Putnam patriot., 1921-04-08
Too Much Opposition Has Sprung Up To Measure Being Adopted With
 out Referendum
ALDERMAN SAYS DRUNKENNESS AND RoWDYIsM ARE
 ON THE INCREASE
Health Officers Salary Rased-New Ordinance Adopted-
 ts yse Scoutmaster AppeArs

 sion, Tuesday evening, voted unani- mously to rescind it's former action regarding the changing of the city charter making permanent the officers of the police and fire department. Mayor Marcy was requested to take } the steps necessary to withdraw the bill now before the general assembly. Alderman Johnson said that he trust ed that he would not be misunder- ] stood in the matter, and admitted that he was one of the prime movers in trying to get an amendment to the charter affecting the police and fire department officials. stating that the records would show that the council voted unanimously for the proposed changes.
 Alderman Johnson said that present conditions make it necessary to as q sume different position. He said that there was feeling that the council acted with favoritism, but that this was not so. He did think that if anything could be done to heal the apparent breach between the north end of the city and the south end it should be done. While he said he still felt that the amendments would work for the betterment of conditions he thought the matter should be looked at in a broad light. He had been in- formed that the bill would have no support from local members of the Legislature He did not think it would be showing the "white feather or s.laying down" to take this different position, but thought it matter of, policy not to press the measure at this time. He then moved that the coun- cii, through the mayor, ask for the ! withdrawal of the bills, which, he un- !, derstood. were in the hands of com mittee. Mayor Marcy said that as far as he was concerned he would defer to the wishes of the council and turn the matter over to the corporation counsel to see that it is taken care Of. lie thought that there was a good deal that could be said but that it was bet ter not to go into it too deeply. He thought there was as much need to- day as there was when the vote was passed, but he appreciated Mir. John sons position.
 I Alderman Padgett also spoke of the opposition that had developed since the council voted the proposed change to the charter, and said he deplored the feeling that exists in different sec tions of the city.
 | Intoxication Growing
 Alderman Johnson alluded to the report of the captain of police which showed but three arrests for intoxica- tion. He said he wondered if the po- lice had locked up all that should be locked up. He thought that there was more intoxication and rowdyism in the city than ever and gave specific in- stance of street brawl one Sunday morning with no arrest made. He said that he didn't know what the council could do, but hoped that the body could do something to furnish back bone to the police department. He said that such things were bringing reproach on the city. He did not feel that six arrests in a month was fair record of what should be.
 Captain Bulger spoke, and intimat- ed that in his opinion the police were not adequately supported when ar rests are made. He touched on the case of a man being given back seven barrels of cider and of the recent suit instituted against one of his officers by a man who was discharged after being arrested on charge of intoM- cation.
 l Aldermen Padgett cited the incl dent that led to the suit against the officer. and asked if it was necessary for the council to take any action to protect the officers interests.
 | Increase In Salary
 {, City Clerk Thomas Ryan stated that Health Officer Peter Gardner had told him that he would not continue Tn of- fee unless his salary was raised hundred dollars year.
 Il Alderman Johnson spoke Of the good work Mr. Gardner has been do- ling. He said he was faithful and painstaking official and that the city needed such men and that they should be kept in office. On his motion the salary of the health officer was in- lcreased from three to four hundred dollars a year and he was also voted a bonus of $25 for extraordinary ser l vices during the recent epidemic.
 Mayor Marcy and others also spoke , of the fine record made by Mir. Gard !. lner.
 |. Police Report
 { The report of the captain of police , for the month of March showed but six arrests, three being for intoxica- tions Thirty tramps were lodged dur ling the month.