New Britain herald., 1915-01-19
PAVE WAY FOR SALE
 OF WATER cos PLANT
Sc cC(men Instructed to Take Steps
 to Acquire Property.
QUESTION LEGALITY OF ACTION
Water Company's Agreement With Town Acceptcd-Note for Evening to Be Improved-14 Mill Tax Rate.

Schools-Westw Park Passway
 to Be Improved-14 Mill Tax Rate.
 Steps to acquire the property of the Plainville Water company and to operate the as a municipal plant although the action may be of theoretical order owing to the pos sible illegality of the instructions. the matter not having been included In the call. were ordered taken by the board of se1ectmen at the session of the voters last evening: the contract be- tween the company and the town, with one slight change, was ap- proved after a lengthy discussion; the construction of a road in West wood park was ordered; tax rate of fourteen mills was adopted: an cleo tric light for Strong court was or dered: provisions were made for the esta blishment of evening school and the reports of the town officers for the year ending August ,, 1914, were accepted. These matters were acted on at the adjourned annual and special town meetings held in the Town hall.
 A capacity house was in evidence, despite the indictment weather, and the meetings had some very interest ing features. The socialists played prominent part in both sessions. They worked under the leadership of John A. Larson, whose bright sallles and merry quips interpolated in prac- ticallv every discussion enlivened the proceedings greatly. There were some hot arguments. but a friendly spirit seemed to chara acterize all the debates.
 The water company came in for It's share of trouble during the evening and the discussion of its contracts and other affairs finally led up to the passage of a resolution ordering the selectmen to take the steps neces- sary to acquire it's property This proposition was introduced by Lewis Madeley. one of the socialist con tingent. Before it's passage, c. H. Calor. president of the company, ex pressed the opinion that the di- rectors of the corporation were ready to turn over the plant to the town tomorrow. This brought a motion of thanks from John A. Larson, who said he thought the voters should express their appreciation of President Calor's gift"
 The meeting brought about a vic tory for the residents of Westwood park and vicinity. their resolution to have the town provide them with som ething that at least resemhled road getting a favorable vote, de- spite the objections of taxpayers eco- nomically inclined. who couldn't see how the town could pay the expense of the improvement unless an extra tax was laid.
 F. A. Freeman acted as chairman of both sessions and Town Clerk R. c. Usher kept the minutes.
 The adjourned annual meeting was first called to order. The matter of laying a tax rate was imm medlately brought up. The selectmen presented a budget in which they estimated the expense for the year at S34, 4,I2l.92 On a fourteen mill tax rate, based On the grand list last compiled, they | gave the receipts at s34,309. showing | that even without any extra ordinary l eypenses. the town would face de- | felt of over s400 at the end of the | year unless the tax rate was increased. |
 John H. Trumbull wanted the mat ter put over until it was ascertained 1 what extra expenses the voters would | favor. S. S. Gwillim moved that the | present tax rate, fourteen mills be | continued for the year. John A. Lar | sons efforts to have the vote on the | question taken by check list was l turned down, and MT. GWillim's | motion was passed.
 The Water company's agreement | with the town was then considered. | The contract specified that the town was to pay the company for the use | of forty nine hydrants at the rate of | S15 a year each and that $50 year | must be paid fo reach of two water | ing troughs, and that water used in the Town hall and school buildings shall he paid for on meter basis
 A. H. Condell objected to the clause which specified that no agent of the town. other than representative of | the fire department. shall test or dis turb hydrants, without the permission of the company MT. Condell offered as an amendment the addition of the sentence: "The fire chief shall have power to test the hydrantS at any time:' He claimed that no notice of the intention to inspect the hydrants should be given the company as it might interfere with a proper inspec- ton. After a considerable discussion his amendment was passed
 Objection was then raised by several tC the price for each hydrant and Mir. Larson offered a substitute clause which would have the company com pt nsated at the rate of s1O for each hour the hydrants were in use at fires This was defeated. Superinten- dent |. N. Mckernan, by request, read some statistics concerning the price charged by private corporations in other places in the state. His list gave he average rental at So5 a year
 Selectman Simpson. responding to a NmeStiOn of $. F Williams stated