Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-26
PUTNAM

PUTNAM <
 A special meeting of the common coun- cil was held Tuesday evening and passed upon two proposals to amend the city charter through action by the state leg islature. One of the proposed changes would amend the charter relative to the police force, the other concerns elections and appointments to office.
 Section 29 of an act inco-. - ating the city would amended so as to provide fof the maintenance of a police department consisting of captain and such number of patrolmen as the common council may deem to be necessary from time to time. The members of the force are to be ap- pointed by the common council, which body also is empowered to fix the wages to be received.
 Every officer of the force when ap- pointed shall continue to hold office dur ing good behavior and until he shall be removed or expelled by the common council shall be the sole judge; provided that in no event shall hold office beyond an age limit fixed at 65 years and may be removed at any time, regardless of behavior or cause after reaching the age of 60 years. The common council shall prescribe all rules and regulations for the police department.
 The mayor shall be ex-officio chief of police. The captain of police shall have the right to take bail from persons ar rested for an offence that is bailable. Section S of the charter would be amended to provide as follows: All cleo tions and appointments to office or any position within the appointing power of the common council which includes all al md red by the charter upon the electors of l the city and on the mayor, shall be made by a. majority of ballots cast in the com mon council, the mayor having a vote only in case of tie.
 The officers to be appointed in accord ance with this section are the city clerk, the chief engineer of the fire department, two assistant, engineers; superintendent of the fire alarm and the health officer, all of whom shall receive such compen- l sation as the common council may direct The city clerk and the health officer shall each hold office for two years next succeeding their appointment and until their successors reappointed and quali- fed The chief engineer of the fire de- I partment, the assistant engineers and the superin tendent of the fire alarm, when l appointed, shall hold office, except as hereinafter provided, during good be- l havior. All of such officers may be re- moved for maheasance in office, neglect of duty, incapacity or other just cause but they shall not be removed on any charge preferred with notice and hear 1 ing. tr
 The city collector shall have full power | to collect all assessments for which he l shall be obligated under his bonds to the city.
 | The common counci' may appoint and | remove at its pleasure such appointee or i appointees as it. may deem proper with | such titles IS it may designate to super 1 wise the execution of all orders of the l common council for the constructing. en. 1 iarging and repa ir1ng of all public works and to superintend. subject to it's or ders the construction of and necessary l repair of streets, highways: sewers, etc The intent of these amendments is tc remove from politics, for the bettermeYt Of the service, the matter of appoint. 1 ments to places on the official list of the police and fire departments.
 An investigation has been completed by State Officer Howard E. Elliott of z burglary committed at the Charles F Swain place, leased by Morton Otis. al Pondret street. The losses, the investi gation shows, are confined to two arm, coats, two hats, some socks and a few
 
 Entrance to the residence was gained by breaking glass in a basement win dow. MT. Swain visited the house ant inspected it Saturday afternoon remain ing there until o'clock. Monday o this week MT. Swain made another visi to the place and at that time the discov cry was made that the place had bee, entered
 The army coats taken were those of al officer, the property of Mortimer Otis who was in the service overseas. On was trench coat.
 It would appear from an investigatio
 at the Swain place that those who mad the raid were chiefly concerned at tn time of their visit in obta ming som warm clothing. The house was not ran
 sacked. The police here are giving attentis
 to the matter of ferreting out person
 responsible for breaking into the lunc
 cart of Fred Franklin in Livery stree Entrance was gained by breaking out window. Only two articles of any vaiu were taken from the place, but the polio are concerned over the fact that the ma
 rauders apparently attempted to set tf place afire. They gathered books an
 such loose paper as they could find abo, the place, piled these on the stove an
 
 ly. before a fire which they expected 4
 blaze up develop. By good fortune u fire did not develop The affair at u lunch cart is regarded as the work boys or youths. A suggestien was heard here Tuesds
 that branch office of the state poll, department be established in this cit Putnam is in what the police Of the loc
 force and state department men consid \ strategic point. Putnam Is very clos \ within half a dozen miles, of both u
 Rhode Island and Massachusetts borde
 and this fact, it is considered. nsak \ Putnam point where crooks of mal
 kinds find an opportunity to quickly sl
 across a state border from either 5
 state or another. What is true as ! Putnam is true of other Windham cou ty towns hereabouts and residents
 them who value the splendid service tfr E the state police members render wou
 like to see branch ofice located hel
 so that an officer or officers would be il