The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-09
WATER WORKS BILL
 GETS LARGEST
 VOTE IN COUNCIL
Mayors Pet Amendment Creating Public Works
 Board Turned Down.
Objection of MT. Bullard Causes Defeat of Amend ment Creating Two Per manent Assistant Chiefs, After Hydrant Control Has Been Denied to Fire Board.

Fighting inch by inch for an official endorsement of his charter amend ments by the Common Council, Mayor Lee saw all of those which were es- pecially important beaten. His only answer was the repeated statement, Whatever, you do, gentlemen, I'll take them to Hartford, just the same.'
 When the water amendment came up which provides a way in which the people may express themselves upon the important question of municipal ownership, the Mayor said: ''This is not one of my amendments
 This announcement evidently gained it some votes that it would not oth- erwise have had, for it was adopted by a vote of 19 to five, larger vote than was recorded ir favor of any amendment important enough to create a difference of opinion.
 The Democrats voted in favor of the water bill to a man. Wilson, Meyers, Zink, Hartley, Primrose and BertilsOn voted for it on the Republican side.
 The mayors plan for a new board of public works, to have supervision over the city engineer, the director of public works and the superintendent of streets, was beaten by a vote of IA to g.
 The argument against the plan hing ed upon the public dissatisfaction with the last board of public works, which was abolished. The aldermen for the most part thought it a mistaken prin- ciple to create a board responsible for the conduct of several important off, cers, who would he appointed by the mayor.
 The minor amendments were adopt ed. That extending the term of the clerk of the board of assessors from one to two years, by a vote of 17 to '; those giving the mayor the appoint ment of the city attorney and the city engineer, but not disturbing the terms of the present officers, unanimously; the amendment making the terms of the members of the Board of Relief four years. 15 to g; the amendment providing that firemen and policemen. may be dismissed only for just cause, unanimously.
 An amendment increasing the salary of the building inspector fram s1,200 to $1,800 was unmercifuly and almost unanimously turned down.
 The amendment which originated in the Fire Department was opposed by Alderman Bullard, because the charter amendment committee had cut down two to one. On motion of Alderman Fletcher the amendment was changed to it's original form. Alderman Me Murray proposed an amendment cut ting out the power which was given to the Fire Board to erect hydrants and have jurisdiction over them.
 The alderman explained that it was the duty of the Bridgeport Hydraulic to furnish these hydrants. He was afraid that if the Fire Depart ment were given sole power to erect hydrants the result would be a large increase in the revenues of the Bridge port Hydraulic Company, as the city has to pay $1250 rental annually on each one. This change was adopted.
 Then Alderman Bullard refused to vote upon the amendment, declaring that the Fire Department knows best what it wants. and what the city ought to have. The whole proposition with the amendments included was then de- feated.