The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-21
M M'KENNA NOT AFRAID TO FACE
 HIS CRITICS
At His Own Request Com mon Council Asks Mayor to Name Committee to Investigate.

City Engineer Maurice F. McKenna petitioned the common council last night to investigate his office in or der to clear himself of the intimations that have been made against his con- duct of the office during the past week. The engineers communication to the council is as follows:
 To the Common Council:-
 During the past week, many in- timations have been publicly made in the press, refecting upon my conduct of the engineering depart ment of the city. These intimations had their origin in the animosity en- gendered by recent unfortunate oc- curance in my office. While no defi- mite charges have been made I nevertheless feel that I have been injured by the suspicious which such intimations, vague as they are, neces- sarily arouse. If a motion should be presented to your body to investigate the conduct of my office in which any definite irregularity should be charged I trust that no friend of mine in the board of aldermen will endeavor, by his vote. to resist the investigation of such a charge.
 If there is no definite charge to be brought against the conduct of the engineering department I neverthe- less desire and request that com mittee should be appointed to make a general investigation into my ad-
  gineer. I feel that I am justified in making this request of your honor able body for the reason that I de- sire to be freed from the imputations which have unjustly been put upon me and in order that the citizens of Bridgeport may be assured that the important deparment of the city government placed under my con- trol is in trustworthy and competent hands.
 Dated at Bridgeport, Feb. 20, 1911. M. F. McKENNA, City Engineer. After the reading of the communica- ton President Hugh J. Lavery mov- ed that the recommendations of the engineer be adopted and that the mayor be authorized to appoint five aldermen to carry on the investiga- tion. The motion was carried. : Alderman Primrose the Republican leader stated that he had introduced a resolution dealing with the subject and naming the committee, but he would gladly withdraw his resolu- tion so that the mayor could appoint. Alderman DeForest wanted to know if the committee had power to sum- mon witnesses and hire a stenograph- CT. The mayor said that the city att I torney had given an opinion that 1 councilmanic committees did have | such power.
 Alderman Jackson started after the ] Connecticut Co. again by presenting | the following resolution:
 l That the city clerk communicate
 with Charles S. Mellen, president of | the Consolidated road. and through \ him learn if the Connecticut com pany have arranged for prompt ship. ment of rails. turn outs. frogs and
 such equipment as necessary for the re-laying of tracks in this city this II spring and if they shall be ready to I proceed with operations by April; and to inform the city clerk relative to just what the conditions are regard ing this matter at the earliest possible time.
 l Alderman Jackson also introduced the following resolutions
 That a committee of five. consist ing of four members of the board of
 aldermen. and Mayor Buckingham, 70 investigate and consider what is known as the commission form of city government; such as now prevails in Galveston and other cities; also that this board invites a similar com mittee from the Board of Trade, the Manufacturers association, and the Business Mems association, to act in conference, and that the committee report by October. Also that it be resolved that the sum of $50 be plac- ed at the disposal of the committee. Alderman DeForest objected to it's immediate passage and the resolution was referred to the miscellaneous committee.
 It was voted a committee of 5, con- sisting of 4 members and the mayor, be appointed for the purpose of ar
 ranging some suitable recognition of
 the placing of the Lincoln Memorial tablet in the city hall, and that the committee seek the aid and assistance of the Elias Howe post, G. A. R., and
 the Sons of Veterans for the purpose
 of assisting.
 Reports.
 1 Reports from committee on streets
 and sidewalks were adopted, ordering
 a hearing on esta blishment of building line on south side of Fairfield avenue,
 between Middle and Water streets; or dering establishment of a building line
 on Water street. between Wall street and Fairfield avenue and appointing Bernard Heating. w. w. Bent and w. D. Murray as the committee to lay out the same; ordering hearing for March
 on establishment of a grade on flaw ley avenue; accepting Hillhouse ave- nue and Edgewood place and ap- pointing a special committee to lay them out; widening State street from Seeley street to Fairfield avenue; es-
 tablishing grades on Sylvan avenue 1 and Dewey street.
 l Other reports adopted were as fol- lows:
 By the committee on claims. grant | ing petition of Marion J. Ellis for
 abatement of assessment street
 sprinkling; granting petition of B. D. Pierce, IT,, for refund of taxes paid owing to double listing of property;
 leave to withdraw on petitions of Thomas Brophy for abatement of as-
 sessment for Main street paving, and w. F. D. Greniger for abatement of interest and taxes on the lists of 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909; granting petition of Patrick M.
 Flynn for reimbursement for injuries due to a fall on an ice walk; granting petition of Daniel Hoffman for reim- bursement to the extent of $500 for
 damages due to change of grade on tWakeman street; granting petition of | Sven Swanson for abatement of as- 1 sessment for curb, walk and gutter on | Linwood avenue; adjusting petition of Amelia Liftshitz regarding abatement on certain taxes; granting petition of George A. Michalcik, for the adjust
 ment of certain taxes; favOring peti- tion of Samuel Krouse abating tax on
 motorcycle; granting petitions of
 John H. Chantems, for abatement of taxes, Mrs. w. D. ThOrme, same, Kate Sarsfield same, c. J. Ryan, same, Salvation Armay, abatement of assess ment for Elm street pavement; Bar
 mum Historical and Scientific society, for abatement of assessment for Main street pavement.
 | By the board of appraisal on bene- 1 fits and damages >On assessment for River street sewer.
 By the committee on fire depart ment, granting permission to George E. |