New Britain Herald Newspaper, March 2, 1915, Page 5

ELMER E. AUSTIN I8 SHORT OVER $1,000: REPORT COMMITTEE (Continued From First Page.) have not been furnished, are as fol- lows: Date. Oct. Qct. Dec. Apr. Amount $ 50.00 300.00 389.81 For Whom Drawn 20, 1913, . G. Robbins, 21, 1913 R. O. Clark 6, 1913 A. 1. Shipman 16, 1914, York Hill Quarry Co. June 12, 1914, Suffield-Berlin Trap Rock Co. 47.74 Ovder Ne. 17, E. G. Robbins, $50.00. “Your committee finds, upon inves- tigation that this order was drawn to pay for premium for insurance of stone crusher plant, the amount of the policy being $2,000.00, from July 1st, 1913 to July 1st, 1914. There is an- other bill against the town_ which has not been paid, for a like amount for insurance on this plant from July 1st, 1914 to July 1st. 1915. We would recommend, for your consideration, the advisability of the continuance of this expense. Order No. 44, R. O. Clark, $300.00 “Your committee finds that this a payment on account and not a set- tlement in full. We understand that the voting booths in district No. 3 are set up in the basement of Mr. Clark's hall for the entjre year and prevent its being used for any other purpose. Mr. Clark, therefore, expects rent accord- ingly. Order 85.28 Nu. 203, Suffield-Berlin Trap Rouck Co., $47.47. “Your committee finds that, in this Instance, the order was drawn for the amount of the bill, $27.35, plus freight, $20.12, total, $47.47. The Iitem of freight should not have been includ- ed in the selectmen's order for tho Trap Rock company, but should have been sent to the railroad company di- rect. We understand the matter has been satisfactorily adjusted. Order No. 214, York Hill Quarry Co., $85.28. “Crushed stone for depot road. No information has been furnished the committee regarding this item. Order $108—A. L. Shipman—$389.81, “Your committee finds, upon inves- tigation, that this unknown baby was found near thé tracks, was placed in the Hartford hospital on July 14th, 1911 and signed for by the town's first selectman. RBills for the board of the child were sent quarterly to the town of Berlin but no response was made to requests for payment of board. The Hartford hospital finally put the case in the hands of their at- torneys, Gross, Hyde & Shipman, of Hartford, and furnished bills for board as follows: 16 1-7 weeks @ 3 8-7 weeks @ 2-7 weeks @ 1-7 weeks @ 4-7 weeks @ $ 6.00 10.00 6.00 10.00 ...$ 96.86 .. 34.29 20 121.71 5 51.43 il 46 4-7 weeks $313.72 “The case was assigned for trial in September, 1912, but was postponed. At the time for the second trial, the town's attorney, Mr. Delaney, of New Britian telephoned to Mr. Shipman the morning of the trial that he would not contest the case but would pay the bill if they would file a bill of particuiars. Cost Nearly $400. 9 o the original bill of $313.72, was added interest at 6 per cent, also; sheriff, clerk and court fees amount- ing to $76.09. Mr. Delaney wrote Hyde, Cross & Shipman on November 12th, 1913, to forward statement of amount of judgment and that a check would be forwarded to him. On December 6th, 1913, town order was drawn for this amobunt, $389.81, “Your attention is called to cost imposed upon the town by allowing this bill to run and suit brought against the town. “No Dill has been presented by Mr. Delaney for his services in this mat- ter. “We would report that we find flve of the selectmen’s orders signed by only one member of the board, name- ly: First selectman. “We would report that we find checks drawn by the town treasurer days, and in some cases, months be- fore the sclectmen’s orders were drawn. fwelve Checks for Eleven Orders, We would report that the annual tewn report, 1914, shows eleven se- lectmen’s orders drawn for first se- lectman’s salary, whereas town treas- urer’s check book shows twelve checks drawn for this account. “We would report that we find the help on the highways are paid in cash weekly from time book kept at alms house. Selectmen’s orders are not drawn until the month following. We would rTecomend for your ‘con- gideration, that in the future all bills {ncluding help on the highways be paid by the issuing of a town order ARE THESE YOUR SYMPTOMS? 1 Do you find your breath bad in the morning, a bad taste in the mouth, & coated tongue, & mean feeling in the head? Constipation, which these symptoms denote, is dangerous because it means that poisonous materials which should have been expelled from the body are being retain: It is a condition which, if not corrected, becomes chronic. The remedy is to stimulate the liver by the use of Pinklets, the gentle laxative pills that do notgripe or purge but simply assist nature. Taken regularly for a lime, they really do correct constipation. v . Write the Dr. Williams Medicine Co., + 3chenectady, N. Y., for a free sample or fai a full-size, 25-cent bottle of Pinlklets rom properly signed and delivered to the party presenting his claim, to be cashed by the town treasurer, as pro- vided by statute. Discrepancy of $1.61. “We would report that we find the total amount of seclectmen’s orders to be $68,508.80 instead of $68,513.41-— as reported on page 24 of the town report—a difference of $4.61. Summary—Selectmen’s Orders. “Your attention is called to the sum- mary of selectmen’s orders, as printed cn pages 3 to 6 of committee’s report. “Alms house barn man, $15.00 per month; net cost, $172.50 for year re- ported. “Your committee would recommend, for your consideration, that this ex- | penditure be stopped and that the work be done by the alms house su- perintendent or teamsters. “Highways—Ilabor and men and teams C'cst of highways Alms house barn man . One-half salary alms hause Supt. material; 24 Total cost for highways ....