New Britain herald., 1917-03-03
Town Topics

II T0u,n Topics The salary ordinance, introduced a year ago this month by Alderman John Stadler, then councilman, as interpreted by Corporation Counsel J. E. Cooper means simply this in effect: If city employe. under the jurisdic- ton of the council. has no influential | friend in that august body and he de- sires a salary increase he must make application himself, after receiving the endorsement of his board, and hustle 1t before the January council meeting. Then the council deliberates upon it carefully for a month before any action is taken. On the other hand. if such an employe has "pull' political or otherwise. or has power full friend in the council this friend can properly bring in a request for a salary increase at any time. Ques- ton: What is the value of such an ordinance? Seemingly all 1t does is to limit the season during which some employees may seek financial boosts. while 1t leaves . loop hole for . brother employe with ''pulr' to have his similar request introduced at any time. The corporation coun- sells ruling is legally correct. but as such 1t makes the ordinance unfair and prevents it from doing that which 1t was presumably intended: viz, to have a fixed time to receive and act upon all proposed salary adjustments. sa&
 In connection with these salary items 1t would appear more expediei1t for the council to refer such matters to . joint salary and ordinance com- mittee. .thus saving time. At present the counci receives applications, turns
 them over to the salary committee which in due time reports back. If favorably received the report is re-
 ferred4 again to the ordinance com-
 mittee which drafts the ordinance and
 reports to the council for acceptance at later meeting. This plan neces- three times, when but twice would be
 sufficient did . joint committee act in the first place.
 The estimates of the board of pulp
 lie works asking for $227.300. an in-
 crease of 9S8,71l, over the present fis-
 cal year will almost surely be pared
 down to some extent by the board of
 finance and taxation. Particularly
 since the mayor has been exerting his
 efforts towards the seemingly impossi-
 ble task of reducing the tax rate.
 This will not come about this year
 however, judging from present indi-
 cations. The safety board has also
 asked . most substantial increase.
 seeking $l11. 900 for the fire depart
 mont alone. This is necessary in or
 der to provide new apparatus and 3
 new station. Included in the budget
 for tho board of public works are sev-
 eral imperative items. One Is the lay
 ing of permanent pavement on Stan-
 ley street from Hartford avenue to AL
 len street. All last summer this
 stretch of main highway between this
 city and Hartford was the bane of
 tourists and an eyesore to the city.
 The laying of similar pavement on
 Park street from Elm to John streets
 Is also necessary. The old macadam
 Is worn and with the heavy trafiic
 which goes over this street nothing
 but permanent paving will serve. Jubilee and Dwight streets should be repaired immediately this coming spring with semi-permanent pave- ment and there Is no doubt that ma cadam is needed on Park street be- tween stanley and Fairview streets oh Oak street, High street. Garden street and Connerton streets. In each in- stance the street named is in a de-
 plorable condition and further delay
 is impossible. The grading estimates
 are greatly in excess of a year ago, the
 largest item in this class being Ellis
 street where a large quantity of trap
 rock must be blasted out. It is a
 needed civic improvement however.
 for Ellis street is the last connecting sections of the city without going to
 South street, "a most roundabout
 route. Burritt street too, must 'cer- tainly be graded this summer. to say nothing of the other streets concern ing which property owners are justly
 protesting. The street lighting sys- tenn Is estimated at $33.OOO, as against $S1.OOO for the past year. Tn the in-
 terim the new system has been estab-
 lished and the public feels but little doubt that it is two thousand dollars
 worth better than the old style.
 The military census Is causing
 number of heretofore negligent aliens to hustle about and take out their first naturalization papers, according to reports from headquarters. When a man, not at all allied with this coun- try, Is ready and anxious in such a crisis to take the step that will tend to ally him with the Stars and Stripes there Is little doubt as to his loyalty. New Britain's citizens are loyal. The city has right to feel proud of her cosmopolitan populace.
 We all hope for an early spring. but to expect continuously mild weather immediately, or within the