New Britain herald., 1930-02-24
WRANGLE HOLDS UP
 PAYROLLS OF CITY
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(Continued From First Page) while the dispute concerning the official status of MT. Clark contin- ued, and several hundreds of muni- cipal employees awaited the outcome of deliberations which were to de- eide whether they would receive their weekly stipend today. Included were the following: De- | partment of public works, $11, ,500; fire department, sS,971.7S; police de- partment, $3,595.74; park depart ment, $459,46; health department, s418.22; public welfare department, | $359.65.
 The telephone in the mayors | office rang continually, the inquiry almost invariably having to do with 1 the important questions of salaries and wages. At the suggestion of the mayor, all payrolls were brought to his office after being signed by the chairmen of the several boards. There they were signed by the mayor and made ready so that the comptroller might sign without de- lay and bring about payment of sal aries today, if possible.
 Day and his lawyer, Attorney Donald Gaffney, called on Attorney Camp before o'clock this morning and were in conference with him for about half an hour.
 Sheldon Asks Camps Advice Later, City Treasurer Curtis l.. | Sheldon visited MT. Camp for advice as to what stand he should take with reference to orders signed by either l Day or Clark. He was informed that Day is, in the opinion of Lawyer Camp, the legally elected comptrol- Ter, but restrained from carrying out the duties of office. He was also in formed that it is the assistant cor poration counsel's opinion that there Is no comptroller at the present tune.
 Attorney Camp expressed regret that payrolls must be held up and 1 looked for an amiCable settlement of the problem to be arrived at be- tween the mayor and the common council.
 Camps Opinion
 To guide principals in the dispute, he gave out the following opinion, addressed to City Treasurer Sheldon:
 Mir. Curtis l.. Sheldon,
 City Treasurer,
 New Britain, Conn.
 Dear Sir:-
 "Mr. William II. Day was duly elected comptroller in my opinion by regular meeting of the common council on February 12th, 1880, and he thereafter took oath Of office Subsequently he was restrained from acting as such comptroller by Mayor Angelo M. Paonessa, as an indiyld- ual by injunction proceedings.
 During the period between the time that he qualified and the time that he was restrained from acting by such injunction proceedings, he was in my opinion duly authorized to act for the city of New Britain a. comptroller and any orders signeI by him during that period are valil orders and should be honored by the city treasurer.
 "In my opinion Mr. Day is stil the legally elected comptroller. bu is restrained from acting because ,1 the injunction proceedings.
 Your very truly, MORTIMER H. CAMP, Assistant Corporation Counsel. Clark PerpleNed Mr. Clark professed to be in f quandary, hesitating to affix his sig , nature to any order on the treas urer until the injunction order haC been interpreted by the court, ad 5 vising him whether he would bs held in contempt for refusing to ac
 in the event that he did not sign. All of the officials involved Wer, , in agreement that, under no Circum , stances, was Day authorized to ac s as comptroller The moot question was whether the court by enjoninl
 Clark not to turn over to Day an! : of the books records Tor anything : pertaining to the office" had in |, structed him to proceed as before.
 The mayor took the stand that tn s common council had approved tn |. appointment of Clark, to be effectiv
 until such time as a successor wa
 installed in office, and that this ac
 ton has not been completed becaus
 a prma facie case of illegality ha . been set up and Day has been in Cstructed not to attempt control o the department.
 Opponents of the mayor hat
 argued that Clark's connection wit
 the city government ceased Whe1
 Day was elected, and that, if he l to again assume control, it will b
 necessary for the mayor to appoln I him, with the consent of the com = mon council.
 Paonessa and Camp Confer
 The mayor and MT. Camp held 0 long conference Saturday noon afte S the former had read in the news t papers the declaration by the as l. sistant corporation counsel tha there is no one now in the office 0
 comptroller.
 q At that time, according to tn ;t mayor, MT. Camp suggested that