Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-23
COMMITTEE OF INQUIRY
Board of Safety will Bear Charges Against l. 4. ChatfieId.

The board of safety's committee Of inquiry into the charges preferred against Building Inspector Chatf!eld by the Building Trades association will give hearing to the complain ants this evening in the tower room of the Leavenworth street engine house. The inquiry will be private.
 There is spreading a general lm- pression that the republican partys policy of putting men in office Tor lifetime is serious mistake. It IS contended that if MT Chatfields or flee was appointive, depending upon the ebb and flow of political tide, he would have been judiciously active in the performance of his duty, and that such a terrible accident WoulI not have happened on Farm street as did last fall, that house would not have collapsed a few weeks ago on South Leonard street, and the Building Trades association would not have grievance, whether or not it is real or imagined.
 It is now said that in the event or the committee recommending the re- moval of MT Chatfield and an at tempt is made 10 carry out the recommendation considerable eX- pense to the city will result. MT Chatfield will not go down without fight.
 It will be the most interesting city board meeting held in Waterbury since the days of the business administration when the safety board got together. in the tower of the LeavenWortha street engine house and Topped off mems heads right and left for the most trivial offenses, will be held at the Leavenworth street house this evening before the department Of safety. A. I. Chatfeld, the building inspector, will be put to trial, and the witnesses against him will be repre- sentatives of the different trades councils in the city. It is understood that they will introduce very damag- ing testimony regarding the collapse of a building in Brooklyn and aI- other in the north end, and several other things calculated to show that the inspector ought to be removed. On the other hand the inspector is said to be willing to abide by the opinion of the principal builders and i contractors about town, but he does object to a decision based upon evil dence furnished by men whom he never had any use for and who have no love for him.. It is a very trying time for MT Chatfield and if he comes out of it whole it will be wonder. Some say there is politics in it, but if so it does not appear on the surface. The subject was intro duced into the aldermanic chamber by MT Larkin. the floor leader of the republican party in that body, who stated that public interests demanded an investi- gation not only of cases that had come to public notice, but also many others that were known to but few. It may not be generally known that the whole republican party came | very near taking tumble in its headquarters shortly before election. The condition of the building was discovered just in time to avoid seri- ous trouble. This and the awful catastrophe in the north end caused lot of talk and the aldermen, Mir Larkin taking the lead, demanded an investigation. The matter was re- ferred to Prosecutor Meigs, but this turned out to be mistake. After a long wait it was finally taken in hand by the safety board. The only objec- tion to the Investigation is that it was not the most opportune time to take hold of it. It is too near Christ mas, when everybody should be try ing to make his neighbor happy, and everybody knows what is now going on in this case is not likely to bring out the best there is in humanity. But this is digressing. It has been hinted that there is politics of the | democratic brand in it, but if so it does not appear on record. The re- publicans have been in this thing from the outset and pushed it to a point where they can't control. The average citizen, regardless of politics, will say that if the building inspec- | tor is not first-class man for the position, it is no place for him, but if after a careful inquiry into the charges alleged against him it should develop that he is a compentent man, his politics will not cut any figure. Republicans like to investigate pro- vided the work is done by themselves, but the idea of g. o. D. adherent being investigated by democrats is the limit, and naturally they are shouting murder" politics" ''po- lice.' and everything they can think of with a view to soaring of the committee before whom Mir Chatfield is being heard. The inspector is en- titled to fair treatment and it is l unrn an rnrnhirA thnt rnhndr rr.ilI fry