New Britain herald., 1926-07-22
COUNCIL UPHOLDS
FIRE COMMISSION
Votes to Buy Maxim Pumper
After Spicy Discussion

After an hour of fiery debate in
which almost every member ex-
pressed his opinion, the common
council at its meeting last night de-
cided by an IS to Z vote to accept
the recommendation of the hre
board for the purchase of Maxim
75O-gallon triple combination pum-
Der Councilman Frank S. Caldwell,
who announced in yesterdays Her
aid that he would fight the recon-
mendation Of the board on the floor
of the council. received unusual sup
mort from several council members
He favored an American LaFrance
pumper. $780,
During the discussion Mayor
Gardner C. Weld left the chair Oh
the presiding officer and his place
was taken by Alderman William II.
Judd. The mayor urged the men,
bers to avoid playing politics. He
said: AT a recent meeting the
council members were Invited 10
Doerr's pond to view the pumper In
q test. Only two members took ad-
vantage of this opportunity. l hear
talk OF Standardization, but does
Standardization mean anything? Pro-
eress demands new ideas. A truck
Eve years ago is not standardizing
with anything bought today. L am
now telling of the merits of these
two trucks. Both are GOOD, no
doubt. but the Maxim is S25O
cheaper. 1t is the taxpayers money.
If you are playing politics remember
1t is with the taxpayers money you
are playing.
Immediately after the report OF
the fire commission was made, Al
derman John t. Maerz made a mo-
ton that the report be referred
back to the fire board with a request
that the commission return with a
recommendation to purchase the
American LaFrance. ......-. -.
SabIotsky Charges "Railroadmg"
Councilman Samuel Sablotsky In
a spirited talk told the members
that they were not acting according
to their own laws when they acted
on the recommendation of the board
He reminded them that in 1907
during the term of George M. Lam
ders a resolution was passed by the
board making it illegal to vote on
recommendation before the board
unless a printed copy of the resolu-
ton was In the hands of the council
members two days before the meet
ing.
There is too much railroading OF
city matters" the councilman de.
clared. 1--WE have before us matters
which involve the expenditure o.
large sums of the city's money ant
we pass them on the spur of the
moment without first having the op
portunity of investigating and study
ing the matters"
The fifth ward councilman told o
several matters which were befor
the council on other occasions ant
which were passed without enough
consideration. He amended tn
motion with the following amend
ment: THAT the recommendation
be sent back to the fire board to b.
returned to the council members II
printed form, four days before thu
next meeting"
Chairman Dehm OF the fire board
said one of the members could no
be present to one of the meeting
because of a death in the famil.
with the result that action had t
be postponed. He declared tn
member had a good reason for beint
absent. Councilman Sablotsky de
clared that II there were a della,
why not hold over proceedings unit
the next meeting and four days be
fore that meeting give the member
printed information so they cal
study the matter before they com
to the council and vote.
Councilman Thure Bengston aske'
why 1t was that the department
with eight pieces of LaFrance AM
one piece of Maxim apparatus AM
with the former giving good service
did not wish to standardize 1t
lTuChS. AIueIIlldl hdtIL, III dllSN z
to the mayors talk that It mean
nothing to have Standardization, de
clared 1t does mean something be
cause the parts can be gotten NOR
easily.
Figures showing the amount spen
for LaFrance parts were given b
Councilman Caldwell. He said tn
LaFrance company had spen
thousands of dollars in the manu-
featuring concerns of this city an
that 1t was the duty of the council
TO repay them for the money the
spent. He declared himself oppose,
to the recommendation and promises
he would vote in opposition to 1t.
Burke Charges Deceit
Declaring that the city has beer
deceived In several occasions preW
ously by the American LaFrance Co.
Edward B. Burke. mechanical en-
gineer gave the feature talk of tn
evening. He told of the methods EN-
ployed by that company previous T.
1920 and of the loss of money suf
fered by the city because of ALLEGED
misrepresentation by the company
He told OF the tests given at Doerr'