New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-01-31
PainuiM Me,us
TO HOLD HEARINGS
ON BOSWELL CASE
SdGtmm Act Is Town Fics
Lack Of Fire Protection

Lack Of Fire Protection
RYDER SLATED FOR JUDGE
BiIl For Town Court Introduced To-
day-sprinklcr Bursts, Vets The
ater-Carl Peterson Head TraGk'
O6iccr-Asscmbly Calendar.
Acting in haste to prevent 4
wholesale depletion of the fire de-
partment which would leave Plain
Vile without fire protection. the
board of selectmen gathered hastily
for special meeting at 3 o'clock
yesterday afternoon and voted 70
hold two hearings to allow both
sides to explain their respective po-
sitions In the civil war which has
broken out in the fire department.
| Action on the petition asking for the
removal Of James n. Boswell as fire
commissioner was post poncd until
the testimony OF the two factions
, .vJld be heard, and letters were
sent out today to the fremen and
10 the fire comm issioners. inform
ing them OF the selectmen's plans
for hearings. 1t is thought likely
that these will be held jointly or at
least OIL the same night. but no
definite date has been set as yet.
| At ? o'clock yesterday afternoon
the sclectmen received the following
petitions:
I'VE. the undersigned members OF
Plainville Hose Co. No. !, do hereby
! petition the board OF selectmen OF
Plainville to remove James Il. Bos-
well from the board Of fire commits
sions tsic) for the good Of the de-
partment." The paper bore the
signatures Of 20 members of the fire
company. including virtually all the
firemen except the officers.
The petition substantiated no
charges and. In fact, made no spe-
cific ones. SO there was nothing upon
which the selectmen could take any
action. They therefore decided to
allow both sides to present the,.
cases at hearings. the firemen 10
make their charges and Commits
sioncr Boswell to defend hinse,.
from them.
The fire commissioners will hoti
a regular meeting this evening and
will at least take the matter up for
discussion.
Tomorrow night the fire company
will hold its monthly meeting, AMI
fireworks are expected at that time,
as a number OF members have an
nounced that they intend to turn in
their designations.
No charges of ineficiency are
being made against the pilloried
commissioner. the movement against
him appearing to be due to resent
lnent at what the firemen charac-
terize as a domineering attitude,
He wants to be the whole thing. '
one OF them asserted today and went
on to say that the commissioner at
tempted to boss the whole COM
pany and take undue credit for his
part In distinguishing fires. Along
these rather indefinite lines Of emo
tional conflict the battle seems to be
drawn. with Mr.. BoswelI's efficiency
and honesty not in question.
Should the flremen carry out their
threat to resign from the company
the town would be left without ade-
quate fire protection. as the disat-
fected members constitute nearly the
entire rank and file Of the hose
company. The department numbers
40 men. Of whom .S signed the
custer petition. The remaining IL
are nearly all officers. and the fire.
men claim that several Of these are
in sympathy with their move but
did not think it right for them to
attach their names to the paper.
The board OF selectmen 10 In q
peculiar situation in the matter. al
two OF the three members are of
ficers Of the department. Third Sc
lectman Edward P. Prior IL fire chief
and Second sefectman william
Downham IL q foreman. Only First
Selectman James Simpson ia uncon-
nected with the fire company.
Ryder Slated Fur Judge
It was learned today on good au-
thority that the name Of Merritt o.
Ryder justice OF the peace and Judge
Of probate. will be submitted to the
general assembly In connection with
the bill; to create town court here
and that Justice Ryder is slated TO
become the first judge Of the pro-
posed new court.
When Representative Robert r.
White left for Hartford this morning
he carried with him a copy Of the
town court bill as approved at a
public hearing here Monday, and he
stated that he would introduce II
into the assembly today The bill
includes the change suggested Mon
day night. making the Judge. instea d
Of the prosecutor. the clerk Of the
court. this alteration resulting IN the
changing Of only three or -four
words.
Justice Ryder has practically been
the only man considered for the