New Britain herald., 1916-10-09
LIVELY DOINGS AT
 SPECIAL SESSIONS
Voting Machines, Police and Sun- day Court Subjects Of Interest
WARM DEBATES EXPECTED
Leaders Look for Big Attendance at TOnight's Meetings-May Defer Establishing Tax Rate-Carlson- O'Hara Engagement-Briefs

OHara ngagement-BriefS.
 The Warmest town meeting in years is the prediction made for the sessions of the voters to be held in the Town hall this evening when they will gather tC settle a number of questions and incidentally to express their views on the future conduct of officials regard ing affairs under their jurisdiction. The canvass of the voters concerning the voting machines and the police Ques- tiOns have been so thorough that the indications are that the attendance will be extremely large.
 Debates are promised on many mat ters but the voting machine proposi- ton bids fairs to attract the most at tention. Verbal fireworks are also an- ticipated when the question of polic- ing the streets comes "before the house." Then there is belief that there will be some criticism of justices for holding court on Sundays and an effort made to get the meeting to de- clare against the practice.
 At the adjourned annual meeting, which is to begin at o'clock there are few matters to be decided other than those of a routine character. The acceptance of the reports of the town officials is predicted and it is likely that the laying of the tax rate will be deferred until January that the voters may have some idea as to the size of the grand list and the probable ex- penses for the ensuing year.
 Tho selectmen have inserted a clause in the call suggesting that the voters consider auth orizing the board to use some of the highway appro- priation for the constructin of side walks. Their seems to be much senti- ment favorable to this plan and it's adoption is anticipated
 The need of a policeman to work regularly in the center of the town is generally recognized and the belief prevails that an appropriation sufi- ciently large to permit of the appoint ment of regular officer will be made. The seloctlnen and others as well ap- pear to be in favor of employing an Out-Of-toWn man. They argue that a stranger with no axe to grind and one who will have no cause for showing fear or favoritism can do the work more successfully than a local man. The numerous arrests of plain drunks made during tre past few months in dicates the necessity for the employ ing of a patrolman. That the center hould be kept clear of curb stone dec orators, particularly at night, is gen orally admitted and the appointment of a policeman appears to be the only solution to the problem which has de- veloped from the existing conditions.
 Democrats and socialists, with a sprinkling of republicans, are the most prominent in the ranks of those agi- tating the adoption of the voting ma chine as a substitute for the Austral- ian ballot. Except for the socialists, who are apparently united on the idea, party lines have been Obliterate ted on this feature of the meeting. Leaders of the nO-license movement seem to favor the machine while the saloon keepers are opposed to it. Prominent ly republicans, ordinarily classified as the machine clement are reported to be with the opposition. Consequently the prospects for favorable action are uncertain even with the men who have buttonholed the voters.
 The meeting promises to be inter esting and there will undoubtedly be 9 large gathering of the voters to take part in the fun"
 
 About twenty of the young people of the town enjoyed basket picnic yes- terday at Sunset Rock. During the serving of the luncheon announcement was made of the engagement Of Miss Alice OHara of IA Elm court and Herman Carlson of Unionville. Miss O'FIara is a daughter of Henry O'Hara and is an extremely popular young a1r here and is a member of the trucking firm of O'FIara and Carlson. He is at present making his home here.
 Surprise For Marra.
 Joseph Nara, former employe at the transfer station, was fined $1 and costs yesterday by Justice Con- dell before whom he was arraigned on the charge of intoxication.
 Nara. drew his pay last Thursday and left for a tWo-day vacation. Tn the meantime a crew of negroes had been imported from the South to work at the station and the white men went on strike, Marra was ig- norant of these changes and Satur- day he reported at the car used as sleeping quarters and went hunting for his junk. Dusky hued faces and "kinky' hair showed above the blank cts much to the visitors amazement His own berth was occupied by a husky negro. Marra demanded sleep ing quarters and threatened to en- l force the Jim Crow law unless the 1 darkeys made way for him.
 Officer Charles Grace, who has been ] doing duty at night since the strike 1 began, arrived on the scene in time to save Marra from getting into 1 trouble, with the sleepy occupants of l the car. He provided him with sleeping accommodations in the lock- ! up.