Norwich bulletin., 1917-02-24
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
City Meeting Lights.


 MT. Editor: After listening for two hours to 8, lot of boyish talk and boy ish efforts on the part of some ex-gas and electrical experts to square them selves with the public for some of their past performances, the meeting ad- journed, having done the work which had been mapped out for it, and which could have been done in ten minutes.
 During the evening ex-Commission- CT McWilliams had the floor not less than eight or ten times, making vision ary statements and asking silly ques- tions, consuming the time of a good natured citizenry who were assembled for the purpose of tranSacting a plain, simple, business proposition. When we think of the past performances of the McWilliams regime and think of his resignation from that department, throwing the department to the mercy of the winds, and when we think of his making such a foolish statement as when the commission was changed from three to five" his oft-repeated old chestnut, nauseating to the public, the wonder is that, after the perform ances of his (and he was on the com mission nine years, and in that time sat as a commissioner and approved his own bills with the consent of his colleagues to the extent of nearly $50.0 900, without even the sembIance of competition, to say nothing of the other methods or performances which were being carried on under that TeBlne), the wonder Is that a more sensible course was not taken, and, instead of increasing the commission from three to five, abolishing it entire ly. With his performances upon that commission, he certainly has a colossal gall to stand up before a body of citi- zens and attempt even to justify him self for anything he has ever done iH the interests of that department.
 No one in the audience saw him coming forward to meet the S2OO challenge which MT. Higgins laid at his feet to prove the assertions which he endeavored to make before the body Of citizens there assembled. Mir. HiS- gins remarks were certainly entertain Ing to the audience, was proven by the cordial reception which was ac- corded him when he ceased speaking. MT. Higgins method of dealing with the promulgator of visionary state school teacher dealing with a naughty boy.
 It is easy to show profits when the proper deductions are not made from the earnings or so figured that the public are unable to grasp them. Where is the profit which the com pany is making from the contract with the Thermos Bottle works? That con- tract was made under the McWilliams regime; that contract is still to run another year; and he would attempt to criticiSe the present mana agement for what he is a party to, and I would state in this connection that the news paper has twice stated that this con- tract should be abolished. I would draw their attention to the fact that contracts cannot be broken as easily as that, but I assume that they make this statement with a lack of know ledge that that contract-is to run an other year before it expires, and in Justice to the present regime it may be well to so inform the public. I un- derstand by that contract the depart ment is losing one thousand dollars or more year. Good business, I don't think; but the one to thank for it is the McWil1iams regime.
 MT Tracy made a statement that he Is able to buy coal at a very low figuI& and his contract is good He is a fortunate man. Investigation of that subject will show that there is prac- tically nobody who has made a coal contract who has been able to have 1t enormously. In fact, everyone en- gagged in any line of industry will ad- init that the cost of production has gone to anywhere from 20 to 35 per cent. higher.
 Also another interesting fact crops out in the meeting, and that is one which also adds to the deficiency of the present department. The mayor and city government ordered a new pole line placed along North Main street, and in doing so are tacking an extra burden on to the department, which is already cramped for fusds. It seems to be the impression that this pole line which has been replaced would have been good for the next ten years. Pretty poor business methods lncurring expenses of that nature at time when the cost of everything has gone upward in leaps and bounds It may look pretty to have it changed,