The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-31
WHAT A MAYOR SHOULD BE IA TAXPAYERS OPINION
Says Just Now a Man of Excep- tional Administrative Abil-
 ity is Needed.

to coincide with views here expressed; healthy, vigorous opposition may draw out better views and duties, if so, much may be accomplished.
 First of all 1t Is a great honor to be the mayor of New Haven, no mean city. Because the office has become an ornamental berth for high class, fine appearing citizen is no reason it is correct, 1t is too sure a sign of our lself-satisfaction, and stagnation. First of all, a mayor should be a broad minded, aggressive, farseeing man, who is willing to commit political Suicide for the purpose of giving New Haven a push forward into the ranks of welL governed, up to date cities of equal population, wealth and import ance.
 | A mayors duties may be fully out l lined in the city charter and his oath of office sufficient. This is the letter of the law; the spirit may be entirely lacking A negative, vacillating char acter may pass muster and acceptably preside at all public functions, but he has left no imprint on the city worth recording, and our city has endured the administration without an epidem- ic or something worse. This has no reflection as to the past, for we have had many excellent mayors; just now, however, we feel the necessity of a man of exceptional administrative ability, keen as to our future possibil- Eities as well as alert to the present as the most important time in our eX- istence to shape the policy and formu- late a mode of procedure that shall re- suit in needed changes, improvements band revisions that outsiders at least see us sadly in need of. Such a man lit may be difficult to obtain This is no reason why he should not be, how Iever-and if one is induced for the good of our city to execute himself, politically speaking, it Is possible our citizens would see that he had a tit- ting burial beneath the eins he loved Iso we'll.
 Just now our city cafis loudly for a Header; all know the meaning of the word, it's significance is established, but leader of the right sort with power to act is extremely essential. The political ladder should be given to the fire department, and personal ann bition become as dead as many of our stately elms, while he is acting as our executive. A man of the right stamp will put his imprint on all acts and call about him as heads of departments efficient assistants to carry out a poli- cy of advancement which would bring results, results such as in business are called by their true name
 Is it possible? Certainly 1t it. A city is to be managed for the good of the community, the same as a large Ecorporation selects as it's chief execu- tive offices a man of ability to produce a profit to it's shareholders.
 Our needs are manifold, but not be- lyond the power of one man to accom- Iplish who sets about it with force of Ipose.
 ''His hands are ted" "It's no use he would be up against it." "The ma chimes would down him." "Our hide bound customs would cry out in holy horror" 'Even our variety of side walks would tend to his destruction, and thousand more reasons fly at us like bats.
 Does any one suppose a strong mar listens to such stuff and nonsensef Who else but the mayor can bring about the needed changes? Changes that would at once appeal to the av. craze citizen as improvements, certain. fly no one else. What are these so- called needed changes?
 1 To mention In detail all the essen tial reforms and Improvements a may or should inaugurate and carry for ward, is not the purpose of this let. ter. To eradicate the evils and defects of our city in all their varied forms | is a colossal task, but they are capa. ble of vast improvement in the hand' of chief who knows his business and honestly and fearlessly carries his point. Such a man can command { large salary and none other should bt thought of at this critical period in our growth.
 A thorough house cleaning is impera tive; we are far from being goot housekeepers, street keepers, store speaking in general terms, oul city can never be "city beautiful until we rise to the importance of eacl special feature that makes for beauty A ''plan" having as it's base of actior beautifully laid out streets and fint buildings, is excellent in conception and execution, but until our varied population are taught cleanliness ant horror of filth, we would soon be likt soiled shirt front, more conspicuou than the absolute black that brake man is wise enough to wear A multi tude of plots on what might be a mos beautiful city are too apparent to thos who know what can be done and i being done in other less conspicuou communities to think for a minut they cannot be overcome. A wei groomed man knows that others migh
 be the same if they would only follow the laws that make for cleanliness an
 order. If only portion of his persol is attended to, the rest becomes all tn
 more conspicuous.
 Take our garbage system, it is wor
 thy of the middle ages. Look upon ou
 streets, our sidewalks, our smoke nuis
 ances, our signs, our ugly wires on al
 kinds of poles. Look up and down an'
 all around. Take a stroll or aut through our Latin quarters q don mean Whitney or Hillhouse avenues and if you do not wish some delivere was available it is because you are in different to their comfort and advance | uent as Anarinan citizens in the nro