New Britain herald., 1916-01-12
Safety Board is 70 Show
 Cooley Wh0 s B0ss Here Commission Trail of Eectrcan-Civil Service Board Discussed-No Appointm -Supernumerary Dis
 missed-Hospita M ny Use Ambulance

Any notions prevailing in the mind 1 of City Electrician George Cooley, that he is about the only person { connected with the municipal govern mcnt that can do and say as he pleas | es, were knocked to "smithereens'' at ] the meeting of the board of public safety last evening.
 The ire of the commissioners was aroused by the receipt of Cooley's re- port on his inspection of the city fire alarm system per instructions. The report was presented, but judging from the manner it travelled first from the hands of the clerk to the members of the board in a wild attempt to in- terpret it's meaning, the document was rather obscure. Greek and Latin are taught in the schools but if there is a student who can decipher what the city engineer was driving at in the report, let him imm ediately ap- ply at city hall and he will find a problem that Will at least prove inter- eSting.
 Commissioner filling, whose term as chairman has permitted him to come
 
 electrician several jabs which if con- nected with his anatomy or if spoken within Cooley's presence, might cause a knockout, or a display of pyrotech mics. He said, q am unwilling to ac- cept such a report. It seems to me that when this board orders a report it should be made in a comprehensi- ble manner"
 Commissioner Holmes moved that the report be returned to the electri- elan with a request that it be put in ineligible form. He embodied in the motion that the report be submit ted at the next regular meeting of the board.
 Hot on CooIey's Trail
 The storm which broke in regard to the report did not abate a particle for Cooley when the next business was taken up. Commissioner filling said that as far back as last August he ap preached Cooley and spoke to him in regard to removing fire alarm from the home of one of the members of Engine company No. 4 who had changed residence. Two weeks ago he met the fireman, James Kelly, who informed him that the order had not been compiled with. A few minutes prior to the calling of the meeting he again got in touch with Kelly who stated that the alarm is still at it's old location.
 "Now it is pretty near time that the city electrician be made to obey orders of this board,' said the commission CT hotly.
 Clerk Magnell was instructed to notify Cooley to get busy at once. It was also voted to have Cooley sub- /, init the names of the firemen who are without alarms in their homes.
 Favor Civil Service.
 Commissioner Holmes brought up the appointment of a, regular patrol man to succeed John l.. Middleton who recently resigned. The clerk read the names of the applicants One amazing fact brought out by the ap- plications was that a member Of the supernumary department Is l-4 Ieet in height. This was the dimensions given by Albert Sharpe.
 Commissioner Holmes said that in view of the fact that a civil service commission was appointed it might De a good idea to lay the matter over for a reasonable time, and thus give that body the power to pass on the ellg1- bles,, making it their first act. He pre- serted this in the from of mot1on which was seconded by Comlssloner filling with the provision it could De debated on.
 When the motion had been put and ready for debate Commissioner All ing said that he did not think the civil service board had it's rules for mulated as yet, and he was of the opinion that it would be some time before it would. He did not feel that the city should be made to suffer for the lack of patrolmen on this ac- count.
 Commissioner Holmes said that in his m Otion he had brought out the fact that he wished to have the mat ter left with the chairman to deter mine whether or not there would be any unnecessary delay. He did not think that the city would be put to any inconvenience. He said that from the outset he has favored civil service for the police and fire depart ments, but had no objections to a reg ular policeman being appointed at the meeting.
 Commissioner Allin said that he based his remarks on past activities of the civil service commission. "If they do not work any faster in the fu- ture than they have in the past, we will never get anywhere" he said.
 Continuing, Commissioner filling directing his remarks to Commission CT Holmes asked, Do you understand that the civil service board is to formulate plans and conduct eXamin- \ lns under the present day char ter?''
 q don't know, that is for some- one else to find out" answered Com missioner Holmes. He added: 'All we want is report of those who are eligible. The sooner we get desirable men the better. It is better to get