Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1910-07-16

Although Alderman Jas. L. O'Leary's
efforts TO secure ordinance regulating
the use of weights and measures were
crowned with success, and IL properly
enforced justice given buyers and sell
lers, there is delay in the working of
the ordinance by reason of the dilatory
action of the man who has held the
position of Sealer of weights and
The official was DESTROYS of having
his duties definitely defined and this
was done. Then Alderman O'Leary
as chairman of the public property
committee purchas ed the required I'M
PIGMENTS, furnished an Office and every
thing was made ready for the officer
to do his duty. and the whole people
We're anxious to have the measures
and weights tested in order that they
would get the quantity purchased.
The official has been nearly four
months getting ready to commence
operations and when Drodded by the
alderman politely informed him that
he could not see his way clear to per-
form the duties of the Office as 1t
might interfere with his business as
city sheriff and court officer. He told
the alderman that he felt sorry that ne
could not go forward with the work,
and very considerably said he would
do the next best thing. resign and
suggested the name of his successor.
To say the alderman was just a lit
Tie DIT SuEtIlStu MOulu De putting II
decidedly mild. The sealer of weights
and measures was promptly inform
ed that n was appointed by the court
of common council and that he should
send his resignation to that body,
adding that perhaps the council could
select a successor without the as
sistance of the retiring official. So it
is quite probable that at the next
council meeting action VIII be taken
on the resignation of the sealer of
weights and measures and that his
successor will be appointed. There
fore the delay in the enforcement of
the ordinance is not the fault of the
alderman. although he is in receipt
almost daily of complaints of suspect
ed short weights and measures, which
are said to be in common use by the
peddlers about the city.
There is general desire that politics
will be given no consideration in the
appointment of the new official, he
should be free to act for the good of
the whole people and to do his duty
without fear or favor, and this could
not be done If he was bound hand and
foot by strong political lines. The Of
ficials should be competent and
courteous and his coming welcomed
by all who use weights and measures,
as his official stamp would be guaran-
ty of square dealing.
Although there is but one regiment
of the Connecticut National Guard in
camp at Mantle the present week,
still there were more soldiers on the
streets of New London. of the fresh
and noisy sort. than in the days when
the entire brigade was encamped on
the state grounds. This shows a lack
of discipline that is not creditable TO
the Second regiment, that years ago
put in claims of being the model COM
mand of the brigade. 1t was announced
that it would be week of work. that
dress uniforms would not be used and
that the ceremony of governors day
with it's attendant political adjunct
would be noticeable by its absence.
Just the same the politicians from the
section of the state represented by the
soldi' ~ in camp We're largely
represented and the governor. and his
gold-headed staff We're on the inner
circle.
When General George Haven was
commander of the brigade, Connect
cut National Guard he instituted the
plan TO do away with the dress uni
form for the soldiers believing it I'M
necessary hardship for the men TO ap-
pear on dress parade and stand for
hours in the hot sun in padded coats
just for the purpose of making a pretty
picture on the field and add to the
glory of Governors Day. 1t was that
genuine soldier who is responsible for
that feature that. has now grown to
be the custom. He. being a trained
soldier, with civil war experience, and
having worked his way by true merit
from private to brigade commander
and adjutant general of the state,
placed the men of. the brigade upon
honor and the camp rules were viz
lated only in isolated cases. There was
no rushing into New London by SOL
diers in punches of ten. twenty and
more as has been the case when one
regiment has been in camp this week,
but the soldiers appreciated the con-
fdence reposed in them by the brigade
commander and yielded to his COM
mand with good cheer
Another feature of the camp life
that characterized the command of
General Haven was the fact that at no
time while he commanded the brigade
was II necessary for the provost guard
to be on duty after nine o'clock at
night. so well was the camp disciplin-
ed No trouble from soldiers in the
village of Mantle, none at the Spiritu-
aIist camp. and none in the city of
in the command but knew that proper
behavior was fully recognized at
brigade headquarters. In fact, but for
the necessity of instruction in guard
duty no sentries would have been nee
essary in the Haven regime.
There was no fuss and feathers" at
headuuar ters il was work according
to routine every day. with rest at the
specified times. and this same rule per-
vaded the entire samp, every soldier
in camp emulating the example of the
superior officers, and all seemed in
terested in the school of instruction
at camp and at no time or inclination.
to steal away to New London and
make even the regular soldiers blush
with shame at the actions of the state
soldiers whose whole Compartments
seemed to change when away from
camp dressed in the uniforms of the
state.
1t is evident that the state police on
their recent visit to New London con-
fined tbs mSelYss strictly to fsrreTing
out -Violators OF the liquor laws pre-
surnabIy acting under special inEtruc-
lions in whose interest They came to
the city and usurped the duties OF the
local police force. BY the way, the
locals We're doing their duty to the
of the police committee
and the people generally. no com
plants game 10 them of violations of
the liquor laws. After waiting a