The morning journal-courier., 1908-02-07

music Mr White introduced Mayor Martin, whose toast was Our City"
 Mayor James B. Martin.
 Mayor Martin was met with three rousing cheers He said, One of the inspirations of my predecessor and of me, too, is to be bidden to such ban auet as this. I am here 10 avail my self of that privilege tonight with sln- cere satisfaction. 1 am particularly glad to see in the menu the drawing of myself giving the glad hand to my esteemed friend, the mayor of Hartford
 T am not newcomer in the city of New Haven I belong to that ex- elusive and almost arfstocratic class known as the 'town-born' and l have had occasion to know the business men of our city and to realize the need and the importance of such an organiza- ten as yours. The life of a city de- pends on the spirit of enterprise and Of intelligent cooperation of the business men. En the short time of your ex- istence you have shown this spirit strongly.
 We New Hayeners have reason to be proud of our city. We possess many advantages, especially the uni versity. and excellent transportation facilities. It is true that it is some times said of us that our conservatism has hampered us. That may have been true to a certain extent; but we are looking for better things and l think your organization can counter. act and uproot any anti-business in fluences to the end that New Haven may be foremost in the industrial world in the state of Connecticut"
 In introducing Mayor Henney of Hartford. whose toast was Municipal had the pleasure of hearing our may I or and we are to hear another It may surprise you, but they are talking of me for mayor in the city of New Britain (laughter), but I'd hate to say what they are saying of me Be tween being mayor and being talked of as mayor is a big diff
 T live near Hartford, and 1 want to say of it's mayor eulogy such as cannot be said of all Hartford men, that he is respected in Hartford, There is only one other man, believe, that is, and he Is Warden Garvin of | the Wethersfield prison
 Mayor Henncy of Hartford
 Mayor Henney said Tt is a very great pleasure. I beg to assure you, to be present and congratulate you upon your growth. I understand that this association is the foundation of all the city associations of the state as well as of the state association"
 He told a story, a true one, of course on Eddie" Atwater who, with Governor Woodruff was on the train once bound for New York. Where are you carrying Atwater to-day. gov ernor?" asked the conductor who knew them. ITO New York" came the reply, Don't you think this is too far to carry a joke?" asked tho conductor
 T want to say something while 1 have the opportunity about your mayor You elected him. and say 1t is the duty of every citizen irrespec- tive of party allegiance to stand be- hind him People in public office are the object of criticism I believe any intelligent man would rather have true criticism rather than adulation.
 T have topic that should interest you, for municipalities have been changing much of late. They are amending their charters one after an other It is as discouraging as with the little girl who tried to get for tune by saving nickels. A stranger asked her what her plan was and she explained that she saved nickels till she got ten of them. and then her motfer bought her a new bottle of castor oil.
 We have pretty bad patch work which we call a charter in Hartford. l am inclined to think you have done us little better. But no city will have a right charter till the business men, who know such business matters
  best, take a hand Now it seems to me in the last anaylsis, that this city government business is a simon pure business proposition l cannot see how party lines have any more to do with municipal business than theol- ogy.
 ''The laws relating to municipal finances are the same as apply to you and me The man who lives in ex- cess of his income won't live that way long till he precipitates himself into bankruptcy II is the same with city. My own belief is that the tax rate should be just enough to cover expenses. and that the expenses should be kept down so they are covered
 This year in Hartford we will have q surplus of S150,00G. That is simply applying to the business of the mu- nicipality the rules of general business
 Tt is not so much the system as the man at the helm. Accidents arc al- ways probable on the railroad because of the man element. It is the same in governments
 T found last year in Glasgow that the gas, the cars, the water and the