$8,791.74 “We would respectfuly call ur at- tention to the fact that in this item ig included the labor and crusher. We regret no separate count has been kept of the cost of operating this crusher or of the amount of stone crushed. We find items of supplies for crusher, $247.81 and for quarry stone purchased $98.85, but no complete data to kno whether the purchase of this plant has been profitable. Any private party operating such a crusher would have tals information and we regret the town officials diQ not keep an account of cost of operat- ing and production. ac- Teams. “Town of Berlin owns and supports three double teams at a cost of $1,848.72, plus barn-man, which equals $1,521.22, plus drivers. “Inquiry was made from towns in the state to ascertain if they owned teams and your attention is called to the comparative report on pages twenty-four and twenty-five of committee’'s report. Of the nine towns referred to in this report, only one reports as owning teams, name; Portland, who owns one pair of oxen; one driving horse, and one horse at ‘nose house. Only 58 Miles in Berlin, “In connection with the labor and material for highways, also cost of maintenance of teams, arises the ques- tion of miles of road in the town of Berlin. It has been generally under- stood that there were about 150 miles of road in the town, but your atten- tion is called to comparative report referred to, which shows total mile- age to be fifty-eight miles. roads, ten miles.) These figures were furnished the committee by the state highway department, “We also find, in making some com- parative costs of maintenance per mile of road, with other towns of like slze and population, that our cost is somewhat higher—Berlin, $180.00 per mile.. “In view of the {facts referred to above, we would recommend, for your consideration, the-advisabllity of disposing of two pairs of horses now owned and kept by the town. Paving at R, R. Bridge—$600.00. “Your committee would call atten- tion to the fact that nothing has been received from the trolley company for their share of this expense. We believe that the trolley people ghould stand at least one-half of this ox- pense. cost Coal. “We would call attention to the item of two tons of coal furnished the almshouse. This practice of furnish- ing coal for the almshouse came about, we understand, when the se- lectmen held meetings there. We would recommend, for your consid- eration, that this expenditure be stopped. Cut Out Telephones. ‘““The town furnished, during the year in question, six telephones—not including three furnished the schools —at a cost of $171.30, minus rebate of $8.15, muking net cost §$163.15, “Inquiries regarding telephones were addressed to the same towns as were inquiries regarding teams, and vour attention is called to the com- parative report of committee report: “Town of Thomaston pays for tele- phone for one constable, “Town of Bethel pays for telephone for first scloctman and town clerk’s office. “Town of Suffield pays for phone for town clerk's office town farm. / “Town of New Canaan telephone for town hall farm. “Town of Portland pays for tele- phone for selectman and judge of probate jointly, town clerk’s office and town farm. “Town of Cromwell pays telephone for first selectman. “Town of Plainville pays for tcle- phone for town clerk’s office. “Town of Rocky Hill and town ol Newington furnish no telephones for town officials. “We would consideration, tinue paying for tele- and for town pays and part of recommend, for your that the town discon- telephones for the second selectman’s fhouse and town clerk’s house. ‘We understand no telephone has been furnished by the town for the present third selectman. Town Treasurer’s Report, “Your committee checked over, with the town treasurer, receipts and | disbursements for the period re- ported by the treasurer in his report. We find that items for taxes collected should not be included which were printed through an error. “Attention is called to the trea- surer's report, 1914, You will note that the total receipts are $66,151.80 and the total disbursements, $64,- 306.62, leaving balance of $1,84(.18, Cash on hand in annual town report treasurer, $1,805.49. Difference, $39.69. ° Town Court Has Deficit. with the treasur- will note on pages “In connection er's report, vou your own druggist. 