New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-02-19


in the realm Of adventure that would
last two months if conducted on the
same style as that used by the
Safety Board in city affairs.
If any body of men undertook to
carry out business project in the
same fashion the Safety Board has
gone about its work failure would be
the first visitor. If any committee Of
picnic modelled their business plans
on the same fashion cut by the Safety
Board the picnic would never take
place. If any political campaign was
waged after the manner of Safety
Board tactics the candidate would go
down to inevitable defeat.
In short, the Safety Board is a mis-
fit. Further, 1T has no place in the
municipal affairs of a city the size Of
New Britain. AS 1t Is now run the
Safety Board Is positively dangerous.
Its demoralizing influence on tho
members of the Police and Fire De-
partments is easily seem With every
eruption\ Of the volcanic Safety Board
the two departments directly under it's
influence are effected. With every
difference within the councils of the
Safety Board there is direct loss OF
prestige in the Police Department., and
in the Fire Department. Since the
men appointed to carry out the gov
erning power over these two depart
ments have proven themselves incap-
able of exercising restraint among
themselves no one can expect members
of the police and fire departments to
refrain from similar tactics. If there
is the slightest hint of politics within
the Safety Board there must be a cor
responding amount Of the same evil
in the two departments.
1t has come to this: Because Of the
manner in which the business of the
Safety Board is conducted dissatisfac-
ton has crept into the ranks of the
police and fire departments. If for
one reason or another. a shift is made
in the personnel of either department,
the action is taken as political move,
and INSTRUMENTATION results. Men
moved from one post to another refuse
to do the new work allotted. 1t is in
subordination pure and simple.
The discipline of a police depart
ment and a fire department should be
as rigid as that which Is in force in
an army or a navy. Superior officers
must be obeyed, regardless of in
dividual comforts or taste. There is
no repeal from commands given for
the good of the service. A drum head
court martial should await any men,
Der of the rank who disobeys an
order. But these things cannot be
made feasible if the governing body,
the general staff, is composed of
members who bubble among them
selves upon every question that comes
up for consideration. The Safety
Board is to the city police and fire de-
partments, or should be, what the gen.
eral staff is to the United States Army.
Its word should be final.
Mayor Quigley upon his return to
the city will have these things to con-
slider. The welfare of the city de-
mands that the Safety Board receive
first aid treatment from the Chief
Executive. He has disposed of one
set of officials, the board that pre-
coded this one. If he had Just reason
to turn that triumverate out of office
he has the same reason for doing awav
with this trio. If there is one good
man among them this man should be
officials new board can be built
around him for efficient service, then
| one commissioner should stay The
interests of the city demand immediate
action.
The case is somewhat similar to
that which confronted Lincoln in his
| efforts to save the Union If freeing
| the slaves would save the Union he
half of the slaves would save the
Union he would free half of the
slaves. If keeping all the slaves in
bondage was the only way to save the
| The main object was to save the
| Union. This is specifically stated in
Lincoln's letter to Horace Greedy.
! With Mayor Quigley the first ques-
| ha ojf ~it
not be hampered and harrassed by
such a Safety Board as is now in exist
ence. The morale Of the Police De-
partment will suffer If this condition
of the Fire Department will also be