Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-10-14

AuiC 1IC ASAt Houoe Just lue sstIuc ttS Il they were still in the majority. MT Mills and his party associates are firm believers in the principle that the majority should rule. It is only among republicans, as in Connecticut for in- stance, where exception is taken to the beneficent principle of rule by the majority. Mir Mills was misrepresented.
 MAYOR BALDwIN's CHANGE.
 On the opening day of the next year MT Charles R. Baldwin will take up the duties of the mayoralty with the prestige of a previous wide influence in the affairs of the community and of a ma ajority un- usually large even for this city of heavy democratic majorities. He will have chance seldom vouchsafed to our mayors of impressing his own Individuality on the progress and development of the city. That his keen eye and watchful intellect may be depended upon to prompt him to seize the opportunity we have no doubt, but that he may be aided somewhat in determining in just what directions he can best turn his public energies the DEMOCRAT ventures to make few suggestions of which it hopes he will take kindly and thoughtful consid- eration.
 It has not been customary we think for incoming mayors to issue messages to the city fathers, but we think Mayor Baldwin way we'll depart from this custom, at least to the extent of outlining certain definite policies he might wish to impress in regard to municipal expansion. For instance, he might well urge upon the city fathers the propriety of inaugurating new era Ill the matter of street improvement. Waterbury is notoriously behind the age in the matter of good streets, and it is certain that the results have been far from commensurate to the moneys ex- pended in this direction. It is the same with regard to our sidewalks. If there Is any city of the size of Waterbury that IS SO slovenly in the matter of sidewalks. so utterly regardless of all pretense of decent fOotpaths for perambulating citi- zens, it has not come under our observa- tion, nor, we will venture to suspect, of Mayor Baldwins. There is abundant room for new methods in the improve ment of our streets and sidewalks, and If Mayor Baldwin will cause them to be lnaugurated it will not be the lightest feather in his cap as mayor.
 In the matter of an increased water supply Mayor Baldwin should take an active and aggressive hand, and push to head an enterprise that has long been a source of contention and dispute among our citizens. The subject has been hanging fire these many years, and the mayor under whose regime it is settled, will merit commendation that the people will not hesitate to bestow. The matter of enlarged accommodations, by means of new site, for the Bronson library may well engage his attention, and if he brings to the settlement of this vexed question the energy with which he is accustomed to deal with compli- cated matters of private business it is likely during his administration to be taken out of the category of those mat ters that are fast becoming topics of ancient history for the citizens of Wa terbury.
 But one thing above all others we would like to bring to the attention of the mayor-eIect, and it is matter that IS not unlikely to engage the public mind in the near future. We refer to the question of a public park. As the city grows its people begin to realize the propriety and advisability of casting about for some suitable spot to be fash toned into a park that will be thing of beauty for the city and an attraction to strangers within our gates. There are a number of convenient, accessible and advantageous sites surrounding the city that could be secured for purposes of a public park and that by small annual outlay could be made beautiful resorts for our people and blessing to the coming generations. The city is just now in such condition of expanding greatness and resources that the question of locating park is altogether timely, and it may be that an issue of park bonds would be very popular act during Mayor Baldwin's administration.
 There are other matters which the DEMOCRAT as the exponent of the views of the masses would like to call the at- tention of the mayor-elect, and which we may feel disposed to discuss in fu- fI1ra artic1oc No ora fhot men dislike to put on the clothes of a reformer, but when there is so broad a field for improvement we feel assured that the progressive and enterprising gentleman who is ta take m tho ,,,a.Al,