New Britain herald., 1929-02-04
PainuiM Melp,
DOUBT ELIGIBILITY
 OF TWO SElECTMEN
Boswell Case Raises Queries On
 D0Wnbam and Prior
JANUARY BUILDING SMALL

JANUARY BUILDING SMALL Poorest Month Since Enactment Ot
 Co<le-(;Ovcrnor Returns from
 Fioritla-Mrs. Mastrianni Dies
 We'll Child Confcrcacc-Bricfs. Doubts that Second Selectman William Downham and Third Select. man Edward P. Prior were qualified to act on the petition 10 oust Fire Commissioner James R. Boswell were raised today. the question aris- 1; ing from the fact that both men are officers Of the fire department Mir. Prior is chief of the local company and MT. Downham is also an official. It is the usual practice in civic or legal matters for men interested in or connected with either party to a dispute to refrain from sitting in judgment upon such questions. Al the numerous hearings on zoning changes in New Britain. for instance. members of the board of ad Just ment who have property in the neighbor- hood under discussion declare them- l selves disqualified and do not vote. Today the feeling was apparent in several quarters here that the same practice should be observed in the settling of the dispute within the fire department. Selectman Down. ham himself stated this morning that he was not certain whether or not he had any right to pass on the mat. ter and that he would be willing t6 retire if any question were raised.
 First Selectman James Simpson the only member of the board who l. not connected with the fire company said today that he intended to takt the matter up with the town attor ney. Judge E. F. Gaffney of New Britain. and obtain ruling iron Selectman Simpson will be the soI' judge of the merits of the request.
 The selectmen will meet Wednes day night, when a committee of si! firemen will appear before them t present their side of the argumen resulting from their petition to hav' MT. Roswell removed. The fire com mission will also be given hear ing before any decision is reached
 Defends Boswell
 The following communication fl defense Of Commissioner Boswell Wal received by the Herald:
 Having read the stated opinion o the instigator of the petition that | causing all the excitement regardin' the fire commissioner, James l, Boswell would you be 30 kind as t' give space in your valued paper L the opinion of another?
 "Where small fire such as chimney fire or automobile is extin guished by one or two men, it save the taxpayers of this town about $s0 such fires just recently. This is saving of &l50 and did not reflect an! inefficiency on the part Of the fir department.
 And here is what caused all tn rumpus. The instigator of this pcti ton was standing on Pierce stree when the much talked Of alarm wa telephoned in. The operator aske, Mr. Boswell what should be done as the regular alarm whistle was no thought to be in working order. Sh' was informed 10 call tho Trumbul Electric Co. and have the a'arn sounded on the whistle there. Thi was done as quickly as possible hu in the meantime Mir. Boswell hat taken the truck to the scene of th' fire and had started before the alarn sounded.
 "This left the disgruntled fireman standing in the same place. There 1 no doubt that this somewhat aroused his ire, as he missed chance to rid on the big dashing truck and as h. has only been able to reach the scen' of the fire on three occasions hefor' the truck was back at the hose hous this surely must have been heart breaker.
 However, this does not interes the taxpayers and voters but th' economical way the fire departmen is now being conducted does. and th' well-known fact that there are owe 15O young men Just waiting to tak' the places of any who resign alst does and you may be sure that wha interests the taxpayers and voters O this town will be of interest 10 thu selectmen. And there is no mar more capable for the job than J. R Boswell. 90 why argue?
 An Already Overburdened Tax
 payer and Voter.
 Poor Building Month
 January was the poorest month in the matter of building operations since the building code was enacted year and half ago. only eigh permits having been granted b! Building Inspector Axel Johnson during the month and only one o them being for a new structure. Thi was for a 5000 fivc-room dwelling