New Britain herald., 1916-07-29
T0un Topics

the average man that he will object
 strenuously to paying his personal
 tax and although he knows that it
 has got to be paid and payment will
 De forced by law, yet he invariably
 waits until the last minute before
 doing it. And it is only $2 It has
 been noticed in the past that the ma
 Jority of those who wait until the
 last minute are not men who be-
 cause of poverty are prevented from
 paying sooner. Tn fact the men who
 can least afford to pay are oftimes
 the first to do so. The personal tax
 IS tax of recent years taking the
 place of the old poll and commuta-
 ton tax. It applies to all males be-
 tween the ages of 21 and 60 years
 who are not excused by law, such as
 registered students, active f1remen,
 army or militiamen or veterans, etc.
 The money is turned into the city
 treasury and goes towards defraying
 the city's share of the state taxes.
 The cities and towns are reuuired by
 statute to pay S5 per cent. of the
 cost of maintaining the National
 Guard and most of the personal tax
 money goes to this account. Men will
 object to paying this tax, yet when
 in time of need how glad they are to
 take advantage of the protection of- fered by this same National Guard
 that their little S2 goes towards sup
 porting. If the personal taxes are not paid promptly the collector is to
 begin prosecutions when every de- inquent will have to pay not only the $2 but the costs Of court as well.
 Without going into the merits of the matter pro or con. it might be stated that business men of the city are not all in sympathy with the movement to procure funds and com forts for the soldiers at the border. Some think it an admirable thing, while others think it foolish and un- necessary Those of the latter class point out that the business man has been called upon during the past two years to donate to countless causes. Tn reference to the present call, they argue that the boys at the front have no cause for complaint at present and are not grumbling. They get their army pay, their food and clothes and should be as able to look out for themS selves (the campaign is not to aid their dependants) as we'll as the regulars who get the same pay. If l there. was a war, if the boys were in | danger of being killed or wounded l and were suffcrng then they would l gladly rally to their financial support, l but under the present conditions it 1 is argued that they are no worse off l than they are at their annual en- camDm ent, only it is more protracte l Their friends are able to keep them with tobacco and other things of a like nature. so why at this time rush into a needless hys- -eria?
 The city of Hartford is well pleased with having secured it's delivery of motor driven fire apparatus before New Britain, even though New Brit aims order was placed first. When Chairman Babcock of the safety board visited Hartford during the past week the chief of the depart nent there did not overlook the ,hance to slip a iihe across and said: Tell Chief Dame that if he has any ,ad fires he cannot handle with his lorse-drawn apparatus he can tele-
 hone to Hartford and we will have New Britain's motor trucks out there efore he can get through talking" 'ruths are often spoke in jest, how yer, and this is an instance and one hat should make the property Wners feel more safe and the in urance companies more generous
 The Hartford fire department mo- or apparatus is equipped with lumber of special hose couplings that re kept in a special rack. Each oupling is plainly marked with the anne of the nearby town or city where it will fit the hydrants. New Britain is included. Thus, if bad should occur here the Hartford fire department could, and would, send out some apparatus which could get here within a half lour after the call came. With the pecial couplings 1t could be quickly ,ttachcd to the local water mains nd thus render efficient service. This nter-city fire protection cooperation a good thing and a tling that has 1ready been noticed by the fire in ufance underwriters and given their 1nclal sanction. It is to be hoped | hat eventually New Britain will be ble to secure a series of couplings hat could be used in other nearby 1 owns and thereby assist. in the time f need, in saving property in nearby communities. 7
 The coming baseball game between 7 he Hartford and New Britain police Y epartmen is an item of interest and i lready the oldtime rivalry is spring r 1g up between the two departments. c number of years ago, when G. M. ! .anders was mayor, the local cops f ad a baseball team and his honor , them with uniforms and quipment. Although they had lots f fun they were never able to de- eat the Hartford police. Better luck r ais time.
 One civic improvement that has 6 cen needed for many years is now t eing made, and that is the widening q { the corners at the intersection 0f | f I'm and Church streets. When Q