Norwich bulletin., 1910-03-12
MAYOR MAHAN IN SUPREME COMMAND
Meetings and Special APpr
Ordone Incident of Mayor Harris Reign as Mayor

I burne. republican. and elected Bredar-
| lex Il. bengar, democrat, and the DC
| ton received the approval Of O. repub-
| lican court Of common council. This
announcement may have been news TO
some, but not TO the readers OF this
/ weekly correspondence, as announce
ment of a change In auditors at the
time change was made, about three
months ago.
( Why this change was made could not
| be ascertained then, and no explana-
/ tion is made now as Mr.. Washburna
/ is conceded 40 be expert ia the line and
a thorough republican. True, he was
/ first appointed during the Armstrong
administration and made some exam
| nation OF the financial doings or tho
| preceding administration, but what ho
did was on the level and should not
be charged up against him with black
erayon. Mr. Fengnr has held office asa
a democrat and has drilled ia the Ma
han squad during several campaigns,
ana perhaps the appointment Is given
| MIN by republicans for services rem
dered TO nominees OF the democratic
party Mr. tengar, Ike Mr.. wash
bufne, is handy at figures, and is per-
! maps Wen qualified FOR the duties of
auditor, but that should not be reason
sufficient for the removal of Mr. Wash.
! burno. But, come TO think Of IT, Mayor
Mahan has said IN public that politics
would cut no ice during his admins
tration and therefore the change in au-
ditors has no political significance.
According TO Alderman Do,~ney.
proper investigation is not made on
tires OF suspicious origin in New Lon
don, and at the council meeting ha
suggested that something be done 10
check incindiarism, as in some recent
Instances not only property but Ito
was endangered. While there was gem
eral discussion Of this important mat
ter, he said that no official action had
been taken and that il was about time
something was doing along that line
affln In
the council was necessary, as that was
matter that should be properly
handled by the police department, ana
he WAS of opinion that the 500, 600 ap-
propriated annually for the police
should Insure the fullest Investigation
Of cases such as referred TO by tho
alderman.
No specific cases were cited by the
alderman, but the other members un-
derstood just who the parties are that
the alderman referred TO- Alderman
Downey certainly hit The buliaoye Tor
there is no doubt that some OF the
fires have been Of incendiary origin,
and IL would seem to be fully within
the province Of the police 10 make dill
and there should be no hesitancy in
making arrests where suspicion Is
strong enough to warrant for incendi-
arism is crime that should not be-
tolerated.
There was a. recent IRE where tho
newspapers limited at suspicious cir
cumstances ana the hints seemed 10 ba
well founded and the police really did
make a move towards an investigation,
but that was about all.
There were conflicting stories told IN
connection with the fire that have not
been explained and 1t il not too late
to unraYel some Of the disagreeinW
stories and get ut the facts. thereby
removing all suspicion or bringing the
guilty parties to Justice. Alderman
Downey's insinuation was timely and
should receive not only the attention
Of the police but also that OF the CHIEF
engineer of the fire department and
the fire committee
When the Civil war was proclaimed
jonathan NJ. Harris was mayor Of New
London, but when the war was on ia
dead earnest Hiram wiley who died
IN Hadlyne last Tuesday at the age OF
90, was the city's chief magistrate, and
il was uD 70 him to crush the copper
heads who tried to undo at home what
the brave soldier boys were lighting
for at the front In those stirring
times there was time when tile lOy-
atty Of the newspaper known aa tho
Evening Star Was in doubt, and Judge
Wiley headed the delegation or citi-
zens who visited the newspaper ONCE
and notified the editor and proprietor
that II there was not decided change
ia the patriotic tone of the paper that
the whole printing equipment would be
dumped into the street
The editor took the hint and IN tho
very next issue there was an editorial
almost as patriotic as the speech or
Patrick Henry declaring the n--Hpa per
to be a thoroughly union publication
and that the editor was a thorough
war democrat and that there was no
tinge Of coppcrheadsm ln his makeup.
This same editor afterwards became
a thorough republican, a. party leader,
and represented the city as "a republic
can in the state legislature. There
was another occasion when IL became
necessary for Mayor Wiley 10 read the
riot act 10 dispense "a disOrderly crowd
and he did il so effectively that threat
enfna trouble was avoided. He was or
small stature, but Of powerful and de-
teImined mind that was utilized for
the public good IN the days that tried
mems souls" Mr.. Wiley returned to
his native town Of Hadlyme more than
twenty-five years ago. but he remain
ed fresh IN the minds Of those who
knew him when be was one Of the very
best citizens Of New London.