New Britain herald., 1922-03-08
Qwgley Plays Manufac- turers; C. 0. P. Alder man Attacks His Own Party, and Democrat Mayoralty Candidate Figures In Near Fist Fight

At a meeting which was fea- tured by a scathing attack on the manufacturing interests by Mayoralty Candidate George A. Quigley; an arraignment of the republican party by Alderman John F. Gill of the second ward, regarded as one of the strong arms of the G. o. P.; and an al- lercation between Mayoralty Candidate Angelo M. Paonessa and ex-Alderman Charles May, lin which other members of the board found it advisable to take a hand in order to prevent a threatened fist fight, the city meeting board last night adopted a budget providing for a 20 mill tax rate.
 Small Attendance. But
 The session was replete with fea- | lUftS lIOIl beSllllllHS lU tllu lie dt- tendance was something less than 80 per cent of the boards membership, the inclemency of the weather having kept many of the delegates at home, 1 but this did not in any way affect the fighting spirit of several of the lead CTS present.
 Salary Cuts Ordered.
 The budget adopted is the one pre- pared by the board of finance and taxation with one change, that being deficit in the fl fiscal ly year. % from % sl27,ooo to S57,700. The amendment that pre- vailed is the one drafted by Council man Howard s. Hart, carrying with it 10 per cent reduction in th1 sal officials. The city departments will now be required to adjust their salary lists to come within the appropriation made under this item,
 After the meeting had been called to order and the business presented by Col A. l.. Thompson, city clerk, au- thorizaton was given the water board to sell three acres of land in Bristol to Morton Treadway. The transfer oi $26 900 from the general fund to the consolidated school district was ap- proved.
 Hart Presents Amendment
 Alderman F. Raymond Gilpatric mayor pro tenn, next presented a reso- luton for the adoption of the 21 mill l tax budget, approved by the common i council. Councilman II. s. Hart took | the floor at once and amended for the adoption of the 20 mill budget
 Councilman Hart explained the amendment as representing the bud get prepared by the board of finance and taxation with a reduction in the amount of notes issued to meet de felt
 Hart Defends His stand. | Continuing, he said:
 We have talked the question of salary reductions for the past two months, both in the salary committed and the common council. I am not accustomed to devoting so much time to such a matter as this: in private business. a corporation would have disposed of it in half an hour, but ir city affairs it has taken two months
 Tn going over this matter, l have secured an expression of sentiment from the voters of the first ward Out of 720 replies, 667 were in favor 53 were opposed absolutely and F were of divided opinion.
 "rhe deficit item, which we have cut is, necessarily, an estimate, vel it is as close to correct as it is pos sible to come
 Champions Manufacturers.
 "Of course the city employees .wi bolt at the suggestion of cut 1T pay. This was expected; and it is perfectly proper for them to express themselves and for those whom they are able to influence to also object But, it is only by gradual reduction in wages, costs of production, etc can we hope to compete with the manufacturers of Europe. We can, not have prosperity until we do cut pay
 "City employees and officials as 2 rule cannot sense the change in con- ditions They are content to allow matters to drift along as at present because they have not found it ne ccssary to adjust their expenditures to meet reduced incomes. Talks On Legality.
 '1 do hope the members ot the City Meeting board will not be infiu- enced by this talk of illegality of oul cutting pay. We have the unques- toned right that the old city meet ing had to adjust taxes. If we didn't have that power, we might just as well go home and leave it all to, the icommon council.
 "Regarding the argument that the boards might not see it to kceI within the appropriation made fol
 (Continued on Fifth Page).