Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-06-10
In His Absence Acting Mayor Downey
Recommends Such Recognition
NEW LoNDoN's FREE ADVERTISING
Political Antics of Difficult Inte1pretaton-The Why
and Wherefore Unnecessary-Neg Enforce
Building Laws-A New Amusement Scheme

| The regular monthly meeting of the
| court of common council was pecu-
| liar in that every measure that was
| introduced acide from the routine
| business, action was deferred to an
| adjourned meeting to be held next
| Monday evening. in most Instances
| in Difference to the absence of Mayor
Bryan F. Mahan. The presiding Off
| Ger was Senior Alderman Stephen J.
| Downey and during the progress of
| the meeting he took occasion several
| times to remind the republican coun-
| ell that Mr.. Mahan. democrat, was the
| best mayor New London ever had and
| it was difficult to conceive that there
| would ever be his equal
(! Just why this special outburst of en-
| thusiastic appreciation on that occasion
| was not clear to all the members and
| when the presiding officer suggested a
| vote of thanks to the mayor for his
| untirng efforts in behalf of the city,
/ Alderman Bern was prompted TO ask
why this demonstration at this time
! He appreciated all that the mayor had
| done and is doing, but if q vote of
thanks was to be given he thought it
| we'll to specify why the thanks and
not have it a case of glittering gene
ralities and to an extent meaninsle<S.
| The vote was adopted and the clerk
! requested to whip the thanks into
| shane for presentation to the mayor
Mayor Downey at another period made
| some pointed remarks in regard to tbs
| advertising in the newspapers of the
! legal notices required under the chart
| er. although there did not seem to be
| anv occasion for the eloquent outottrst
unless from the report that the APP
| preparation had been exhausted He
| gave the impression that the appro
| priation had been used entirely on
/ advertising and evidently did not take
I inf fanSidor1 tinn tha oifV prirfinQ
| which included a special edition of
! the report of the health committee
and health officer. The senior alder
| man declared that thousands of dollars
could be saved the city by entering
! into a contra ct with newspapers by
I agreeing 10 take specified number
4-of inches Of advertising during the
! year The alderman informed that
such contracts were made with mer
chants and could be made with the
city on the same terms. He said that
now the city raid excessive rates for
! advertising and advised that the mat
! ter be investigated Without further
/ comment the matter was referred to
the printing committee. without com
| nent. with instructions to make report
| a the next meeting
| The alderman showed familiarity
| with the business department of a
| newspaper that was surprising to his
| fellow aldermen, and which was a rev.
/ ton 10 THOSE lEdl1tQ III he" SbotRSl
| management. As a matter Of fact the
i city is q, transient. not a. regular ad-
| vertiser and is charged the same rate
as any other transient advertiser. al
i though the advertising done is COM
| pulsory in nature
It can be put down as positive fact.
in New London especially. that the city
| GETS more free advertising from the
newspapers than all the other adyer-
| tisers combined. regular and transient,
| and therefore, is getting more value
! for the amount expended Many years
: ago a mayor of the city suggested
| something along the same lines as that
suggested by Alderman Downey, but
that gentleman made the claim that
| New London was paying more for ad-
vertising than any individual adver-
! tiser and more in proportion than any
! other city in the state.
When he ascertained that the re-
! ports of the doings of the court Of
/ common council of Bridgeport were pre-
pared by the city clerk for the news
| papers and the publication paid for at
space rates, and ascertained that he
| was wrong in the declaration that
| special and high rates We're charged
/ the city. he manfullv hauled his SLED
and was satisfied that the city was
| getting it's advertising at a fair rate.
| That was years ago. and local con-
| ditions in that respect have not
| changed.
1t is understood that subsequently
| Mr. Downey qualified his statement
saying that what he meant to have
| remedied was the difference in rates
! charged the citE by the local news
papers, believing that the rates should
| be uniform. SO far as the city is con-
cerned. and perhaps regardless of the
| variance in prices charged to other
/ advertisers based on circulation AS
Alderman Downey suggested, the mat
ter of advertising should be investi-
gated especially if the city can be saw
ed thousands of dollars each year up
| on the plan suggested by the gentle
| man.
There is an old shack in the busiest
section of Main street, which is occu-
pied but not owned by an enterprising
business firm, that is a disgrace to any
! city. or even village in this progressive
| state, and would not be tolerated in
! some cities. 1t is an old wooden
| structure. so old that even the Oldest
| inhatitant declares that it was an old
| building when he first saw it as child
| The building has not been kept in de-
| cent repair and has gradually SO deter
! iorated that the inspector of buildings,
at the council meeting Monday even
| ing, recommended that the building be
ordered RACED as it was not safe for
| occupancy. Tt was subsequently, di-
vulged that the owner of the structure
| has ordered repairs and the inspector
| was Instructed to order suspension OF
repairs until the subject was farther
considered at that next Monday even
ing meeting
While the inspector of buildings has
authority to order suspension of re-
pairs pending investigation. neither
that official or the court Of common
council have the authority to order di-
rect the razing of the building as tina
result can only be attained through
legal procedure and it is said that there
viii be difficulty in finding in th'
! statutes any law that prevents al
owner of q building placing it in re
pair provided no additions are made
as building or extension of building il
New London is governed by city chart.
er.
True there was case in New Lor
don some years ago when the city, Xix.
Steve Brody, took a chance, and re
moved a building or the remnant of {
building that the poor judgment on thu
| part Of the volunteer fremen coupled
with their efficient service. did not per
| nit the building all to be fed to the fir.