Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-23

Moore had read the published call for the meeting, as well as the petition for 1t, made by Charles s. Holbrook and g others Corporation Counsel Tanning presented the resolutions which he read, and moved their adoption.
 Representative Joseph H. Henderson suggested that the mayor explain what the situation was and His Honor re- qUested the corporation counsel to do this.
 MT. Tanning said that if the pro- posed bill to create the town of Old Norwich from a part of the town of Norwich becomes d law, it would mean that out of our present 30 square miles about 12 square miles would be taken, comprising what is practically now the Fourth and Fifth voting districts, and including Norwich Town, Yantic and Taftville. It would be a loss to the town of Norwich of about 1000 in it's population, and instead of speaking of the town as one of 30,000 population We would call it practically 10000.
 The bill contemplates an apportion- ment of the debt of the town, but what that would be it would be impossible now to figure out. It would shut off from the city the territory where the natural growth could be expected and would result in a big loss of prestige to the community The legislature has authority to put this into effect with out submitting it to the town, and we want to register our vigorous objec- ton. We have worked to give the town advantages and it doesn't seem fair now that we should be arbitrarily shut striven to acquire.
 Mir. Tanning was vigorously ap- plauded as he closed with urging every one to be willing to serve on the com mittee to go to Hartford to show the sentiment of the city.
 Grow Larger. Not Smaller.
 A. A. Browning pointed out thnt a town growing in size and population has a great advantage over one grow ing smaller. If there were two towns created it would mean two boards of selectmen and two boards of relief and other officers similarly. In the matter of almshouses, this town would have to pay the other town for people going there and the other town would have to build another almshouse if they had the money. They would also have to build another courthouse.
 He said the proposition was sur prise to him and it had been called a joke, but We ought to know that it had gone beyond that, for great eff forts were being made to put 1t through. He said that it was his opin- ion now, and always had been,- that Taftville ought not to be dragged into a consolidation with the town.
 He was given enthusiastic applause when he said that there ought to be no such change as is proposed without submitting 1t to a vote of the people. But this matter won't go the way we want it to If we iie by and do nothing, for much is being done to break up our grand old town of Norwich. He was again applauded as he said there should be no hard feeling and as he closed with a parallel between this sit uation and the situation between the north and the south, which when their differences were settled both became loyal and steadfast supporters of the government.
 Senator Barnes Against It. There was earnest applause for Sen ator John H. Barnes when he said that he intended to do all in his power to defeat the passage of the proposed 1 mea sure, and he believed that before the committee would get a majority report on this measure they would | have to drag Representative Joseph H.
 Henderson through a keyhole. Representative Bailey Absolutely Op- posed.
 Representative Albert J. Bailey, who
 said that although he lived in Yantic i section of the town that Is to be in | cluded in the proposed new town, he was absolutely opposed to any separa- tiOn of the town as it now stands, was given vigorous applause. He said he SOS the separation is defeated. He was also opposed to consolidation except by consent of the part outside, and he thought that If there had not been sc
 much talk of consolidation this matter no wwould not have come up. He thought the city was doing a wise thing to make this expression of opin- | ion and he wanted to represent g
 united and not divided town. From the Fourth District. Woodbury O. Rogers, resident ot Norwich Town, said he was unalter-
 ably opposed to the separation pro- ] posed.
 1 Opposed MutiIation.
 | Dr. Patrick Cassidy said he was op- I posed to the mutilation of the town but was anxious to maintain it's former | virility and had always been proud -o1
 our outside industries, as he had seer the big industry at Taftville grow i from the time the first shovelful o1 dirt was thrown up.
 l Widely Scattered Town. l Albert Boardman said he was op- l posed to separation and if carried out
 1t would mean a widely scattered town in the new town and Norwich Town
 and the Falls would be run by Taft vile. It would mean a three mile tr1T over the hills for Norwich Town, when
 there was town business to be done l Reasons Ter l1s
 | William H. Shields took up the req
 sons for the change in a stirring
 speech that he made. which was ap- plauded at several points.
 He spoke of the proud heritage
 which the 250 year old town of Nor wich has and while it is now pro- posed to divide. He said he had beer told that the real reason for this | movement arose with a large and powerful corporation, the Ponemaf mills at Taftville, which paid one ninth of the town taxes and had near l ly $2,o00. 900 in the grand list of the town. They are in fear of annexation
 to Norwich for taxation purposes
 which would thereby double the pres ent town tax of 10 or Il mills, whicf they pay and the same fear existed
 in Norwich Twn and Yantic, according to what the people who have signet
 the petition for separation say.
 Town Voted Against Consolidation.
 There has not been at this legisla. ture movement to annex any par of the town to the city, he said. Sin years ago the citizens in town meet ing recorded their opposition to an nexation upon a unanimous report by a committee that considered the sub. Iject. With this public expression or 1 record no one can point to any steI taken contrary to that since then. st fhat the pOnemah mills have the w0rC