Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-22
MEETING OVER.
 HEALTH OFFICERS SALARY
In New kenden--Jssrs and cat-csIIs interrupt Speakers = Mayor 5riuss Police to PIatform-salary. Increase Defeated,
Especial to The BuIletin.) )

Especial to The Builetfn.)
 New London, Nov. 21.-The largest city meeting ever held in New Lon- don, and the second to be held in the evening, was that of Saturday in the county court house to act upon the or- dinance proposed by the court of common council to increase the salary of the health oficer from 5000. to 5000 a year Some of the ob5ectiing council men, six in number, and thirty other citizens signed a petition for this special city meeting and the mayor. under the charter was required to call the meeting, When Mayor Rogers rapped for order the big room WAS f1li- ed with fully 700 people, all standing and there were. at least 300 more on the outside who were unable to get in, but many of the latter tired after awhile and went elsewhere, but those on the inside were packed in so tight they could not get out.
 Alderman Charles C. Pe1kins, who engineered the opposition to the ordinance. offered the necessary mo- meeting; remarking that the business was the approval or disapproval of the action of the council in the matter of the ordinance to increase the salary Of the town health officer, hence 1t would rot be germane to the issue
 
 against Dr. J. Torrington Black, health officer. as it was not the individual, but the salary that was to be considered.
 Former Governor and Former Mayor Thomas M. Waller. who in years that have gone controlled many city meet ings immediately went to the plat form and claimed the right to be heard before a ballot was taken on the question that had been presented by Alderman Perkins. Mir. Waller was recognized and made speech of an hours duration, during which he was interrupted many times, by howls and jeers. and such exclamations as: Give someone else chance" "Shut upr
 Tell something new," Ring the bell" and so on The former governor spoke earnestly in favor of increase fin sal ary and of the efficiency of Dr. Black, and he had his full say despite the dis courteous treatment he received from some of his fellow townsmen.
 Then Alderman Perkins, of the other side, made an attempt to make a speech and he. too, had to yield to the cat calls and the like from a tired bunch of citizens who were eager to get at the vote.
 Then Alderman John F. Murray, who was opposed to the ordinance took the floor and he was given a respectful hearing. the only speaker of the evening who was given like treatment. MT. Murray had given the subject much attention, having communicated with the mayors of the principal cities of the state as to the salaries paid to health officers, and he stated the amount paid in each fn- stance comparing same with what was proposed, to be paid to the. New Lon don health, officer and demonstrated that his present salary of 5000 was uD to the standard. ..>.. F When MT. Murray had finished, May or Rogers recognized State Attorney Hadlai A. Hull, and introduced him as state officer and that he should be given a hearing. There was shouting and jeering as he attempted to speak and the mayor rapped far order, and 1t came. Then the mayor shouted: "Po- licemen Wren and Pinney come. right up here near the platoforTn; I am the chief of police according to the chart CT, and I'm going to have order here" !" These policemen, and others. respond ed, and the mayor sent sheriffs and constables to the outer edges of the crowd to preserve order. Major Hui spoke strongly in favor of the ap- provai of the action of the court of council in the passage of an ordinance to Increase the salary of the health officer from 5000 to 5000 and warmly praised the efficiency of pr. Black as the health officer there being no bet ter. fin all New England, he said
 There were cries loud and long for vote and finally Mayor Rogers yield ed and the balloting was commenced. Voting places had been placed at one end of the room, and the vote was by ballot and by wards and check list, two checkers and two teIlers being appointed by the mayor for each ward The ballot resulted in the defeat of the ordinance by a vote of majority If 6s in a total vote of 76S. The vote hv wards.