Norwich bulletin., 1911-02-10
WATCHING NORWICH
 AND ITS NEW CHARTER.
Advertising of City Business Should
 Not Be Overlooked.

The commission plan of government is already making some progress in this state, says the Tattler in the New London Day. Norwich is trying to se- cure the adoption of a plan of this kind, and Waterbury and Bridgeport are threatening to do something of the same kind. Let US wish them luck. I believe no opposition to- the proposed new plan of city government for Norwich has yet developed. If hearings 1t is very likely it's petition will be granted. Then Norwich will be watched with great interest by the citizens of our other cities in order to ascertain how her new government works out. It started in to run a municipal gas and electric plant some years ago. but up to this time scarce Iy two citizens of the Rose can be found to agree as to the ultimate wis dom of that step. One thing is certain, the present day consumers of gas and electricity in Norwich are getting both these necessities at much lower rate than the citizens of New London get them. What will befall the future residents of our up the river neigh bor when the city's gas and electric obligations mature is another matter They are now living on the principle of sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof"
 One feature of most of these com missions by government plans should not escape notice. The promoters Eror,.sc to do away with newspaper publicity that is, paid publicity asked to do all the city advertising free of charge. Great scheme, isn't it? Of course the newspapers in their keen rivalry for news will print it the city's legal advertising for noth- in. Yes, they will The bright minds y-1, ,,Ia .,f government evidently believe news papers are just eleemosynary institu tfCEs, and not dependent upon busi- ness receipts to keep their presses go- ing. Perhaps they should be par doned. so many people are possessed of the same belief. I wonder how Norwich, for instance, is going to keep it's residents informed as to what it's governing powers are doing or intend doing? The scheme snracks of star chamber proceedings. It is true, all meetings of the governing commits sion are open, or supposed to be, but everyone cannot attend these meet ings. Suppose the commission wants to let contracts for public work. or hold hearings upon assessments, how will it secure public notice that will be ample to meet the emergency Even commission forms of govern ment for cities differ in detail, and some do call for advertising some city notices in the newspapers, but most of them do not. 1t has generally been thought, before this new idea move- ment started that public business could not get too much publicity, and that advertising it in the newspapers was the best way of getting it before the people.
 In their zeal for economy the pro- motors of commission form of govern n1ent have foolish1y- concluded that there was no need of advertising city business-that if the taxpayers want ed to know anything about the doings or intentions of the commission, they coul1 go to the ommissioners and ask them about it. To make it appear as if publicity is to be insured to all of the commission doings, the acts creat- ing the commission form Of govern ment usually reads that report of all proceedings will be given the newspa pers. When the commissioners want bids for supplies, coal, etc, or bids for constructing a fire house, they evidently are supposed to hand the newspapers the specifications, and the latter, in the goodness of their hearts, are expected to print them all without charge. But if the news papers refuse to print advertising mat ter free, what then? The public will sbe compelled to live in blessed ignor- ance of what their business agents are doing.