20 to 16 inclusive, of committee's stone | $172,60, | of | several | (Stato | | tour report, itemized list of the judge’s orders, total $1,386.52. We would call your attention to the fact that we found the town treasurer pald & judge's order for $7.14 which was not entered on court book. “Your attention is called to the re- ceipts from the town court, also to summary of judge's orders. Total re- celpts, $663.62; total disbursements, $1,386.562; deficit, $831.90. Expert Accountant Engaged. “Your committee, in acocrdance with the resolution authorizing same, engaged Frank W. Taylor, of Walter | W. Baton & Co., certified public ac- countants, Springfield, Mass., to T | commend a modern system of counting for the town. His report is | attached and made a part of this re- port. Assets and Liabilities, “Your attention {s called to the as- | sets and liabilities printed on ! page 19 of the committee’s report | ““While this report is complete far as our knowledge goes, we are not gure but what there may be other items Wwhich might be included under these head- ings. as as Tax Collector Short. committee would call | tention to table, given on page of committee’'s report, showing the taxes levied for years 1908, 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913; also, show total collections for each yedr, amount pald to town treasurer and balance due from tax You will note, frem this table, there is a balance of $1,295.93 with an item of $100.82 which overpald by the tax collector on 1909 year, making net bLalance | from the tax collector, §1,195.11. | “Following is a table showing | uncollected taxes, as shown on | collector's hooks for vears 1908, | 1909, 1910, 1911, 1912 and 1913, to- taling $15,475.83. In the committee's report will be found a list of the uncollected property tax as shown on tax collector's hooks for vears 1908, | 1909, 1910, 1911 and 1912. No , tempt hag been made to publish a | ist of the uncollectod personal taxes for the e period. “Regarding uncollecteq taxes for vears previous to list of 1908, in the annual town report, 1914, would say that your committee understands that the auditors, together with an ac- | countant. have examined the tax collector’'s books and have filed a record in the town clerk’s office. We would recomniend that this report he given the town at this meeting. at- 20 *Xour ing with that due, the due the s School Treasurer's Report Correct. “Your committec met several times with the treasur of the school com-~ mittee and checked over with him the bills and checks drawn by the trea- surer for same. Also compared checks drawn hy treasurer with stubs in check beok and would report that we find the total amounts given in summary on page 44 of the annual town report, to be correct. “Your committee’s attention was called to the forfeiture of one per cent, equalling §17.79, from state for common school grant, due to the fact that the report of the conditions the schools in the town of Berlin for the years 1912 and 1913 was not filed with the state board of education he- fore October 1914, This report was flled with the state board of edu- cation on October 1914. of rographical Frrors. “We would call typographical errors lows: (Eleven were enumerated.) “In the report pages (wenty- and twenty-five will be found a comparative table showing the area, population, grand list, tax rate, miles of state road, miles of dirt road, total miles of road, approximatg cost per mile, number of teams kept, number of telephones furnished and salaries of town officials in town of Berlin and nine other towns, five of which are about our arca and population and the others are towns in our vicinity."” To Consider Report Later, Colonel Jarvis thought that it was a voluminous report. As it was too lengthy and of too great importance to be considered upon short notice, he moved that it be accepted and placed on file and that when the meeting adjourned, it be adjourned to the first Monday in May, at which time the matter should be taken care of. He thought it would be an injustice to the officers and the committee to be too hasty in passing judgment on the report, He amended his motion (o the effect that the adjourned meet- ing be called on the first Monday in April and it was passed. Spooner After Collector. The committee evinced a willing- ness to answer all questions and it was decided to allow some time for this. H. H, Spooner was the first to ask enlightenment. e asked if there the fol- to attention s founds, on CASCARETS CURE HEADACHE, COLDS, CONSTIPATION Tonight! Clean Your Bowecls Stop Headache, Colds, Sour Stomach, and Get a 10-cent box. Take a Cascaret tonight to cleanse your Liver, Stomach and Bowels, and you will surely feel great by morn- ing. You men and women who have headache, coated tongue, a bad cold, are bilious, nervous, upset, bothered with a sick, gassy, disordered stomach, or have backache and feel all worn out. Are you keeplug your bowels clean with Carcarets—or merely forc- ing a passageway every few da; with | salts, cathartic pills or castor oil? Cascarets immediately cleanse and regulate the stomach, remove the sour, undigested and fermenting food and foul gases; take the excess bile from the liver and carry off the con- stipated waste matter and poison from the bowels. Remember, a Cascaret tonight wil straighten vou out by morning. A 10-cent box from your druggist means healthy bowel action; a clear head and cheerfulness for