Norwich bulletin., 1910-02-26
Need of New Charter for Norwich
Told in Paper Read Before Men's Club of Park Church by Gilbert S. Raymond-Reasons Given For lt-Oyster Roast and Music During Evening.

Accepting the invitation of the Mems club of the Park Congregational church on Friday evening were many from other church clubs in the city, regular session of the organization. There was a tempting oyster roast. which every one did full justice to, and President c. II. Haskell, who pre- sided over the meeting, entertained with selections on his Victor machine, which were thoroughly enjoyed.
 President Haskell during the first part of the evening presented Gilbert read paper on The Need of New City Charter, which was heard with much interest by the large gathering. Mr. Raymond said:
 Municipal Government.
 A foreword as to the object of mu- nicipal government will not be out of place at the beginning of this paper. Municipal government is pure business and absolutely nothing else Change the phrase municipal government to feet on your mind. Municipal prob lems are business problems. The mo- ton of representation by district of population has no sensible application ness functions in an honest and in telligent manner. We should initiate the examples of the great and success full business corporations of our coun- try. There is nothing an honest cor poration can do which an honest gov ernment cannot do as well. The cfti- zens are stockholders in a municipal corporation and a great responsibility rests upon them, but how often is it neglected. Public servants should be of two classes; experts who devote their whole time to the duties of the office and commissioners or directors, to be representative, experienced busi- ness men. serving without pay, to meet af 6 of the executive heads of departn ents and to outline the business policy. There should be no half-pay, part time officeholders. Consolidate as far as possible the offices and duties and make the officials devote all of their time to the work at living salaries. To be praised and commended for good work by their fellow citizens is prac- tically unknown to public officials in this day and in this city.
 You cannot obtain good results in municipal or private business without paying the cost. and except by em- ploying competent men to tell you how to bring them about. You cannot pur- chase a first class article at a low price and this rule applies equally well to municipal business and to the dry goods counter. The cities that are the most progressive and fastest growing are nearly always the cities with the largest debt and the highest tax rate, as witness Hartford with a debt of
 
 mills, owning over 1,20e acres of parks, 3,200 acres of watershed with seven reservoirs, 130 miles of streets, no of which are macadam, asphalt or brick. It is a good business proposition for a city or private corporation to borrow money to make paying investment or to purchase property which will be Of untold value to future generations.
 The Present Charter.
 desire to call your attention to some of the outgrown and out of date features of the present charter. which was accepted by a vote of the citizens July 24, 1871. At that time the town had 16,000 inhabitants and the city three quarters of that number. James city official the only ones now living are Albert D. Smith and Elisha P. Slocun who were councilmen. The estimated expenses of the city for that year were S122,000, which included an interest charge of $25.000 and the pay sued the year previous for $25,000, so that the actual running expenses of the city were estimated to be $72,000. The amount estimated to pay the run- ming expenses for the year ending May 15, 1910, was over s433,0Oo.
 The amount to be raised by tax was .$S3, 900 and tax of ten mills was laid on @ grand list of a little over $9.00O,- 000 It is a curious coincidence that the tax rate that year was the same as 1909 and the grand list during the period of thirty eight years has only increased three and one-half million. while the population of the city has just about doubled.
 In 1872 there were thirteen police officers, and in that year forty-three gas street lights in the center of the city were for the first time ordered to