Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-02-08
COMMISSIONERS
SUPPORT
Over 500 Citizens in Public Meetng Decide by Vote of 80
to s6-Motion to Lay on Table Resolutions Endorsing
the Board Was Lost-A. S. Spalding Defended Actions
of the Board Regarding Electric Light ContractCiti-
zens Shed Light Subject From Many Angles.

4
ly and in such equal volume that
| Judge Lucius Brown, who was chair
man could not declare the vote, but
| the same citizens east only 17s votes
when called upon to pass before the
| desk to register their approval or dis
approval of a motion that in effect
endorsed the board of gas and e4ee-
| trical commissioners in making a new
4 tricity from the Uncas Power Co.
Resolution Offered.
/ What they were voting on was to
4 lay on the table the resolution offered
/ by Thomas NJ. Shields at the begin
1 ming OF the meeting as follows:
4 Whereas, the citizens of the town
4 of Norwich assembled at the call Of
the matters growing out of a contract
with the Uncas Power company for
| the purchase of electricity, having full
! confidence in the honesty, integrity
| and ability of the board OF gas and
electrical commissioners TO deal with
1 these questions and as it is matter
entirely for which said board are re-
| sponsible and over which they have
full authority:
| Voted, it is the sense of this meet
| ing that all Of the said matters re1at-
| ing to the said contract be referred to
/ said board of gas and electrical COM
| missioners for their determination
without advice on our part as to what
4
premises.
The motion to lay this on the table
was defeated 90 to Sc, amid applause,
as the vote was announced.
| Then the meeting proceeded to pass
| the original motion and adjourned
| at once at 1905 o'clock
President somers Explained Call.
Chamber of Commerce called the
| meeting to order a few minutes after
| s and explained its purpose in the fol-
| lowing words;
Owing to the lack of time officially
| to call a city meeting 1t was requested
Der Of Commerce last Friday night
| that call for an open meeting be adj
vertised and held in the town hall on
Monday. The spirit and reason Of the
| interested in some certain civic af-
fairs to express and explain their
views.
Judge Brown Chairman.
He asked for nominations for chair
man and after he had himself been
nominated but declined to be consid-
cred. Judge Lucius Brown was elect
ed chairman on motion Of G. D. James
Judge Brown said he wanted to
take no time from what was required
by others for discussion but he
| thought 1t augured well to see such a
remarks made should be temperate
and to the point.
c. D. James was elected clerk on
motion of w. w. Beckwith.
Offered Resolution.
Thomas NJ. Shields offered the res
olution referred to above, speaking
first briefly before he read it.
He said that. according to law the
administration of the gas and electric
light department was given over to
| the commissioners and as far as he
knew they had not asked for our ad-
vice. They were appointses by the
mayor, and as far as the speaker knew
they were honestly trying to do the
best they knew.
Albert Roardman Began Discussion
There was no doubt said Albert
Boardman, as he took the floor, that
the law gave the gas and electrical
commis sioners the right to manage
this department but he thought the
public had a right to call them to ac-
count.
Felix Callahan rose to a point of
order that the next business was to
accept or reject the resolution
Chairman Brown ruled that discus
sion of the resolution was in order.
Mr. Boardnan went on to say that
we had a right to say what we thought
about the board Of gas and electrical
commissioners. They may be honest
and able but sometimes they don't act
like it, and they are open to criticism
They can no doubt do as they please
but we have a. right to express our
public opinion
There is a division in the board and
you ought to vote down this resolu-
ton though the board can then do as
they like.
SpaIding Defends Commissioners.
A. S. SpaIding, secretary of the
l.. - -
sioners who had been stading with his
finger in the air while Mr.. Boardman
had been speaking, got the floor as
soon as Mr.. Boardman stopped talking
Mr. Spalding was applauded as he
walked to the front and read the fol-
lowing statement which he had pre-
pared, speaking with yehemence as
he defended the action OF the commits
sioners and shed much light upon the
gas and electric plant:
The Old Commissioners.
Much has been said about the old
commissioners IN comparing them with
the present board. In the first place
the old commissioners resigned their
od1ce. No force was used In having
them do so. At once much was said
and at the time the public, at least
some Of those not in sympathy with
the new men, berated the new commits
nlissioners. Among other faults as
=
stated were politicians. as you villa re-
call at the time letters were published
and much was said about the men
placed In charge of this department
and little later the superintendent
resigned. This resignation Of the SUI
perintendent came without warning or
expectation by the board. Then at
once speculation was rife as to who
would be appointed superintendent
and it was said by many at the time
that the speaker on account Of politics
would be appointed. As develop
merits came out. the board appointed
a practical man and it would seem
sure that the assertion as made at the
time, that politics had a hand in 1t,
was not a correct statement.
Cashier Resigned.
A little later the cashier resigned.
publishing In the papers a letter which
placed the commissioners in bad
light, and if he is here tonight I would
ask him whether there was ever at
any time, anything said or done by the
board which would call for any COM
ment by either himself or the public.
and which would require him to re-
sign
A+&ao,n4e "a Cr;nnIa San,;1s