New Britain herald., 1915-11-18

Board of public safety activities and inactivity-came in for some .smart raps at the November meeting or the common council last night The municipal ice house was dragged from its dusty shelf and all it's glar- ing faults held up to the X-ray of the public eye. Preliminary plans were made for the opening of a campaign for more extensions of the trolley system here. The first step was taken to give houses containing three pr more tenements better protection from fire and the fire underwriters were criticized.
 It was not long after the meeting opened that the first fusillade was fired at the safety commission. The council received communication from Corporation Counsel J. E. Cooper explaining why it would be illegal to give regular policemen ex- ura pay for overtime services. The question had been brought up by the iong hours of extra work some of the regulars did following the riot ing at the Corbin Screw Corporation during the recent strike
 Curtis Asks Alling Questions.
 
 any justice in paying supernumerary policemen more money than the regu- lars for doing the same number of hours work. He asked Chairman F. B. filling of the safety commission if there was any record of supernumer- aries doing more than nine hours work out of twenty-four. Mr. AL ling replied in the affirmative, stat ing that such 8 condition existed dur ing the strike. He said some had worked twelve hours and that 1t was a custom of years standing in the palice department to pay them by the hour. Ordinarily it was understood that nine hours would constitute a days work but there were instances of the regulars remaining on duty longer than that. He cited the Zebris murder case when some of the regular policemen worked overtime.
 1T have the greatest respect for the corporation counsel but his report is unconvincing to me-" said Councilman George M. Landers.
 Suppose regular policeman worked only three hours day, would he get paid for a full day?" inquired Alderman Parker.
 'The chief knows of any such oc- casion," replied MT. filling.
 During the strike some of the regulars worked more than nine hours" interjected Councilman Cur tis. Now what I would like to know is, did some of them work only 1 one or two hours overtime and oth- CTS four. or fire hours?" ts
 None of them worked as long as that" replied MT. filling.
 Councilman Curtis asked the chair man of the commission whether he ] 1t fair for regular police men to work overtime and receive only nine hours pay while super who worked over nine hours were paid for the time they put in. MT. filling evaded the question several times but Councilman Curtis insisted on an answer. MT. filling declined to give his opinion. The report of Corporation Counsel the minutes. I Safety Board Slapped On The Wrist.
 Tn it's report on a number of mat ters referred to it the board of public safety stated that insignia for the arms of traffic officers would be furnished "at the proper time." The council, at the October meeting. voted to in struct the safety board to furnish these insignia and the reply that the board would do so "at the proper time" aroused the ire of several of the city fathers.
 "T'd like to know what the board of public safety considers the proper time ", said Aldermen Parker angri- Fly. 1T think it is a case of obstin- |acy They're obstinate. They don't [want to do what they're asked to do." ''In my opinion, when the council asks subordinate board to do thing it should be done or state (ment should be sent in explaining why kit wasn't done,' said Councilman Cur Ptis, in the same tone as that used by |ths alderman from the fourth. "I make a motion that the board of pub- lie safety be instructed to comply with the motion made by Alderman Parker at the October meeting or ldering insignia for the traffic police men,"
 Mayor Quigley ruled that Council man Curtis, motion was out of order las the council was simply asked to act on the report of the safety board. The report was received for printing in the minutes. ..t
 Tangle Over Malone's Pay.
 A resolution coming from the safety board directed that that board be Instructed to pay Officer A. c. Malone SIPS for @ period when he was off duty because of illness.
 ~Isn't that covered by ordinance?" !inquired Councilman Landers. 1T