Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-23


 committees. Of course there may be at times excuse for committeeman en- blowing someone to assist in some par tlcular matter legal or otherwise, at the expense of the city but it should not become a common rule of guidance in the administration of mu- nicipal matters. To be sure the alder men give their service free. but that Is not cause sufficient why others should be paid for doing what the al- dermen were elected to do, and these aldermen know well that when nomi- mated their valuable service to the city was to be gratis
 Mayor Mahan, in dispensing with the services of the forenen of the street department. started a reform that was said to have been made for economical reasons, but if the money saved from that source is to be ap- piled to the payment of clerks of com- mitteemen, 1t is difficult to discern just where the economy comes in. While the health committee is fully authorized by state statute to incur whatever expense that is deemed nec- essary to safeguard the public health. it is an open question whether any of the other committees of the court of common council have the right to incur any expense for clerk hire. or for the performance of any duty that ought to be done by the aldermen. or some paid official of the city.
 Although it may not be justice, it is law that the aldermen shall serve without pay, while the board of as- sessors not only get salary, but are entitled to the services of a compe- tent clerk, and even the board of re- lief are paid a salary. But there Is nothing doing fin the salary line for the aldermen, although they devote more time to the interests of the city than the members of the board of as- sessors or the board uf relief So on mature consideration 1t may be al. right for the aldermen to delegate a part of their work to clerks and at the expense of the city. but it is not in strict accordance with custom and the laws that govern the city of New London.
 There is talk of amending the laws that govern Now London, so that 1t will not be necessary to have a corps of civil engineers in the employ of the city when a few competent men could fill the bill. Aside from those in the employ of the water and sew CT department, there is a city engi- neer and the highway commissioner is required to be civil engineer. The duties of the city engineer are con- fined almost wholly to giving grades for sidewalks and was created long before the office of highway commis- sioner. and there seems no valid req - son why these two offices could not be consolidated and the salary of one saved to the city. In this matter. of course. the office to be dispensed with would be the city engineer. as that is the lesser of the two in importance.
 It is more than passing strange that when legislative action was secured that gave to the city the power tc have a highway commissioner that the ! wise men having the matter in charge did not at the same time make pro- vision for the abolishment of the offiet of city engineer. That office was ere ated many years ago and for long period was filled by the late F. B Jennings, principal of the old Bartlett school, and father of Charles B. Jen- nings. superintendent of schools. Mir Jennings. in addition to surveying done for the city also served private individuals. He sometimes made sur veys of the same property for the owner, or alleged owner. and for the city as well. and took his points from the party by whom he was employed.
 Tn the long ago. there was dispute
  the east side of Howard street. from the Carroll house to the old foot bridge, so-called. Mir. Jennings had made survey of this property for the city. which was unsatisfactory to the alleged owner of a portion of the property. the late Jonathan Harris. MT. Jennings had also made survey for Mir. Harris. The matter was up at a meeting of the court of common coun- ell for adjustment, and MT. Jennings was there and explained the Harris plat. which did not agree with the plat made for the city. When asked to explain the discrepancy. MT. Jen- nings remarked that he made one sur vev as directed by the representatives of the city of New London and that he made the other for Mir. Harris. The office was held many years by Mir. Jennings. nearly as long as his son has held office in the school depart ment of the city. Since that time the office of city engineer and surveyor has been held by a member of the firm of Daboll and Crandall, when the democrats were in the majority in the court of common council Mir. Darrow was elected and when the republicans were in power MT. Crandall. the present incumbent. was the official. The city engineers office could be merged into that of the highway com missioner without dettiment to the city work and would strengthen the city treasury just little. not much. for the salary of city engineer or the emoluments thereof is of no material consequence in a city the importance of nndnn