New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-03-20

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lsofnce for a sum of $3.50, trading in !
sthe old machine which is now out of
Frepair much of the time
Cooler Explains Plan
sa5 alderman Paonessa said he under,
stood the corporation counsel had
drafted proposed change in the
gehartcr which would be presented to
tho committee on cities and borougbs.
4if asked if the counsel would explain
Nc entire matter to the council.
Judge Cooper replied to his request
any said he had drafted the change at
the'fedusst or oft5 Of the local repre-
sentatives in the legislature The
main purpose of the change is that
the tax rate shall be changed upon a ,
petition of a certain number of voters
upon petition only. Thus by petition
it will be referred to a referendum
vote and will be voted upon at the
polls. If it is unsatisfactory it can be
again referred back to the council to
be revised and again voted upon. Con-
| tinuing, he said: The proposal for
| the change I first heard discussed as
| a meeting at which were present the
mayor, the president of the Taxpay-
ers association and other men con-
| nected with the matter from the be-
| ginning. They agreed that viva
| voce vote was rather unwieldy and
| that it was better when it was to be
| changed to have the matter referred
| to a body of men knowing their bust
! ness. I drafted it and later submitted
it to the attorney Of he Taxpayers as
ISOLATION, who agreed with it, There
will be a hearing upon the proposed
| change in room so of the state CAPT
| toll next Tuesday afternoon at
o'clock before tho committee on cities
| and boroughs.
Paonessa Voices Opposition.
Alderman Paonessa questioned
whether it does not really do away
with the present city meeting. He
doubted whether there would over
| again be a repetition of the affair
of the last meeting when the large
crowd entered the armory to try and
discuss city business there. He ex-
| pressed the opinion that the city is
going backward instead of progress
, ing He thought if the custom had
i been to refer 1t to q city meeting
! and now changed it to q petition it
would be taking away the direct
voice of the people. He asked on
| what authority one man had asked!
, | the corporation counsel to draft g
, | change which affected all the people
, in the city. He thought no such
| change should be presented unless
, upon petition Of the people. He re-
marked that opposition to the change
would have swell chance befort
the hearing next Tuesday and said
, he was going on record as opposed to
, | the change. He said: ut is no more
reasona bic. to have one man do il
than it is to have Mr.. Holmes SO
| up to Hartford and try to take away
the little power which the school
| board has at the present time
The mayor answered Alderman
Paonessa by saying that any citizen
has right to submit charter change
to the committee on cities and Dor
, oughs. He remarked about a city
, meeting being unwieldy and said New
) Britain is the only lar sc city in the
) state which has such a meeting The
proposed change is absolutely fair,
, according to the mayor, and the idea
! of the petition and referring to a
, I referendum vote is also beneficial. He
! said, If [ remember rightly mem
bers Of the Taxpayers association
! were in my Office when the change
was spoken of and they agreed with
it. The change does not take the
peoples power away and the people
are still the rulers
Alderman Paonessa retorted, II
| agree with you Mr.. Mayor that the
| people are the rulers. The mayor
thought he was the ruler and tried
to rule the city meeting a week ago
but the people showed him they had
| the power The mayor replied that
he adjourned that meeting and would
do the same if it should occur again
He defended his every step in the
! matter.
| There followed q general discus
| sion upon the matter following which
! upon motion from the mayor the
meeting adjourned.