Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-11

Wulcn provides for bonding the city for the building of. uch-needed sidewalks In New London; and which means the construction of thirty miles of side walks before the expiration of the mayors term of office, was given an other thorough discussion at the ragu- council Monday evening. The mayor talked plainly of the alleged motives of the gentlemen who have petitioned the legislature in opposition to the proposition. stating that the main mo- tive was the objection to paying their fair rate of taxation. He referred to them as the favored few who were ever ready to oppose any matter that indicated progress and for pecuniary reasons. The mayor called nc names but by innuendo selected from tie list of the signers of the petition those whom he intended to attack for their lack of public spirit and civic pride.
 That the move for new sidewalks is not a political measure, as has been in sinuated, is perhaps best shown by the unanimous action of the court of common council with a substantial support of the project introduced by the democratic mayor senator. Not content with voting unanimously in favor of the matter, the council au- thorized the mayor to appoint com mittee of five aldermen to appear be- fore the legislative committee to ad- vocate the passage of the resolution authorizing the city to issue bonds for the construction of new sidewalks. and the corporation counsel was also in structed to appear before the commit tee as the authorized legal representa- tive.
 With the mayor, a committee of the court of common council and the cor poratfon counsel urging the passage of the measure, it would seem sufficiently -~f-- -I-
 tee as to the real wishes of the city of New London, even if there is opposi- tion by the gentlemen of prominence whom the mayor designates as the favored few" It has been definitely decided that should the legislature grant authority to issue the bonds. a rider will be attached that the bonds cannot be issued until approved by the citizens of New London in legally warned city meeting assembled Ths mayor declares that when such vote is taken it will be carried by vote of twenty to one, as the people as whole are favorable to the proposition.
 Without any intention of giving honor whore honor was not due, Mayor Mahan did wrong when in the make up of the standing committees he des- publican, as chairman of the commit tee on town affairs, and thereby recog- nizing him as the first selectman. It so happened that Selectman William l.. White, democrat, was the first can- didate on the ticket, and Selectnan Kenrerson held like place on the re- publican ticket. MT. White, although the minority representative on the board, received the highest number of votes of any candidate on either ticket and therefore considered himself the first selectman. When the mayor by | H. ~f- ~kL,
 wise MT. White made protest. and the mayor explained that MT. Kennerson was named as chairman by reason of previous experience and no thought was given as to who was entitled to the honor of being classed as first se- lectman, as the distinction is of but little consequence under the consoli- dated city and town government. MT. White insisted, however and the dues- tionl was put up to the corporation counsel, who declared MT. White to be the legally elected first se1ectman and the matter was settled to the satis- faction of all concerned.
 Naturally MT. White was proud of the big vote he received and he wanted all that went with 1t, and that was the chairmanship of 9 common council committee and to preside at special sessions of the selectmen when sitting as committee on town affairs or as a board of registration, and he did not propose to have any man take from him what was rightfuily his. It was a friendly contest between Selectmen Kennerson and White and the former yielded gracefully to the decision of the corporation counsel. No member of the court of common council Is old enough to remember the time before the present when a.democrat was first selectman of New London.
 Ir order to secure the wom ans coll lege for New London it is necessary, according to the agreement entered into by the committee representing the city and the incorperators, to raise a fund of $100,000 in addition to the $50,- 900 already appropriated by the city, conditional that there shall be fund over and above the local fund, perma- nent in it's nature of at least 31. .00e, 900. It is proposed to raise that sum dur ing the balance of the short month of February under the guidance of a com . mittee composed of Colin s. Buell., principal of the Williams Memorial in stitute, Rev. James Wilson Bixler, pastor of the Second Congregational church, Frank Valentine Chappell, a leading young business man. Alexander J. Campbell. general manager of the New London Gas and Electric com pany, and Frederick S. Hitchcock, prin- cipal of the Manual Training school. The preliminary letter has been issued