Norwich bulletin., 1909-09-04

In city meeting and by small ma jority it was voted to accept the leg islative act which authorized the city of New London to pay one-half the cost of new sidewalks, the property owners to pay the balance. Heretofore it has been the custom foD property owners to build sidewalks at their own expense when ordered by vote of the court of common council, but this or dinance has not been complied with of late years. especially since the city paid for new walks in Bank, Main and Washington streets, where the streets have been paved with vitrified brick. This unauthorized action on the part of the city authorities has had the re- suit of general negligence in the mat ter of sidewalks and New London has become noted for poor sidewalks.
 Even before this alleged favoritism was shown property owners in the streets named, an opinion prevailed that the council could not compel citi- zens to lay sidewalks and many acted on that basis. and without prosecution, although the sidewalks orders were ignored.
 Governor Waller was opposed to the adoption of the special act giving the cIt.' authority to assume half the ex- pense of the sidewalks, and Alexander J. Campbell president of the New Lon- don Business Mems association. which favored the act in committee, was in favor of postponing action for at least two months. Neither of these gentle men were at the city meeting and therefore their views were not explain ed, except in advance through the newspapers
 Had the governor been there and addressed the meeting it Is pebbles to boulders that the legislative act would have been rejected, for his force and eloquence of argument would have wiped out the small majority vote that carried the measure through the city meeting.
 Ex-Mayor George F. Tinker, who was opposed to the acceptance of this amendment, was also absent from the city meeting. having gone to his na- tive New Hampshire town to help eel ebrate Old Home day. He has since argued. through the newspapers that the action taken was ill advised and impractical. as the building of side walks is a burden that could not be taken without material increase in taxation. and that would be hard ship that would be unbearable to many who have now heavily mortgaged homes.
 Now that the city meeting has been held and the amendment to the city charter accepted there are many who are of opinion that were the same matter to be voted upon again the re- suit would be different It is set forth that the original ordinance relative to sidewalks. which has not been repeal ed, will fill all the requirements if properly enforced. So when that time comes to make appropriation for the building of sidewalks tO carry the amendment into effect there will be strong opposition and from present in- dications no appropriation will be made for that purpose.
 The taking over of the sidewalks by the city, to be cared for as are the streets, is not a new idea. It was the pet scheme of the late Col. William H. Bentley. who served many terms in sthe court of common council. Almost ev- cry time sidewalks were mentioned in council meeting Colonel Bentley took occasion to advocate the scheme of the city building and caring for the side walks. not one-half, but the whole hog or none
 While he strongly advocated the measure. the gentleman never got SD far as to figure the probable cost nor what it meant to the taxpayers. It was argued then, and it is argued now, that the enforcement of the present sidewalk ordinance will certainly resul. in improving the deplorable condition of the sidewalks of New London.
 There is gang of youno touqhs over in East New London that ought to be reformed or caged. and perhaps the better way would be to cage them first and then begin the difficult work of reform. This gang or it's predeces sor has been in existence for many years, although there is ever gradual change in membership, mere boys be- ing trained as the older ones graduate into faster company. Their depreda- tions are almost of continuous annoy ance to the police, and as rule they are sharp enough to keep just beyond the clutches of the law. Extra exer- tion on the part of the police. and these chaps would not Sbe quite so bold
 One night this week. when the moon was at it's brightest five members of the gang tried the highway robbery act upon a young man who was returning to his home from the boat clubhousa near Winthrop's Point. They assaulted and held him up, but did not succeed in robbing him. for he did not have his watch with him. and his cash was in the inside pocket of his vest.
 It is members of this same gang who congregate in the smoking room of the railway station on Sunday evenings especially in the winter time when it is too cold for them to be in the open and when they are driven from their card-plsying haunts by the presence of men who are away from their homes by day but who are on hand at night to drive the young hoodlums from premises that they invade. In the