New Britain herald., 1917-12-20
Ancient Feud Resumed, This Time
Concerning Charity Department
ALDERMAN MISSES $4,000
He Doesn't Suspect Dishonesty But
Wants to Know Where 1t Went
Mayor Advised Chairman Riley
Not to Attend Council Meeting.

| No longer does the Municipal
Farm committee hold the center of
the municipal stage. No longer are
the harpoons of the city fathers
aimed in its direction, for it is now
the charity department that is un-
der a fire of criticism which will ap-
parently outclass that recently borne
by the potato committee. An inter-
esting example in contrasts was
| furnished at last nights session OF
! the common council when, during
| the early part Of the evening" the
meeting proceeded with that smooth,
hum-drum routine not unlike that of
washington Irving's schoolroom In
| the classical Ichab0d Crane. Then
mention was made of the charity de-
! partment. The Transformation was
a study in diametrical opposites and
from that moment until the time of
! adjournment the assemb1age became
as the front line trenches of France.
with their hand grenades, machine
gun rattle and heavy artillery bonn
bardments, compared to the more
peaceful surroundings of an old
fashioned New England Thursday
evening prayer meeting.
AS a result Alderman Orson F. Cur
tbs of the third ward locked horns
several times with Mayor George A.
Quigley and the charity department
was, fguratively speaking, made the
object of viscious attacks and coun-
ter attacks. Before relating q more
detailed account of the evenings
many and exciting activities it might
be briefly stated that Alderman Cur
tbs refused to accept a report Of the
charity department relative to ex-
penses incurred in the construction
Of new dairy barn and intimated
that the department had failed to
account for between $4,000 and
$4,000 that has been expended. To
cap the climax and bring the mayor
down from his seat on the rostrum
the Third warder made the positive
statement that he was prepared to
prove that the dairy barn has IN
reality cost something in excess or
S17.3OO and that in it's construction
several thousands of dollars has been
wasted. The matter has been left to
a committee of five to investigate
and report back at the next meeting
Iof the council. Although the mayor
+, openly declared his intention of
| placing Alderman Curtis on this
committee of investigation. the lat
ter jumped up and declared he would
! not serve unless he could be chair
man and was given committee that
would "hnd out things
| Deua1tment Admits Fault.
| Returning to q more orderly chro-
nological resume Of the fracas enact
/ ed within the council chambers Last
evening it should be explained that at
the last meeting of the council Alder
i man Curtis questioned the cost OF the
town farm dairy barn and asked that
the charity department, at the 'Decem-
Der meeting, present detailed ac-
count of all expenditures. This was
presented last evening as follows:
YEAR OF 1916.
Total appropriation, includ-
ing $4,000 for dairy barn $58.00O.0O
| Total amount collected on
| account ...-.. 7,sS7.S7
Departmental ex-
penses .$43, ,253.19
B arm expendi-
L lures 1'ooo'oA
Paid city treas
urv . 9,050.Oo
Bala nee re-
turned. .$65, ,987.87
i $65,987.S7