months. Don't forget the children. i ac- collector. | was | tax | atf- I Queen Elizabeth’s ‘fzfteen_in.ch Guns Lead in Attacking Dardanelles Forts!' allies® great Among the warships in the fleet in the Dardanelles is the new English super-dreadnought Queen Elizabeth, recently This 1ip is considered terri- completed the most ever collecting to the Swift concern waich for some was ¢ the b, Waters has prospect of ck taxes charged company, 2 been out of existence year Mr, Stevens referred the questioner to the tax collector, who began his remarks by stating that, in his opin- ion, it was up to the examining board to make all explanations of its roport He told, however, thai he had placed the hill against the Swift Water pany in the hands of a4 New attorney for collection He under stood that the latter had collected it, although as yet he had not received the money. com Britain Lawyer Kept 'Taxes, stated that the New Britain Mr. had The lawver had explained said, that, had Deming of Committeeman he had attorney reference, to Mr., with thing In that inquired to whom Austin inasmuch him, he as Austin account him, on didn't running he owe him any- the bill defence, the tax he placed the bill the attor- hands something like three Vvears ago, but that he had never em- ployved him as personal counsel until last July. Mr. Spooner asked if anything had been done towards making the trolley company pay half the cost of the concrete work under the railro bridge. Mr. Stevens replied that Mr. Gibney had told him that the trolley company had promisea to pay. in question collector said in Verbal Contract With Trolley Co. Selectman Gibney a verbal contract, the trolley pany agreed to pay for a nine foot strip of the concrete; feet on either side of the rails and between them. This is required Ly the law, he said. “We expect 1y collect for that much,” said the seicctman, “but we can’t compel them to pay one-hal® the job.” In subsequent ion the dimensions of the concrete roadway, Mr. Spooner took issue with Mr. Gib- ney on the matter of the width of the roadway under the bridge He doubt ed the selectman’s statement the effect that it was thirty-five feet wide. xplained that, in com- Two a arscus on Alling Takes Judge Willarda T A Ay glven the floor. TReferring ¢ statement in Mr. Austin’s reply to Mr. Spooner, he ventured that it might plan for the tax collector to the. accounts on his books into the hands of his attorney for collection. He said that if Mr. Austin's attorney had refused to pay him the amount of loor. mg be a good put all the collection, he made himself liable | to being disbarred from -Representative Dan.el asked the committee if it was neces- sary to have two treasurers to dis- burse the town's money; one for the practice, Webster town in general and one for the school | committee. Mr. Stevens considered it an unfair question to ask the commit tee, stating that all voters had their own personal views on that subject There was something in the statutes regarding that matter, he thought. Running Bill for Hall Rent. Turning to the item in the commit- afloat for de She in its capacity rries eight fifteen- at twenty-one knots tons displacement. | casily outshoot any- ble one struction. inch guns, is and is of Her guns rate 500 can | about the payving of $300 to R. O. Clark of Kast Berlin for the rent of his hall. Mr. Spooner asked if it was neccessary that the voting booths for the third district stand in Mr. Clark's hall all year around Could not some rent money be saved tee's report here ! Committeeman Mildrum that little expens entailed if the booths crected taken explained the report was a covering the the ps of no bil k owing the latter the amount explained would be to be every $300 quite after that the and down election. e mentioned in account vears and including janitors, and the light. He sald that rendered hy Mr. C controversy between Mr. Gibney regarding the bill. \ustin Admjts Shortage. | run eight the past of fuel has been ning cost and to « and of Addressing Mr. Austin, Mr. Spooner arked the collector if he accepted the statement to the effect that $1,195.11 in his accounts. reply, Mr. Austin there was no question in his mind as | to the correctness of the statement. | He said that during his entire term of office, has had a bond and that, to renewal of the bond | cach vear, it was mnecessary for him | to have his books audited. He had the signatures of the auditors at the | end of all his annual reports, he said In explaining the shortage, he said | that, doubtless many of the voters in the room were aware of the fact that he has accepted many promis- sory notes, the foolishness of which he admitted. Many of these notes have not been paid, he sald. He said that he had gone over the books with | the speclal committee and had seen, | after the accounts were untangle that there was a shortage. To cover | this, he gave Town Treasurer Shaw a check for $1,033.12, the shortage, minus his commission, before the meeting. will As there were no further questions | tho he was short In stated that a he cure Print Supplements. report, the regarding arrangements were madeo for printing of copics of the