New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1921-02-03
FINANCE BOARD IS
Still in SESSION
Final Hearings Will Be Held
Tonight at City Hall

The board OF finance and taxation
heard tho petitions OF representatives
OF tho police board, fire commission
and board of public works last even.
Ing and will conclude their SESSION.
thil evening. Chairman T. r. King
Secretary Joseph McGrail and Com
missioner =. NJ. Davidson presented
tho police board budget. Chairman
King explained the benefits of a larg
or appropriation for supernumerary
police. Last year $1,000 was given
while S14.6S0 is asked for next year,
his including permanent work by
supernumeraries on the beats of two
regular policemen who would be as
signed to newly created traffic posi-
lions. One thousand dollars is asked
for subway work. including extern
sions and maintenance. the principal
extensions being on Park street. A
similar amount is asked for emery
encies and for repairs at the police
station. $500 is wanted.
Curtis Interested.
Mayor o. +. Curtis questioned the
board as 10 the number of policemen,
and Was informed that there are 81.
about one to every 1000 residents,
which is less than the larger cities
employ. There are - supernumer
aries. although tho charter makes
provision for 100. The increase dur
ing the past 10 years on the regular
force has been % per cent, although
the population has not increased pro.
portionately, the mayor said.
The fire department budget calls
for se.7o0 for automobile equipment
IL being the wish OF the commission
TO change solid tires to pneumatics
on one OF the trucks. Chairman r. w.
Macomber explained. The salary list
is SIl4252 as presented on the print
cd budgets but the chairman ex-
planned that an error had been made
in figuring and the pay of one lieu
tenant has been placed in the report
twice. AS a result, the figure is $2,-
09S.75 more than is wanted. For
building repairs. s1.15o is wanted.
Two-PIatoon System.
The matter of adopting a two-pla-
toon system was discussed. The
chairman told the committee that he
had collected much information from
cities where the system was put into
effect but on a question of the mayor.
said he had not written to Boston.
The mayor explained that the move
ment was downed twice in that city.
The first costs OF installing the
system would be 4IZ,GeO lhCiuOlhE
the promotions of eight ieutenants
10 captains and disposing of the call
men who would he supplanted by ~
new per-nan ent detail men.
City Engineer Joseph d. Williams
and Chairman Z. y. Humphrey OF
tho board OF public works explained
the estimates of that department.
New work TO the amount of $52.S5o
will be undertaken IL possible, the
chairman explained, this not includ-
ing the paving of Park street. Mayor
Curtis estimated that half a million
dollars worth OF public works could
be undertaken advantageously at this
time If the money was available An
item OF $3.50 for a draughtsman and
$3.50 for extra engineering work for 4
year in connection with the keeping
OF city maps is included. But six
sheets remain TO be turned in the
finance board was told.
Inc4dentals Reduced.
II. tho incidental account, S16,26o
is wanted as against s34.5oo for this
year. Sundry accounts are reduced
from $500 TO $1,000.
Al tonight's session Of the board,
hearings will he given the Institute.
City Hall commission, park commits
sion. public amusements commission
and the America nization committee.
An item OF $4,000 is asked in the last