may be shortened and districts now uncovered gone
 over regularly.
 Commissioner Thomas B. Walker
 of the board of public works spoke
 for that department, and assured the board that nothing was included in the estimates that is not really need
 ed. E. G. Kilduff, superintendent of
 streets, seconded MT Walkers state
 ment and explained that 1t would pay the city to make an appropria- tion of $15,000 for sidewalks, Ie.
 pairs, for two years and get the walks in good condition. After that
 the amount might be reduced to
 $9,000 or $10,000.
 Hans Rasmussen, representing the
 Town Plot Improvement society, said
 he hoped that the board would not
 neglect to carry the item of $17, ,500
 for Clark street, as the whole Town
 Plot project hinges upon the com
 pletion of this work.
 The school board was represented
 by Commissioners Mcdonald and
 Phelan. MT Mcdonald went over the ground and explained the pur- pose of most of the estimates. Then MT Phelan took a hand and went over the ground very thoroughly. He disabused the board of the mo- tion that the schools cost any more here than they do in other towns. although he did admit that the Cath olics, who put up fine school build ings, get the same class of work as the city does for 25 per cent less. He said that he considered this due to the fact that contractors kno v
 just what the appropriation is in the school department while it is a mys- tery in the church. He believed that the plans should be made before the money is appropriated and do away with this business of putting the cart before the horse. During the talk the commissioner asked the board some very pertinent questions, and while the board listened attentively, nobody said a word one way or the other.
 "Mr Chairman" remarked the commissioner, in voice which could have been heard in the green, "did it ever occur to you that the Cath olic church of this town educates B. 900 children? It.has nine parochial schools, built and maintained at the expense of private individuals: who are doubly taxed for educational purposes, inasmuch as they pay the regular school tax to the city gov ernment. This is done for the up- building of society so that those who bear the burden derive nothing from it over and above what comes to the community in general in the making of good citizens. For each one of these children educated at the eX- pense of private individuals, the city of Waterbury receives annually from the state the sum of $2.25. Now, gentlemen, where would Waterbury be in the matter of school expendi- lures if these nine parochial schools were closed and 5000 more chill dren had to be provided for? I men, tion this to show that Waterbury Is very fortunate in this respect and other cities have few parochial schools, but I doubt if any town in New England is so we'll equipped with parochial schools and so many children educated by the Catholic church as right here in Wa terbury."
 In reply to remarks by E. c. Xiii. duff favoring the turning of the high school into a grammar school, MT Phelan said he was very much op- posed to it for the reason that there are enough grammar schools in that neighborhood now, and besides if you should start out to purchase a site for high school and put building on it, the whole thing would cost half million dollars, and even at that it might be difficult to get a suitable location. The Curtiss lot on West Main street would cost about $45,000, and then it is too small. MT Phelan preferred to add nine rooms to the present high school building.
 Commissioner McElligott wanted to know what about the noise from the street at the high school NIT Phelan said this could be minimized by the use of asphalt pavement, just the same as it is in other places. He felt that the day is not far distant when the Lincoln building will have to be abandoned for school purposes, but he was of the opinion that the city can compel the railroad people and George Lilley to pay for 1t, since the work they are doing there is re- sponsible for the trouble in the school. He spoke of the mania of past school boards for purchasing sites which required retaining walls, and stated that for this and other reasons money is often times used In places where there is little show for it.
 James P. Morris, superintendent of the town poor, and Commissioner Murphy of the board of charities ap- Deared and explained the different items asked for by that department, Mir Murphy dwelling at some length 1n the need of fitting up a ward at Inc Rrnnksidp where inmates rrhn