Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-05
AS YOU lIkE IT.
stray Leaves From . Reporters No, hf Rooks

Q
 hi Books
 MEMBER of one of the municipal boards takes exception to the criticism of the DEMOCRAT in reference to the action of the fire board in going into executive session the other night. That was a cold rub. he said, ''and don't know why it should have come from that source. I don't see why the papers haunt the meet ings of the municipal boards so steadily and seem to take no notice of other public officials whose doings are of as much i'm portanoe to the public as those of the city officials. Why don't you fellows call at the meetings of the selectmen and the board of water commissioners and pull ouu your pads and pencils and catch the words falling from the lips of the members of those boards and send them broadcast, the same as you do at the meetings of the mu- uicipal boards? "rhe DEMOCRAT claims that it is the duty of the newspapers to keep the public fully informed of al. the doings of the various municipal boards It also holds that the people have a right to know all that takes place at these meet iugs," answered the reporter. While l don't propose to deny this," he said, ''I hold that the business transacted at the boards of selectmen and water commits >ioners are just as important to the public as any that comes up in the municipal meetings. and yet no one ever hears a word about their meetings. except what they see fit to hand to a reporter" H. also said that he had been told by a mem- Der or the water board that a report,r never shows his face at one of their meet iugs. "'and yet we never hear a word of fault6nding about how their meetings are conducted" He said he hoped that th. ha ha al to see their way to getting an act passed excluding all reporters from the city meet ings and have things arranged so that at the close of each meeting the clerk would be instructed just how much of the busi- ness ot the meetings should be given to the press" It is not likely that men of such contracted views as these will ever be able to muster up enough strength to mug gle the newspapers of Waterbury. The newspaper has it's own just. legitimate and we'll defined sphere in the affairs of tn. community and if it does not exceed these limits its rights are equal to every other legitimate enterprise. When it is ham pered or its usefulness in any way im- t.ves of the people withhold ing from it's reach anything which pertains to the public and which the people have a right to know. an injustice is done the public and the only course open to the press in such cases is fearless criticism.
 "WHAr time is it, mister?" said an old fashioned "kid' to a DEMOCRAT rs- porter the other afternoon. About 4 o'clock. Why do you ask?" was the answer. "Oh." he replied. as he stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaned against the building I'm waitn around here to lick a fellow comin' from school" Why should you do that ?" was asked. Il was at school this morning." he Said "and he told me he'd break my face if he saw me this afternoon. and I'm waitin' here to see If he is able to do it. I'll punch him in the face the minute he comes around this corner" he added, as he peeped up ScOvill street from the corner of BeTgins newsroom. Just then two boys turned the corner and the would be pugilist popped onto Bergin's steps and watched them go by. his face pale with rage and disappolnt- ment. When the two had passed down the street the little fellow stepped out and said: "There he is now. He was afraid to go home without hIs big brother. but be won't be with him all the time. and he turned up the street.
 POSTMASTER FITzPATHTCK recently made public some figures showing that business was booming in his line. During the past three months there was gratify- ing increase in receipts and another car Tier had been allowed in order to improve the service. All of which is ereditable and vet we are not happy. The cause of the DEMOCRATS special woe is drawer in the postoffice, for which good money Is paid, that Is a relic of bygone age. as they say of the city charter. There was number on it once, but 1t was long since kicked otf, and now when q newsboy Is sent after the DEMOCRAT mail hs is in structed to look for the box without u number. Besides having this distinctive individuality, the drawer is of the gO-as- you-please order. Sometimes it remains locked for an hour or two and again it opens of its own volition. At times only the use of the most vigorous adj-ctives will serve to open it, and anon the latch sticks so that it cannot be locked. Altogether it IS a cantanker- ous nuisance. Let us hope that the es- teemed postmaster will stick pin here.
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 What are you trying to,do, qneer my business? demanded an excited dealer Tn wet goods. rushing into the DEMOCRAT office, the other day. He was calmed witt difficulty. and spreading copy of the paper out on desk be pointed to hIs advertise ment. It looked all O. K, according to copy. good display. etc. What's the mat, ter wilh it." asked the society editor Matter" he said. just look what you got over it." The newsman turned to the place indicated and saw that the ad. vertlsement had been given a position di- rectly under Judge Roots Hour" It was suggestive and the advertiser. who con- ducts his business strictly 10 accordance with law. didn't like it. This is one of the queer things that occasionally creep into the papers. It is nothing new to find death notice Tn the sporting column. h. deed the wonder Is that more slips of thi- kind do not occur in the rush of making up the forms" in the composing room The New Britain Record publisheda deatL notice last night and directly under i, was this" "Moral-advertise in the Record
 Parisians arc looking forward to big, ger cycling season than ever. If Zimmer. man decides not to go back, 1t is not i'm probable than Johnson may Dc induced to forsake tho class B ranks and become the Idol of the PariSians