Norwich bulletin., 1918-10-08
TWO VETERAN POLICEMEN RETIRED

corporation counsel to instruct the tax collector not to collect or attempt to collect any of the assessments for street sprinkling and oiling for the year 1917. The claim is made in the petition that the general assessment was illegal because it was made on March 4. 1918. and not on dr before the date expressed in the statute, Dec. 15th
 It will be noticed that the assess ments were in fact determined sey- eral months before the city's tax rate bill was made. on which the assess ments were to be placed for eeiiec- tien as directed by law, and it is lm- possible to point out any particular in which the owners of the property assessed or the taxpayers generally have been injured by the technical ir- regularity complained of. Tila date mentioned in the statute, so far as the question before us is concerned, is designated for the purpose ef pro- noting dispatch and system in ar ranging this matter of public business and does not affect the essence of the thing to be done. Consequently this provision is to be regarded as being directory only and not mandatory, and the action of the council, which is complained of, is therefore nat ille- gal.
 The council is further advised that the statutory right of Her. to secure payment of the assessments, is not disturbed by the councils failure to act within the period ending Decem- l Der 18th. Were the assessments for l any year determined after April first | ih the year following, possibly l req | senable question might be raised in 1 regard to the continuance of the lien; but such question has no logic be- 1 hind it in the case under present
 consideration.
 1 The legal authorities in support of i the view herein set forth, including
 familiar decisions by the supreme
 court of errors of this state, are too 1 abundant and convincing to leave the
 matter complained of in any doubt, I advise that the claim of the pc titioners with reference to the assess ments for 1917 is not justified and l that their request for instructions to 1 the collector should be refused. Respectfully suzmitted.
 JOSEPH T. TANNING, l Corporation Counsel Attorney Thomas J. Kelly presente6 e
 a petition from Rosie SieSal for com pensation for damage by surface wa ter to her property at 90 Mechanic street on September IS, 1918 and be- fore then. She asked to have a catcf on Mechanic street repaired. Re ferred to finance committee.
 The Shore Line Electric Railway company petitioned for right to insta a 300 gallon gasoline tank OH Nortl l Main street at the Greeneville cal
 barn. The pump is to be inside tht
 building and the ank is not for com,
 mercial purposes. The public works committee reported favofably and thu
 council voted permission.
 Alderman M. c. Higgins for tht rub1ic works committee reported ia
 yora bly upon the petition of the West
 ern Union Telegraph Go. to attaci
 single wires on certain poles on She tueket, Bath and Chestnut streets arC
 the permission was voted by the coun
 cil.
 He also reported unfavorably Hpol the petition of William J. McTnnis t
 install gasoline pump at 72 Uniol street on the grounds of the residen
 tial character of the locality and tn
 emphatic protests of residents of tn street. The report was accepted. , Councilman Frank G. Aubrey pre- scented the petition from J. ]. Shusru for removal of a tree on River ave : nue. Referred to tree warden wit : power.
 The Norwich lodge of Moose sen , an invitation to the common eot1nc to attend the Moose herdirg" in Nov
 ember which was accepted
 Street Commi ssioner James E. Flo reported SS,049S4 expended during tn :: month The largest items were ma cadam repairs $1,2H422, surface re 7 pairs s523.59, cleaning streets an a' (continued on Page 7, Column 3)