Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-22

 which no salary had ever been con- nected and said that he was reluctant to accept a position on the gas and electric board when requested to do so. At none of the meetings of the board had politics entered into the dis MT. McWIliams at this point again insisted that none of the speakers had thrown any light on the question he had asked sometime previous in the during which the earnings had drop ped off Mir. Shea immediately came back with "One of the reasons is be- cause of the contracts made by the former board"
 Sixteen Mill Tax Probable.
 Mayor Brown said that at the present valuation of property the tax payers would probably be called upon to vote a 16 mill tax at the annual city meeting in June. unless this s5g.- 900 is made up before that time. MT. opinion earn se0.0 900 before that time and that this sum will be turned into the city treasury. He could see no reason why the tax payers should be called upon to make up this S50,oOA Mayor Brown said the $50. will have to be met at the next annual city meeting.
 Isn't it contemplated that this amount will be paid out of the earn ings of the gas and electric plant2 asked MT. Tanning l suppose, IT may answer offhand, said the mayor. that just as much as can be met will be met and the rest will have to be raised by taxation.
 Figures Do Not Agree.
 Former Street Commissioner John Donovan said the figures he had with regard to the earnings of the gas and electric department during the nine year period referred to by Mr: Me Williams were much lower tnan MT. McWiIliams' figures. MT. McWiiliams replied that his figures were taken from the departments books at the time he went out of office.
 Commissioner Sullivan made refer ence to the poor condition in which the plant .is at the present time He said that the machinery was too close to the walls and there was not enough room for the men. The resolution was then passed unanimously
 Expert to Make investigation.
 The next resolution was that ap- propriating not more than sl,ooo Tor the employment of an expert to inves- tigate the plant and report back to the council with recommendations.
 The resolution was introduced by Corporation Counsel Browning and follows:
 Resolved, That the mayor be and hereby is authorized to employ an ex- pert, not a resident of the town or Norwich, at an expense not to exceed s1, 100000, to fully investigate the needs and workings of the gas and electric al department of said city and the condition of its plant, who shall have access to the records and data of every kind in said department and who shall report his views and findings to the court of common council of said city, with recommendations as to the oper- ation, maintenance. and management of said plant, and any and all qIles- tions affecting it's economical efficient the expense thereof to be charged to said department and to be paid out of the appropriations authorized at this meeting.
 MT. Tanning inquired as to the me- MT. Tracy said he couldn't see that any particular good would come from the passage of the resolution.
 In Favor of Resolution.
 Ex-Congressman Edwin Higgins took the floor in favor of the resolu- ing the statement of MT. McWfiliams that it was possible that $200,000 will be necessary to place the plant where it ought to be, he thought the passage of the resolution was well worth con- sidering. He went on to say that more dust has been thrown and more misstatements have been made with reference to the gas and electric plant than at any other municipally owned department the city has ever had. MT. McWi1liams has told us of the profit thar the gas and electric department made in nine years, when as matter of fact, gentlemen, it never was there, he said.
 MT. Higgins made reference to the $400, 900 bonds which the city will have to meet in a few years.
 We want concerns and industries to come here and we ought to give them
 4<-f~ 6 power plant would. The passage of this resolution gives the people infor- nation which they ought to have in regard to the gas and electric plant.
 Poor Quality of Gas.
 Francis J. Leavens said that he at- tended the meeting for the express purpose of voting for the resolution. He referred to the poor quality of gas that the department Is supplying and of how some families have been put to the expense of installing electrfe lights because they cannot use the gas. He thought an expert ought to be employed to go over the plant.
 Commissioner Shea said he did not believe that it will be necessary to lay out $200.000 on the plant and that in his opinion the department will show a profit from now on. He claim due to sulphur in the coal used in it's production.
 City Did Not Assume Obligation.
 MT. Tanning said that the city did not assume the obligation of the $z00.- 900 bonds of the old gas and electric department and that he was not voicing his own opinion, but that the matter was thrashed out in the supreme court. He said the city would probably take care of the obligation. but that it had not assumed it's
 When the question was put the res olution in regard to the employment of an expert was unanimously passed. The meeting adjourned a few minutes after 10 o'clock.
 EANGELlSTiC CAMPAIGN