Norwich bulletin., 1916-02-03
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Gas and EIectric Plant

MI. 1e4AtOA III aLCSdAu CO llAG RcC4e liar state of things existing in the Gas and Electric commission. would like to trespasS upon your space in a few words on the situation
 It is a well known fact that when the plant was taken over by the city 1t was in an exceedingly bad and run down condition, largely arising from the long period of litigation which covered about two years.
 The company which then owned and managed the plant was only anxious about the amount of money which they knew they were going to lose the plant and consequently were no longer interested in it's upkeep. If they had any interest in the future of the plant it naturally was adverse to the city's interest, thinking that some unto ward thing might happen which would make the citizens sick of their bar gain and throw it back into the hands of a private corporation again. They were keen, shrewd men who knew that such plant could not be run by poli- ticians.
 But Charles F. Thayer did. not ap- point men who in the ordinary sense of the word could be called politi- clans, but rather men who in the 1 performance of their task as commits sicners gave themselves to the work l in hand with all the zeal and knowl- 1 edge they possessed. Consequently l they went at the job of reequipping 1, this broken down plant. and in a few l years were able to give the city of 1 Norwich the most efficient service it ever had and at the same time low ering the rates to the consumer. An ! increasing output and a larger i'm crease was the thing expected from 1 the annual reports.
 That the plant became prosperous and was fairly kept up to date no one could truthfu1ly gainsay. The commits sioners if they erred at all it was on the score of economy. for if they had been managing it for corpora I ton with a board of ordinary sensi- ble men they would have asked for l more money than they did from the l city because of some adverse inter- 1 ests who tried to make things dis agreeable at city meetings and a lit- I tie more money could have been used iudicicusly and consequently the plant would have been some better.
 I It can be said for the old commits sion which was entirely non- political I In it's management of the plant and the hiring of labor, how a man voted, or where he went to church, was not even thought of, The only issue considered l was the best machinery, the best soup I plies, and the best men that could be I found were engaged to run the different 2 departments. One thing that every Il body knows now is that the present commission was not only appointed as a political expedient but at the time the act was passed making commits sion of five instead of three, there was la vicious attempt made by some of l the advocates of the bill to besmirch the good name of the former commis- sion. Now what has this commission I of five done2
 The public knows that there have Il been more niishaps, more lights out oi I commission, more stoppages at the T T11qr1f +. a If rarSr4
 mission than in the nine years of the former commission. It is only a com mission in name, for a lawyer ir
 Montville and doctor in Norwich have been running the thing until il smelled so rank that a quiet but cor longer and has refused to work ol a take the medicine which the politica,
 doctor deals out. l presume the hal1
 has not. been told with regard to the
 present commission. None in regard
 to this contract with the Uncas Pow
 CT Co., It may not be for the best in
 teresss of the city to sign a contract
 with the Uncas Power company, or any other company The Norwich GaE
 and Electric department can make fts
 own electric light and power and not
 depeEd upon any outside source, and
 if the former commissioners had re- maineG in charge there is no doubt bui they would have had the plant now in
 u6p6nue4t .Ol all OulS10e sources Ol supply The writer of this letter if
 not in the habit of making rash state ments, but knows from experience and expert advice which he has received
 that If the cimmission of five had kept the plant up to the expected de mands upon it there would have beer
 no need for a quarrel over a contract
 Leaving out the commissioner who has lately revolted, I would like to asl the present commission if they have done anything that even justifies theil existence as a commission running . great power plant.
 We will admit that some of these men are sly and wary politicians. but if the city continues to keep such meT running million dollar plant which
 they had nothing to do with the up.
 building of. it won't be a million dol lar plant long.
 If the taxpayers of Norwich ars l wise they will make an endeavor tt sell the plant as soon as a sale car be arranged for.
 We EDow by the experience of othel cities that such things can not bt trusted with safety to professiona politicians. And we also know that ths