New Britain herald., 1915-01-09

ing districts will con- t1nue for some time to come and that the plan the charter re- N-s~N.s.. vision committee has in mind is to extend | the boundary lines of the inner district l out so far as to take in all improved property the outskirts. There 1 can hardly be any objection to this. although some of the property own CTS have been opposed to any change on the ground that they had not been receiving the regular city benefits and should not be asked to pay for them The proposition of the committee, however, which is in the nature of a compromise, is apt to be received with some degree of satisfaction af- ter it has been fully considered be- cause this plan is in accordance with
 the understanding at the time con- solidation was adopted. It was stat ed then that the property on the out
 skirts would not be made subject to the full tax until it had all city inn provements. That time has arrived
 for some sections and there will be no injustice done by extending the boundary lines to include those places. All things considered the proposed plan should make the adoption of the amendments as whole a compara- lively easy task. it is not under stood that there will be any ref erendum attachment to the report
 but the absence of any such provision would not prevent those opposed to
 any change in the taxing districts ap-
 bearing before the committee on
 cities and boroughs, entering a pro tests and perhaps queering some of the
 amendments which are regarded as an absolute necessity for the improve
 ment of the government of the city.
 IT the committee can frame re-
 port that will meet With general fla
 Vor 1t will be an important step be-
 cause it will prevent any ill feeling
 in the working out of the new laws.
 There are some other very important amendn1 ents in the list, among them
 one. not yet adopted, concerning
 reduction of the membership of the common council. Somehow 1t does not seem as if the charter ommit- tee is very enthusiastic on this point
 and it Is barely possible that in the
 end the proposition may not be fa-
 vored at all. There appears to be split over ward lines, but it would
 be an easy matter to shave off two councilman from each ward and leave the lines as they are. This would
 reduce the representation to about the desired number and would leave
 the ward lines undisturbed. This
 would settle a troublesome question and would leave the council still re- publican, which is a condition that appears to be strongly desired, al- though 1t would be better if the wards were closer as regards party strength.
 The board of public safety has or
 ganlzed and presumably the business
 of the police and fire departments will
 be carried on until the close of the year and it meets for organiza-
 ton next year. It is within the
 range of possibilities that the board
 will be made partisan by that time, and if so it will be able to organize
 without delay or difficulty. There should be neither, however, in get ting together with the present mem
 bership, even though the two leading
 political parties are equally repre- sented on the board The chairman ship carries with it salary of $500, and the clerkship $500, the latter be- ing a good berth on the side and does not require an absence from any other
 regular employment that the occu- pant may have. There is no board in the city where there is less reason for a deadlock, because care has been taken to make it SO There Is no political qualification in either fire or police departments and any body of men in so close touch with the two
 branches should be able to agree on who are the best men for the city in either part of the city service and ap- point them without the slightest fric- tion. There is absolutely no reason why this should not be done as we'll
 by a bipartisan board as a partisan one. The task would be easier, how
 ever, If there were civil service rules
 governing appointments, because in
 the first place it would mean that
 only the best men would be selected
 It may be argued with mucn reason that certain men, who, perhaps could
 not pass a civil service examination
 would make better policemen than
 some of those who could This may
 be true, but in the long run the civil
 service would bring the best results.
 and what is just as good is that it
 would assist in establishing d degree
 of efficiency in the administrative de-
 partment that would be shared by
 every other branch of the city ser
 vice. Mr. Alling, the new chairman,
 will no doubt give a good account of
 himself in this position. The "about town man" has had occasion to know
 that he is deeply interested in his
 work. that he has sought and is still
 seeking all available information
 b1,, f,n T
 vice, and the man who does this is