New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-01-16
COUNCIL REDUCTION
WORRYING MEMBERS
Opposition to Change in Repre-
Sentation Voiced al Meeting


SentatiOn Voiced al Meeting |
Tho January meeting of the COM
mon council was held last nlsht III l''0
council chamber in City hall anu Was
attended by "a councilmen. Inc 'lo'e
important matter brought before Tue
meeting was the proposed Feh ucti''.
OF the common council to poa'o u
1S aldermen. AS expected. this met
with decided opposition. Inc lnen
who smoke AGAINST ii were careful 10
mention the fact that it mattereu hoC
~ +be,, but they were thinking Of
the people they represented " men
he question came up tor discussion
there were more men to SPEAK on IL
than there have been on any other
question in the council in some time.
The men thought that reducing the
council would take the power away
from the people and give it to n mi
nority representative body. Those
who favored the reduction of the
council thought it a matter Of eff
cheney. They argued that a body Of
IS men would do more work and do
it more carefully than a larger body.
The so-called "deadwood" would be
eliminated and the men in the city
with real legislative ability would
strive for a place in the council
Memorial to Roosevelt.
There were various other matters Of
interest brought before the council,
among them petition for the extern
sion of the East Main street trolley
Inc to the railroad tracks. Several
petitions were received for additional
lights. Councilman Gillin introduced
three big resolutions, one taking ac-
ton on the death of Theodore Roose-
welt, one to prepare a banner, "Wcl-
come Home for the returning boys to
see when they reach the city, and one
that the light company be contracted
with to make the lighting of the mon
ument on Central Park a permanent
thing.
Petitions Received.
The petition for two lights on City
avenue was referred to the board of
public works The petition for cross
walks on City, Judd, Connecticut and
Sunrise avenues and Smalley, East
and Howard streets was referred to
the board of public works. The petit
ton for sidewalk on Winter street,
north and west sides, west of Elm
street was also referred to the same
board. The petition for the extension
of the East Main street trolley line to
the railroad tracks was referred to the
railroad committee of the council.
The petition of r. K. Jester for the
abatenl emit Of the interest and liens on
back taxes was referred to the mayor
and aldermen The petition Of Felix
Oldziek for compensation for falling
on an icy sidewalk was referred to the
claims committee. That of Aaron
Daniel ct al. for cinder walks on Aus
tin and Chapman streets was approved
by the board Of public works, as was
the petition of Joseph A Barrett fo1
light at the corner Of West Main and
Bradley streets.
Opposition to Billboard.
Alderman Paonessa presented a Pc
| tition requesting the cemetery asso.
citation to remove the billboard sign
| erected on Stanley street. The trou-
| BILE has already become we'll known
| to the public since there was much
! opposition to officials overstepping
| their powers. The petition was re-
|
a request to report back to the next
| meeting of the council.
| Charity Board Inquiry.
| The report of the finance committee
was next discussed There was some
| discussion concerning an item in the
report of the charity departm ent.
| There was q bill for $3.50 in favor Of
the Curran Dry Goods company. In
quiry was made as to how the bill was
in favor of that store. inasmuch as
the proprietor is on the charity board.
Alderman Curtis objected to the pay
ment of the bill until it is fully ex-
! planned by the charity board. His OBJ
| lection was sustained by the council
and the report was accepted with the
exception Of the above mentioned bill,
which was referred back to the char
| 1ty board for explanation.
Park Board Scored
A bill of $3.50 from Mr. Vain
wright for private work was also dis
| cussed. There was considerable dis
! cussion as to how a man working for
a department of the city and receiv-
ing an annual salary can do work fol-
himself and receive separate remuner-
alton for it. Alderman Paonessa
asked how he could do it, and Mayor
Quigley replied that it was by agree.
ment With the park commissioners
Alderman O. f. Curtis then arose ant
told rhc council that he had beer
openly accused by members Of hold
| ing up the payment Of the bill
Il don't know where they got thu
| informa ton" Mr.. Curtis said, "unles
from some of the sneaks who are al
ways around ready to tell things
He further went on denouncing tn
methods of the work done. II
| thought it improper for the park com
on cr-S a nd a fav,- IN an n al