Norwich bulletin., 1910-02-26

be kept lighted all night During that year Thames square was enlarged, Market street wfdened by the tearing down of the public market, which stood almost in the middle of the street near where the new hotel is being built, and the new city hall was in course of con struction. Even then members Of the court of common council were willing to do city work, as is shown by the letting to a member Of that body tne contract to build the Thamesvilie hose house. Since the acceptance of the charter the area of the city has been increased by fhe additions of Greene vile, Boswel1ville and Laurel Hill Tn 1875, the Preston district in 1901. and other minor additions including Mo- began park land in 1907-
 The charter has been amended by legislative enactment at each session of the legislature and ordinances pass time it is almost impossible to ascer- tain what the law really 1s- The last revision of the charter was compiled by Allen Tenny, who was corporation counsel in 1876, with the assistance of Hon. James A. Hovey, an ex-mayor. afterwards judge of the superior court, and Jeremiah Haisey, for many years nestor or the~New London county bar. In 1901 the ordinances were revised and brought up to date by Gardiner Greene and Edwin w. Higgins, who were cor- poration counsel and many additions have been made since, so that only thorough search through all of the poorly indexed council journals will divulge what they are.
 The number of city officials, legisla- tive and executive, is over forty, about ten of whom draw regular salaries; others receive fees for duties perform ed, and more than one-haff serve with out pay. The powers of the mayor are very limited and no responsibility can be placed on him except as he is the thirteenth member of the court of common council. He has no appoint ing power except by recent ordi- nance authority to appoint seven park nominate and suggest. but the council can do as it sees dt- Many up to date subjects are not tOucled on in the charter and the method of receiving and paying out moneys is inadequate and complex All moneys due the city ought to be paid in at one place, and ali bills paid by the check of one per- son or department, and all the city bookkeeping as far as possible carried on in one office and under the same system
 There is need of an inspector of buildings and electric wiring and cause of the big fire of year ago, with a loss ot one-third of a million dollars, was defective electric wiring. Long before the fire occurred I heard ex- wiring, and the confagration was of ten predicted. We have no active in spector and sealer of measures and weights The above mentioned officials could be paid regular salaries from the fees received for making such inspec- tions and tests.
 Difference in Department Years.
 One of the most perplexing features of our present city government is the fact that the years of our different de- partmentS are not the same and this fact causes much misunderstanding in our city bookkeeping and accounts.
 Fire Department.
 Year ends June 30. Policy outlined by committee on fire department com posed of one alderman and two coun- cilmen who serve without a salary. The chief and all of the employees are supposed to be under a @vil service rule and not removed on account of a change of administration. The pres ent chief was first elected by a coun- cil d majority of whose members were of the opposite political faith to him. helf. So far as l know, the officers of this department handle no funds of the city, and all bills are first approv- ed by the chief and majority of the committee. and then by the court of common council. the latter being a mere formality and entirely unneces- sary.
 Light Department.
 Year ends July 31 Operates almost entirely under state law. The three commissioners appointed by the court of common council for three-year term without salary, direct the policy and business. The superintendent and employees have so far not been affected by any change in administration and the department has been kept out of
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