New Britain herald., 1916-02-03
20 WiH Tax Possible,
 Curtis 1eHs Council  He Doesn't See How City Ca Escape Heavy Burden But Mayor Qugley Replies Saying No One Need
 Have Fear on That Account

, the contractor was not living up to 1 the specifications.
 { The report of the civil service rules | commission was referred to the com mittee on ordinances.
 A bill for s2O0 for insuring the 1 ice house was approved. Collection of Ashes. Councilman Do1an moved that the recommendations of the committee on the collection of ashes be referr- ed to the board of finance and taxa ton.
 Councilman Curtis cautioned against throwing all responsibility on the finance board He said the tax rate was the highest in the past eight or nine years despite the fact that all appropriations were pared to the quick. The schools will need $25,O0o more, additional permanent pavement is anticipated and he did not see how the city can escape a tax rate of nineteen or twenty mills.
 The appropriations will be in
 creased s170,OOO and the increased in come from a larger grand list will be only about s18.00O, MT. Curtis said. This s17O,OOO does not include all the Improvements anticipated.
 Councilman Dolan praised the work of the committee on the dis posal of ashes and especially Dr. T. F.. Reeks, the clerk of the com- mittee. Mr. Dolan said property owners would get out of it cheaper by paying taxes to have ashes removed than by paying private contractors to do it.
 Councilman Landers said it was customary to permit the board of finance to decide regarding appro- priations and he did not believe there should be any change now, as advo- cated by Mr. Curtis. The finance board will do as it pleases, anyway, he said.
 Alderman Chamberlain disagreed with MT. Landers, saying the council should decide what appropriations are worthy and which undeserving.
 Council Represents People.
 Mir. Curtis remarked that the coun- cil is considered more representative of the people than the finance board and should decide. He said he did not object to the recommendations going to the finance board but he questioned the advisa bility of refer ring a report that is sure to be re- jected.
 Councilman Teich moved that the ashes collection committee appear be- fore the finance board and this was in conjunction with MT. Dolans motion.
 Abattoir Is Favored.
 suppIementary report from the a battoir committee was received, stat ing that between twenty and forty cattle are slaughtered every day in this city for domestic consumption, there being no inspection of the live animals pr carcasSes. The committee esti- mated the cost of an abattoir at be- ,ween s4,OOO and $5,OO0, and it's main- ,enance at between s1,200 and 1,3O0 per annum.
 The council took a five-minute re- ,ess while it examined plan Of the proposed building as prepared by the committee.
 Alderman Parker moved that the 'ecomm endatiOns be adopted but Curtis considered them % indefinite regarding the financial nd of the poject. Chairman Iallard i ;aid the maximum cost as recom- 1 ncnded was $5,000 but MT. Curtis said 1 h at was for the building alone. He l wanted the report sent back to the l board of health.
 Alderman Jester amended, that the l cost of the building be not more than ,5. Oo0 and the maintenance not more han s1,4OO and Alderman Parker .mended the latter item to $2,0O0.
 Parker Fears Graft.
 Alderman Parker said he under food the board of health intended to ,av the caretaker $500 q year. He hought this tco little, saying there would be too much of an opportunity or an unlerpaid caretaker to pick up n extra dollar here and there.
 Councilman Landers said the health ,oard would be satisfied with $l.400 or maintenance and Chairman Tal- ard confirmed this statement AL erman Parker replied that he dld not ,ant the health board coming back for oore money. Councilman Curtis was I favor of giving a liberal amount and Do1an was in favor of phoIding the health board. Council nan Curtis cited the ice house as orrib1e example of where the orig nal estimate of cost was greatly ex- eeded.
 Alderman Ke1Nin said a butcher 1ld him the health board exaggerated he amount of disea sed cattle killed ere and Chairman Tallard retorted