Norwich bulletin., 1915-03-10

pr1nclpal tOplc or QlScuSSion on IueS- day evening at the meeting of the Norwich Board of Trade held in the rooms of the Board in the Thayer building. The discussion before the fifty men at the meeting resulted in two actions-one the formation of committee of investigation, and the other vote expressing the sense of the Board of Trade as opposed to con- solidation of city and town.
 . After President Frank J. King had called the meeting to order at o'clock, the minutes of the annual meeting were read by Secretary Hen ry w. Tibbits and were approved.
 New Members.
 New members proposed and voted in were Adolph De Vries, Arthur H. Brewer, H. I. Dennett and D. M. and O. s. Peck.
 An amendment to the bylaws was passed making the chairnen of the different committees members of the executive committee.
 Accommodations in New Rooms.
 President King called the attention of the members to the new rooms in which they were meeting for the first time. He said they were open from 8.30 in the morning to 6 in the evening and that through the courtesy of the Norwich Commercial school a stem ographer and typewriter was on hand all the time for the accommodation of the members. free of charge. He in vited a frequent use of the rooms on the part of the membership.
 A letter from the New England Clean-up and Paint-up committee in viting general participating in clean up week from May End to 9th was referred to the City Beautiful com mittee. There was also an invitation to an industrial exhibit in Norwalk and letter announcing the gift to the Board of Trade of a Hendrix Com mercial Register.
 President King called attention to the proposed bill for the formation of voting districts, which he said had at first been considered much as a joke but had now gone considerably beyond that as Winslow T. Williams of Yantic. MT. Atwood and F. B. Rick ettson of the Ponemah company had gone actively to work on the matter and we ought not to let the matter go by default If such a thing were ae- complished it would reduce our grand list to about s11, ,000, 900 and the pop ulation of the town to 10000 or 22, 900.
 Water Pressure on the Hills.
 Before this was taken up further Joseph D Haviland, a former president of the board, called attention to two fires on hilly points which he said he leIeA A4cAu OppOIIuulLy 10 observe and Where the water supply was shown to be inadequate. He said he was not crltlclslng the water department but he had been told that these fire losses would have been kept down to a quar- ter of what they were if there had been pressure to get the water to the lire. He had been told that this could be remedfed with little expense to the city, he said, and he concluded his remarks with offering the motion, Which was passed, that a committee be appointed by the chair to take into consideration the matter of water sup ply upon the hilltops of the city. President King named MT. Haviland, Water Superintendent J. J Corkerv and Fire Chief Howard L. Stanton as the committee.
 Separation Discussed.
 E In response to a question from John M. Lee, President King said that the separation movement had consider able strength, and Jofin J. Corkery spoke upon the subject, saying that he thought the increase in the town taxes was one of the reasons for this bill. but when the school tax was taken into consideration, there was not much difference in the first district though that would not apply to all districts. in opposition to the bill.
 1t was mentioned that Mr. Back who Is chairman of the committee on new towns and probate districts before which this bill would come, was also counsel for the Ponemah mills.
 Might Have Referendum,
 A. A. Browning was asked what was the power of the legislature to pass this measure without reference to the city and he said they had that power, but if it were going to be passed 1t would be very desirable to have a ref erendum vote attached to 1t.
 Outlying Districts Harassed.
 Shepard B. Palmer said that the sit uation was serious one and that he believed that the outlying districts had been harassed by the frequent suggestions about consolidation and had taken this mea- to separate themselves from the city.
 R. H. Gray stated that he had been told in one section of the town where he had been at work that 1000 out of the 1,2oO voters had signed the petition.
 Judge Lucius Brown said that he was equally opposed to consolidation or separation and he did not believe bill for separation. He thought the city ought to take hold and oppose it and the mayor and common council should be enlisted.
 Fear of Consolidation,
 F. w. Cary said that he thought it was fear of consolidation that, made the people in the outlying districts sign the petition and he thought 1t was due them to let them know how we felt and that this would be a good time to pass a vote against consoli- dation and so take away this argu- ment which was being used. J. J. Corkery argued that 1t was a town matter and if there were a pub- lie expression 1t ought to be in a town meeting for 1t affected every persons taxes who would be left in the part of the town not taken. There would be sections of the town on the West Side and below Laurel Hill not in- cluded in the new town proposed. MT. Browning said his attitude was one of opposition to consolidation un- less the parts outside wanted it. They should never be compelled to come in Announced General Hariand's Death. During a recess that was taken te await the arrival of Judge Nelson J Ayling, who was to speak on the sub- ject, President King informed tht members of the news of the death o1 Gen. Edward Harland, which had jus been received.
 Judge Ayling spoke briefly when ht came, saying that this separation bil had been started as a sort of backflrt in consolidation. but he thought 1t ha6