supplementary report and a re solution drafted by Colonel Jdrvis to the effect that 700 copies be published | distributed by the fifteenth of t month was passed. Taylor asked and the Turner family, and the selectman | replied that it is in the hands of an attorney for collection, as bills | against the city of New Bri and | town of Torrington. “Is that attorney going to keep the money, toc asked C, Mueller. “He's an honest lawyer,” w: Mr Gibnley's response. i New Britain Bill Valid. | had talked with Comptroller Hanford | L. Curtiss of New Britain in regard to | bill Mr, Gibney is trying to colleet from City of New Britain. The comptrol- [ ler had told him that, inasmuch the bill had not been presented fore the consolidation of the the | town which said the = as be- i town ! requested | goes to the treasurer and is filed away | understanding over a Selectman | {ho town of Gibney about the bill of $80 against | 4y, chiet part of this discrepancy the city of Meriden for the care of | . was due than ing the | ner. | well Committeeman Stevens said that he | had no complaint to make the | within someone | shouted 1 | appoint e Darda loca carried in the nelles forts A map showing the tion of these forts gives an idea of the difficulty confronting the allies in forcing a through thing that is vaLy in Néw Britain city ernment invalid and it w The 1 sent clectman replied that the bill the chairman of the char- Hardware City before the consolidation and that a duplicate bill has been sent to each succeeding chairman te ity board in the Duplicate Bills Misplaced. in why the \nswer first SO f mittec that he plic covered still trens to a question as to n had not bills, as told in the com- Mr. Gibney explained had misplaced some of the du- that while, he had re of them, others were A1l bills go to the town the town ha selectma the s report reported \tes and some missing urer with ord eaid asked why bills and he re- it was many return the bills as “They see only the check,” he said, “but never see the bill.” Mr. Gibney said that before the next adjourned meeting, he would try to look up all the bilis “The town h a peculiar method of paying bills,” asserted Comittee man Deming. “The town order, which is made out by the board of selectman Clerk Shaw the Town he could plied that ple don’t was ot show peo receipted pay their bills by check absolutely no use of the Not a man on the road has seen a town order this year,” wasg the statement he made Mr. Gib- ney that the treasurer and not the selectmen pay the bills Selectman Newton Baldwin broke in It this juncture to ask how he was to | be notified of the board of selectmen's meetings if, as recommended by the special committee, he was to be prived of his telephone “You rural delivery, you?" asked Harry Taylor “So do shot a reply in the rear of the room Upon motion of Wiillam H. Webster, the of the committee's report was tabled until the adjourned meet- ing next month Vindication selectimen and The make town orders. said de- have don't you!" from a way the discussion * Gibney. feel com him. were that $4.61 of Selectman Gibney findings of the special vindication for as to his integrity P when it hown he had made an error only in handling more than $68.000 A minor mistake in additlon and a mis- pauper bill with Middletown conseituted In Deming, Friends that the mittee were a All doul swept was of Committeeman with Mr. Gibney's report from what he didn't do did do.” His bookkeep- fault words trouble maore he was ‘the what ystem Report at Satisfies AlLL opinion is that special committee did its work 1 very able and consclentious man- The majority of the voters were pleased with it and the oficers The consensus of n Hartford, M H. Holcomb ¥ pussed by the fght in ti civil of i® bellevel Webster changds In i radie governnor R ing of Webster attes perintendent | intendent of 4 repulf two demodg fices, but fou law prevente Then a bill ‘wi Ernest L. L which provide the merit sysi The attitude ed the favora clary commi) would have rd by a system and appointm ent bill was tee The bill wi and in the ho cured agains! which were | The bill perceding the) | other things petitive exai | departments by merely fill reazons with | wlon, that ele all their emp ment to that| office and t cmpt any or close ing the went into It the the here, Ru Right doz. GARI Washingto | awaiting repi Wood, in cor partment the launching York for the dred thousas known as t to retary Garrisd cline to dise dicate what | be. At Mr. | adier Gener | statt of the ping of a p | Wooa with Wood forwa teinable on FRENCH Washingto cral Thackar: partment of | elgn trade of)| ing gold and was $2,156,6 €70,418 comp were valued crease of $3 amounted to, | $896.760,679, trade was el months of thi &#ix months tl 890,737, not Native eg ——advt PARK Washingto conference of] tendents and in Berkeley, department of today Steph to Secretary conference Wi fecting the ment and pro and monumel El Wanted Fresh hall we Air. As the s packed, the alr somewhat oppressive and in the midst of a peep was heard from o#t in the mass of humanity rear Mr. Moderator,” he make a motion that some after 10t A dcebate, a n the 9 C.K 77-79 @