Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-11


placed by a plaza for the enjoyment
of the people will probably now come
to pass, for a local clergyman has
stated in public that it ought to be
done. But just how this change is to
be brought about the reverend gentle
man did not state. 1t Is evident that
this gentleman of the cloth has heard
some old resident tell OF the harbort
view from State street before the con-
struction Of the present station. Also
of the intent of our forefathers who
laid out State street and the Parade.
so-called, and the object in making the
lower end of the street, including
Prison, now Atlantic, street spread out
Ikea fan.
Yes, indeed, it would be a great i'm
provement If this could be done. II
was suggested long before railroads
were known to New London, and was
hampered when the first railway sta
ton was built in New London, and abb
solutely impossible when the present
station was erected directly across the
entire foot of State street and beyond
on the north.
However, it is refreshing to have the
real good men of the town renew these
matters that have long since become
ancient history, for it demonstrates
that even the ideas once considered as
evidence of old fogyism are now. like
the CUlCh61S, COIIllllR llbllle " IOOStf
and proving that sayings and doings
of the long ago are being appreciated
as time goes on, and that after all
there was more truth and poetry in
the saying that had much to do with
the defeat of General Hancock for the
presidency-thatt tariff was local is
sue.
When the suggestion of the clergy
man relative to the removal of the rail-
way station to make way for a plaza
for the physical welfare comes TO pass
| the people will all rise up and call him
| blessed. 1t is certainly a good sugges-
| ton, thoroughly seasoned.
That the members of the New Lon
| don court of common council are not
| influenced by church action was dem
| onstrated at the monthly meeting when
| the petition from the churches asking
| that the saloons be required to close
| at 10 O'Clock instead of IL o'clock as
now was turned down without cere-
mony. The churches were united in
| favor of the change in the closing hour
and expected that their action would
| be conceded by the court of common
| council, but in this they were disap-
| pointed. for they did not include in
| their figuring that there was strong
/ liquor influence in the council that
| made the church influence look like an
| old copper cent compared with the new
| Lincoln coin.
| Alderman Dray and others are inter-
/ ested in the liquor business and they
| did not propose to permit their BUSH
1 ness to be curtailed by their own votes
| and the votes of their associates. AL
derman Dray happened to be chairman
of the committee of the local Liquor
Dealers association and his motion had
| the call over the petition from the
| churches, and the old order will prevail
for the ensuing year.
To the general public the action OF
the council is perhaps satisfactory even
to those who are opposed to the H.
censed saloon, who argue that If the
majority are in favor of license, and
the dealers pay heavily for the priv
| ilege of selling liquor, IL is wrong &c
take from them the busiest hour OF
their business.
The sale of liquor is legalized and II
| is hardly fair to the dealers after they
| invest their money in the business and
pay the license price to deprive then
Of rights that they supposed they ha6
| previously paid for. This of course APP
plies to the dealers who comply strict
ly to the laws and keep their places Of
business closed during the prescribed
| hours.
1t is the evident intention of some Of
the churches to have committees ou
to see that the liquor laws are strict
ly enforced and in this they should re-
ceive the hearty cooperation of the
police and. IL need be. the court Of
common council members.
For a great many years the annual
allowance to the several fire companie:
to pay for the care of the quarters
and apparatus has been $1z5 a year
a sum which has been inadequate fol
years, and the deficiency has beer
paid from the treasures of the COM
panies, which means from the wallets
of the men who give their service tC
the city, and who risk their lives tC
save the lives and property of others
New London has an efficient volunteer
fire department. the equal of many
paid departments in the smaller cit
les, and the citizens are willing tha
such service be properly recognized
There is no desire on the part of the
public to have the f1remen pay from
their private funds bills that properly
belong to the city, such as for the care
of the fire houses and the apparatus.
The firemen have asked the court o.
| common council to increase the allow
ance to 5000 a year which appears Il
be a very reasonable request. Som'
| of the companies have at their OWL
expense fitted up sleeping quarters IL
the fire houses so that more efficien
service can be given in the night sea
son, and they should not be required
to paw for the laundry aad other in
cidentals attending the improvement
of the service, which practically put
the department on a paid department
basis. This is only one of the man.
extra expenses that the companies
have imposed upon themselves for tn
betterment of the service. but serves
to show the justice in making the in
creased allowance. The matter wa
/ referred to the finance committee will
the understanding that in making vi
the annual budget. provision will b.
made for this increase. which total
only $3.50.
Mayor Benjamin L. L. Armstrong
after three years service as chic
MAGISTRATE of the city, with full salts
. faction to himself and his unpreju
, diced fellow citizens, is nearing tn
, end of his term of service, as hi
successor will be elected in the earl
/ | part of next month. No man who ha
held the office during the past half
century, at least. has met with sue
determined opposition in the effort Z
serve his fellow citizens and the cit
; | as he considered to the best advan
: | tage of all concerned. When Mayo
Armstrong makes his farewell he vii
! probably recite some of the things tina
) have been we'll done, and some of tn
things Nat have been left undone, bu
through no fault of the mayor. TIL
present mayor has made some mis-
[ takes. and what public officer has not
But. when the final accounting !
made, the balance will be found on tn
right side, although many who hav
been Mayor Armstrong; most bite