The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-03
BELL CHECKS THE
 FLOW OF 0RAT0RY
 BY THE ALDERMEN
City Officials Get Together For Annual Dinner-Great Time
 Enjoyed by All


 Hugh J. Lavery proved a versatile itoastmaster and his remarks in intro ducing the speakers showed a careful
 scrutiny of the past lives of those present.
 l the singing of Hail to the Chief He said: Such gatherings as this are most important to the welfare of the
 city. We may have some differences
 in November. but after that it is the l object of all of us to make Bridge
 port better place to live in. Bridge port has no troubles after election is over. It is the best city in the I United States to live in. and I am l sure every man here is doing his best I to improve its condition. There has been a cry of late to have the busi-
 ness of the city conducted like a pri- vate business. It cannot always be | done because in public life the actions 1 of man are often criticized before l he begins or shortly after he starts.
 a project without criticism and carry | it to completion without being ham, pered by outside influences Bell.) Tax Collector John M Donnelly told i of the days in the council when he
 was member and how it was possi-
 a member of a committee of two. 1 (Beu)
 | City Clerk Stephen Boucher was in- | troduced as the only unmarried sin l gle official who was in the hands of | a matrimonial agent. He addressed I and declared they were the elect. "Al-
 derman Jackson to the contrary not
 withstanding." fBell)
 | City Attorney Thomas M. Cullinan was introduced as the man whom the Aldermen expected to keep all kinds
 of legal opinions on tap and "to render l them promptly at the next meeting" | MT. Cullinan told a good egg story
 and then continued: "I am glad to see ] so many Socialists here tonight This 1 some of the blanks of the Socialist
 party. The Socialists believe in the l collective ownership of all means of production. We can establish here l tonight the collective ownership of good fellowship. It is well to forget i Let Alderman Jackson forget his quee- tion box and let Alderman Walker forget the troubles of widening State street" Bell)
 Assistant City Clerk William F. Rus sell demonstrated that he could not speak above whisper because of a cold, and at his request the toastmas- ter read an original poem dedicated to Alderman Walker.
 Alderman William E. Primrose was l introduced as the leader of the minor l ity. and he declared that it should have been as "the would-be president He declared that the only reason that | Congress street was not widened was that Alderman Jackson was against | it-(BelL)
 | t~ Former Alderman John N Near was | introduced as "the man who could come back" He said: "There is not a kid here who can remember when started in politics. It was back in the sixties He then told of the score or more offices to which he had been elected or defeated or appointed. And the proudest thing that T. can say is that I never missed a meeting of any body that I was a member of. Alderman are sometimes criticized and are called Sgrafters. I want to say that in all of my career I have known was in the midst of telling what hap pened when a fire agent offered $350 commission years ago to him if he as fire commissioners would vote to purchase a certain make of engine. The bell sounded just as the people heard that the agent with the roll to distribute did not get the contract.
 Alderman F. M. Wilder who was shut off year ago in the middle of a war story, picked up the thread of the tale where he left off. and finished the story of a charge in a ravine-, He got his regiment onto the field at Gettysburg when the fatal bell sounded and will tell the story of the battle next year. 7s
 Judge Patrick Kane. president of the Board of Charities. said he was very glad to be guest at the banquet which was arranged by the Aldermen. He pointed out that when Commis- sioner Behrens entertained the Alder men last summer that there was no charge. He assumed that the rule .-I, ft,0 <14 f1.a in class with the man in the bar Der ch air. 4s-
 Does the razor work all right" ?" asked the barber.
 "F you are shaving me it works hard, but if you are skinning me it works perfectly smooth replied the customer. Bell)
 Alderman Garry Paddock was intre- duced as the "Aviating Senator" MT. Paddock seized the bell and after speaking 30 seconds sauelched him. self. He said: T did take a balloon ascension. but I got more for it than Paine did. ,- I got $3.000 for, the liar Dor committee by little flight before the Board of Apportionlnent." (Bell0
 Alderman Jackson was introduced as with bis oratory. Alderman Walker objected to the Alderman from the Fifth being allowed to speak at \ all. Clerk Boucher used up Is seconds of JackSOn'S time demanding that the Alderman be allowed to speak for 15 minutes Alderman Primrose took 30 seconds to question the right of Jack i son to have any more time than any one else Collector Donnelly used up the best part of 70 seconds pleading for an extension of time for Alderman Jackson. Alderman Jackson started 1, with a handicap but came under the wire under time He said: ''There is little justice here. Pary lines have been spoken of here. Lines suggest l fishing and fishing suggests suckers | As to Judge Kane'S remarks about the l cost. I want to say this is the first | time that the Board of Charities ever l paid the price. I want to thank | Chairman Walker for his foresight in l having the officials of the charities 1 branch of the city government here, | for the poorhouse is the future home l of most all Aldermen. Since the days l long ago that John Near sque1ched | that fire engine agent-s1pembers of the | Board of Aldermen have had to pay for everything out of their own pocket.
 : ..In those days when graft was in | to get a bologna sandwich from Dan 1 days we dine at our own expense and | pay s a ticket for the same. Because John Near spoiled the happiness of | others why should we be denied the | pleasure of an evening together at our own expense. When We get this new almshouse built I can assure you that | 
 President Edward c. spargo explain al how he was able to he elected Re- |