New Britain herald., 1916-04-19

l liked the statement that the auditors 1 should go to any home to examine 1 town property and if he were col 1 lector he would get the books in 1 short order.
 Any time you can see a way to 1 protect me, I'll turn them over," said Mr. Austin.
 Major Wilcox suggested that MT. Lewis collect all back taxes and con- tinue suits brought by former col lectors and the town bear the ex- pense.
 Selectman Gibney thought Messrs. Lewis and Austin should get to- gether and settle the matter without any personal feeling. He deplored that personal feeling should enter into the discussion.
 Discrepancy Noted.
 MT. Lewis replied that he would have been glad to have worked with Mir. Austin, but heard nothing from! the latter, so he did his duty. He cited one case, where he had col lected a bill of $500 when it was pre- dicted suit would have to be brought to secure the money. The town re- port shows there Is $500 due from MT Austin on the 1913 list, but the board of finance found the sum to be $1,3O0. In reply to a question from Major Wilcox. MT. Lewis said Judge Gaffney told him he must have authority from the selectmen to get the books. MT. Gibney then reiter- ated that the resolution of the pre- vious meeting instructed the collec- tor to get them and said there Is no law which says the first selectman must get them. Tn answer to various questions of Major Wilcox and Claude W. Stevens, Collector Lewis said that the duties of collectors ceased when their successors were chosen and the latter finished the work. Colonel Jarvis then suggested that the collector be empowered to take necessary steps to settle the matter of back taxes. George Sulli- van thought it should be done within forty-eight hours.
 From 8 Clear Sky.
 A bomb from a Zeppelin on a French trench would have caused no more commotion than did the next statement of Thomas Emerson of Kensington.- He said too much politics had been drawn into the matter and accused Judge Gaffney of catering to both sides In order to have the support of the town on po- litical issues He felt MT. Lewis should go to some attorney who would give impartial advice.
 First Selectman William H. Gib- ney then jumped to the floor, was recognized by the chair and said: 'As citizen of this town, I refuse to stay here and let pass an assertion of the kind just made. It is unfair to attack a gentleman behind his back and doubly unfair to attack a man of the character of Judge Gaffney; a man who has the esteem of every thinking man of the state, who stands high among his colleagues in the Connecticut bar. To say he is play ing politics is a falsehOod. He is one of the most staunch democrats in the state and it is idle talk to think he would try to curry favor with men as republicans He always renders impartial service and MT. Chairman, if you please, I object as a citizen, to such assertions"
 MT. Emerson attempt to reply, but the chair declared him out of order saying: ''This is no place to discuss Judge Gaffney"
 Resolution Introduced.
 Major Wilcox then introduced the following resolution Resolved: A vote of confidence in Tax Collector Lewis and he is instructed to take the necessary Ef"n@ to secure at
 (Continued On Fifteenth Pase.)