Putnam patriot., 1909-01-29
Business Mems Association.

 Mems Association which met in that city last week, of winch we give re- port elsewhere, and which We think Is as applicable to our city as to Meriden, We have many needs that are attain. able If our citizens were made better informed by open public discussion not otherwise. But here Is what the Meriden paper says:
 aAside from the many capital ideas advanced, the meeting gave n number of Meriden's leading citizens their first insight into the methods of the Asso. cialon, and the line of work it k pur' suing. It was a meeting typical oi what has become known throughout Connecticut as the ".deriden habit e- a getting together of Meriden men for the advancement of Meriden.
 Such meetings cannot fail to be oi benefit to the city and every citizen of it. There was plain talk regarding many things, but IL was of the friend Hest nature and certain to be helpful. Confidence in each other was the watch, word of the session, and every one oI the very large number of business and professional men present left the meet. ing with renewed determination to do his best to further the interests of Meriden, and thereby his own and those of his fellow citizens. IL will not take long for she spirit shown to supply every need that Metiden may have now, with enough left over for tn- lure wants
 In the main the above suggestions are sound, and suited to all Business Mems Associations. The first thing to do Is to establish confidence in the public mind that the sole object Of the Association Is to adopt measures that will be for the general good without a taint of special interest under any measure advocated or adopted. Conii- denee Is a plant of slow growth, for men are naturally suspicious, but that fades away when they are intelligent ly instructed, and that doesn't require much time when they hear how ques- tions are discussed and settled.
 To get the people to listen, public questions of deep interest to all should De occasionally announced for discus sion, which cannot fail to win atten- ton and interest. Such question was that of Equalization of Taxation,n ? presented at the first open meeting ot the Putnam Business Mems Associa- ton by State Tax Commissioner Cor l.. t.t. t,.t. that heard the speaker The meeting while largely attended represented but n comparatively few of our citizens, The discussion should have been kept up five or six successive weeks in or. der to give the entire community an opportunity to hear il discussed and to have il deepened in every mind, even in those who heard Commissioner Cor bins enlightening address. Evidently that's what he advised should be done for here are his remarks:
 1 cannot see why taxation is not therefore the most important matter in any community. It Is the foundation on which every structure Is reared. All Business Mems Associations In this State should make taxation a subject for their special consideration. They should have a standing committee on the assessment and collection of taxes, whose duty 1t should be to report tt the association every month relative to the work of the assessors, the equality of valuations, the cooperation or inter. ference by the Board of Relief with efii- cient work of assessors, and the efforts being made to bring in uncollected taxes. Different methods of taxation should also de discussed, together with desirable changes in our present laws, with an occasional address by students of the subject. This K bound to pro- duce better understanding Of the statutory requirements, more efficient work Dy the taxing officials, and desi- rable changes in our laws by the repre-. sentatives in our Legislature. such fl policy on the part of the different Bus. mess Mems Associations would un- doubtedIy secure the hearty eoopera. ton oi the Tax Commissioners.
 So important did the Commissioner deem the subject that he assumed that this community would be SO aroused by it's discussion and agitation, that immediate and active steps would be taken to have it carried into effect We fear that those who did hear him have mainly lost the interest that he awakened.
 When the first Business Mems Asso- ofatiof tacL mn. th. m {. for nf drafni no the podd east Of the railroad, they had weekly meetings for several months, and so greatly did members enjoy the excitement that the majority refused to adjourn over the dog days. after disposing satisfactorily Of the pond improvement and the more conserya- tive members remained away, and in- terest in the Association diminished and faded out. This proves the need of wise counseliors who, when interest Is awakened shall be able te direct IL conseryatively, at least until the mem bership Is solidiy united and the out side community realize the importance of the work being done by the Assocta- ton for the benefit Of the entire conn munity-
 Al meeting of the executive com. uiitee, held on last week Wednesday the subject for the forthcoming debate was changed somewhat from that al. ready announced. It will, therefore, be discussed from the following stand point:
 Resolved. That fl is for the best in.