New Britain herald., 1919-01-07

aonpiled shy7sI|5fhe ffrem e11. thev work 2,6oo hours a year. One day a week is allowed off and three hours a day for meals, Mir. Connolly said that in case Of a second alarm sounding while q, fireman was at his meals. he would be expected to leave at once and join the fire fighting forces. Tn comparison with other cities, the To- cal f1remen are poorly paid, accord ing to Nr. Connolly During the war the members of the fire departme ent proved their patriotism by subscrib- ing for Liberty Bonds and other war loans besides contributing for ail war relief. Lieut.. Thomas Higgins told ot the various hanGicans frenen arc confronted with, besides the high cost Of living. Conditions. the speak CT said, are such that he must live close to his fire house if he is to get home for meals, and this sometimes entails a higher rent fee. He also had figures which showed other cities in the state paying more for f1remen's service. He believed that New Brit ain had one Of the best fire fighting forces in Connecticut. Chief Robert NJ. Dame spoke for an increase in his own salary. He pointed out that when 0 raise was made last year, tho firemen received s1S0 where his amounted to $100. Tn Waterbury, Chief Dame said, the captains are paid more money than he gets.
 Curtis Says Nothing.
 Comptroller IGnford l., Curtis, ap- peared at the meeting, but when called upon he declined to make any talk in interests of his salary boost.
 August Burckhardt, chairman of the board of assessors, said that on two or three occasions before he has appeared before salary commissions in support of an increase and in each instance it has not done any good. He spoke of the important work of as sessors and the abuse that is connect ed with the position. Since 1905 the work has been on a steady increase, but there has been no increase in sal ary, Mir. Burckhardt said. During certain months in the year, there is much overtime work in which he and Miss Pauline Richards figure. MT. Burckhardt favored an increase for the clerk of the beard also. Tn point ing out the salary paid in other cities, MT. Burckhardt showed where Bristol pays s1,S00 to it's clerk. One of the committee, asked if it was not q mans job to which the speaker said it was q mans job in this city.
 Woods Kept Busy.
 Attorney Joseph c. Woods, assist ant prosecutor in the police court, appeared before the committee In support of his request for an increase, The berth at present pays $6o0 per year. He said that the duties of the assistant prosecutor are getting to be heavier all the time. Sometimes he has to be in court once or twice a week and in the month of August he is in charge of the prosecution for the entire period. MT. Woods has asked for an advance to $1,000 a year.
 Building Inspector.
 Building Inspector Arthur Y. Ruth erford was next heard. He said that the salary now paid the building in spectOr was $2,500 and out of this he furnishes his own auto and transpor- tation He quoted the salary paid in Hartford, and ill answer to question by one of the committee concerning the methods in the Hartford office. MT. Rutherford said; 'I will not tOl- crate the office of the building inspec~ tor in New Britain being used as a political football"
 He said th Tt through his efforts and the system adopted since taking the office many thousands of dollars have been saved the city, by a.rchitec- tural work done by the assistant city engineer and the supervision of this work by the building inspector. Through his close application to du- ties, 275 fire escapes have been erect ed on local buildings since he took of flee In the past six months he has issued 80 orders for fire escapes, and his edict has been of such 6 character that only 14 prosecutions were ever necessary in court,
 Registrars oY Voters.
 William ZiegIer and Thomas T. Smith, registrars Of voters, were next heard MT. ZtegIer was the first spokesrra an. He said that in the four years he has been In office the voting list has showed an increase of 500 names. making a total registration of a.hoIt 5000 names, According to pro visions in the state statute, registrars of voters are permitted to hire clerks and deputies. In order to keep extra costs down, inc registrars have put in much extra. time, thereby saving the city a good sized sum, the speaker said. In supporting the request for an increase in salary MT. Smith said that at one time the position paid S1.150 whereas today it pays S1,25O. since the town and city governments consolidated, other work has been placed in the hands Of the registrars, including the personal tax enroll nent. Tn Hartford, this work is done