Norwich bulletin., 1915-10-09

After two years of watchful waiting the republicans are again in control of the city government of New Lon don, and by a very comfortable work 1 ing majority at that. The new mayor has had experience in the council where he served for three years as alderman, and therefore the municipal plant will be kept in continuous opera | tion, even in a partial change of the working force Mayor Ernest ,E. Rog- CTS has promised business adminis- | tration and for the citys best inter ministration will not begin until the officers within the gift of the council, now filled in the main with democrats, are occupied by those who vote the republican ticket at every election, with perhaps an exception or two.
 
 It is republican custom in New London for a republican council to re- turn to office the men who were busted by the democrats, and if that custom prevails Charles B. Douglass will sue ceed John Dray as tax collector, an office for which he is well-fitted by reason of long experience and conced- | ed qualifications. His worth was recognized by the democrat who suc- ceeded him in office, and MT. Douglass was retained as clerk ever since he lost the office of collector. This Is said to be the best-paying office in the city. even better than that of the of flee of the clerk to the board of as- sessors with a salary of $1,500, and without any overtime of consequence. The pay of the tax collector is entire ly on a commission basis, that is he receives certain percentage of the amount of taxes collected. Of late years there has been gradual increase in taxes by reason of the increased valuationsI as we'll as the increased rate. The larger the taxes the larger the pay of the tax collector, and it has reached a sung sum; but~no salary cept, for they are not much different in that respect than the rest of the human herd. 2 | Sometime, however, there is IikeIi- hood of fixed salary for the tax col leetor, the difference in the salary and the fee system going into the public fund. When that time des come. the fixed salary should be fair and reason able, due consideration being given to the omportance and responsibility of the petition. With this change there would be no damage of the collector ship going abegging. This fee system Is anticipated and perhaps was proper in the days when the city and town of New London, was not the New London of today, when now the busy and con- gested parade was a sort of market place. and where teams of oxen were !; fed while the farmers sold their wood and charcoal and farm products from } their carts.
 There is no good and sufficient req ? son why the town clerk should not also be paid a good fat salary in- stead of by fees, that are far in excess of the public service rendered The pay of the town clerk is known only to the town. clerk, but it's a. safe bet that there are very few better-paying in he n In these business administration times little matters of this nature may re- ceive the attention of the governing power of the city and town consolida- tion government.
 William J. Brennan, eairman of the republican town committee and adis trict member of the state central com mittee. the party leader, is candidate for the office of corporation counsel with a salary of S1,200 a year He is < under the customary rule the logica candidate for office. He held the posi- ton for several years, but when thu VI l democrats gained control of the coun. VI make room for Abel P. Tanner, a dem ocrat. MT. Tanner being. set aside { year later by his party and the posi- tion handed over to William T. Con nor, who in addition held the salariet T office of registrar of voters.
 Mir. Brennan succeeded Frank E Brandegee when that gentleman decfd ed to serve his county as member O congres and then United States sena tor.
 MT. Brennan is favored for the plae by the party organization and there fore ought to land the ofice,S Befor
 election there was persistent repoI
 that c. Hadlai Hull, son of State At
 torney Hadlai A. Hull was candidat
 for corporation council. and was fay a ored by Mayor Rogers and some of tn
 Whether his candidacy is of the last
 ing kind will be demonstrated. whe
 the republican members of the counc
 get together to consider the claims
 the candidates for the offices that tt
 council has for distribution to u
 faithful.
 Ex-charity comr,issioner charl, Prenkis, who was retained for ye;
 by the democrats and then removed. | out after the office again. He was SUI
 ceeded by George Goss, who had pre'
 ious experience in the ,offiee. havir served several terms, and once und
 dispargement to others. 1t is concedt
 by all familiar with the facts. that N Goss is the eernost efficient commission
 CT that ever held the. ofEace-s He mai
 investigation of matters pertaining
 the charity department and receiv'
 from other towns and the sta
 moneys that belonged to New Lond' but which had never been collect'
 and to an amount in excess of his Sd
 ary. Upon his succession to the ofne
 one of the earliest acts was the al
 rnissal of the assistant charity cor
 missioner, an office created to- ass' @ lMr. Prentis in the work of the efiAs
 ~ D