New Britain herald., 1917-11-22

it's, who said that there is great
possibility that the city will have to
levy a special tax before next April
as many departments are running
behind. He called attention to an
item Of $331.01 for a bill not paid
by the municipal farm committee, an
other item of $236.15 unpaid by the
gardens committee and also the bills
of the charity department. He ex-
planned that he thought that in the
charity department the accounting
was not sufficiently strict and as an
example declared that the dairy
barn thus far has cost almost $4,000,
or two and one-half times it's esti-
mated cost. The finance report was
accepted without these three items
Alderman Curtis Immediately moved
that the gardens committee be given
money to pay their bill from the
emergency fund and that the farm
committee be given $4,000 with which
to pay for it's seventh car Of potatoes
and also other bills. He also put
through a resolution calling upon the
charity department to prepare a re-
port explaining in detail all items in
their records in reference to the dairy
barn, etc. Alderman Curtis also put
good done by the home gardens move
ment and containing the councils
thanks to those who loaned the use of
their land all summer.
Fail to Lower Price.
Then it was that the subject of po-
tatoes again became paramount. AL
derman Curtis and Alderman May in
troduced a resolution requesting the
municipal farm committee to sell its
potatoes at $3.50 per bushel to fam
lilies that can give evidence of not
having more than one bushel on hand,
but no family to receive more than
one bushel per week. His resolution
furthermore requested the committee
to arrange with storekeepers to han
die the farm potatoes to sell at 40
cents a peck or $3.50 per bushel and
to give them to said storekeepers at
$1.45 per bushel In 10 bushel lots. In
explanation Alderman Curtis said he
did not think $3.50 a fair price and in
justice to the people who needed help
he thought the city Should give them
their potatoes at cost. "If we go into
this thing to do something good, let's
do it, he argued.
He was supported by Alderman May
who said: 1--WE all know the municipal
farm il a failure. We lost money, but
favor the alderman from the thirds
resolution" He then declared that
potatoes could be purchased in New
York state for 40 ano As cents q
bushel. He also expressed fear that
II the committees figures were re-
tanned the city would not be able to
seN them all and would have a sur
plus on hand at the end of the sea-
son.
Mayor Quigley rallied to the de-
Tense of his committee and declared
that the municipal farm project was
not a failure. LAS profit making
scheme it did not reach the maximum
expectation and If we pay police Dill
of $799.35 the potatoes will cost about
$3.50. If we had charged in the value
Of volunteer labor they would cost
IS, but the underlying idea was pro-
duction and not profit. If this resolu-
ton goes through and the committee
returns a shortage the responsibility
will rest on the council and not on
the committee" he said.
Then followed a general discussion
in which Councilmen Leroux, Rich
ards and Muller advised letting the
committee handle the situation as II
sees fit, Councilman Spencer amended
the resolution asking that the pota-
toes be sold at $1.65 per bushel ana
the committee to devise the metnoo
of distribution. On motion OF Couh-
Gilman Wall however, the previous
resolutions were given leave to WITH
draw and further debate ended with
no action having been taken.
The railroad committee preseIteu d
nlan for a trolley waiting station IN
Central park to cost about S5'oVo ana
explained that the trolley company
had offered to pay an annual rental or
one-tenth of half cost. The plan VISA
raferred Jointly to the railroad COM
noittee and the board OF public WORKS.
Councilman Landers asked the wa
ter board to prepare report showing
what has been done IN reference to FOL
lowing out the recommendations OF
Tho Are insurance underw riters toward
making less fire risks here.
Other Routine Business.
Other routine business of the coun-
Gil follows:
Mike Rapponotti petitioned for
$3.50 dagames for loss of horse
While in the employ of the street de-
nartment in October, the animal re-
ceiving injuries resulting in death,
" lille taking material from eaten
basins to Lawlor street dump; re-
ferred to the claims committee. Mrs.
E. D. Bennett, ct al, asked for the
abatement of the nuisance OF the
public dump on the north side or
Pleasant street. referred to board or
public works and health department.;
Isadore Rose, through A. A Green
berg, asked for 5000 for the loss of
horse valued at $175, which was
injured on the corner of Lasalle and
Sexton streets, August 80, by an al
legged defective highway. and died
later. referred to the claims COM