New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-11-10
.70un Topics


members with a recommendation for
a special emergency fund of $4,000.
Last year the mayor advocated such
a special appropriation but the men,
oers of the board did not think it
necessary at the time. Conditions
are different now. The United States
is at war and the city. as we'll as the
state and nation, finds itself sudden
" confronted with many things which
cost money but for which there is
10 appropriation. The need Of such
L fund is daily apparent for there are
,requent occasions when the city finds
it necessary to spend money, which
may eventually be returned by the
state or nation, yet it has not the
cash at hand to use.
Another automobile theft occurred
in this city during the past week, one
Of many during the past year or two.
and although in most instances the
stolen machines have been recovered,
here have been several that were
lot 1t is strange in this connection
hat most Of the automobiles that
have been stolen here of late have
,een taken from the public parking
place in the vicinity Of the corner of
West Main and Washington street.
Only Thursday night a car owned by
Il prominent Elk was tempered with.
The ignition key was broken where
The would-be thief had evidently
f"iled to start the motor. In addi-
ton to the theft of the cars there
have been numerous instances where
blankets, robes, clothing and equip
ment have been stolen from machines
n this vicinity. Something must be
done to protect the owners and to
curtail the activities of the m1screants.
Two suggestions have been made. One
S that a special plain clothes police
nan be detailed to this vicinity be-
tween the hours Of and 10 or 1890
p. m. Another is that someone be
granted the privilege of watching
these machines and accepting tips"
from the owners as is done at various
summer resorts where cars are
parked. If New Britain had a CEN
trail garage sufficiently large there
might also be a field for the proprie-
tor to advertise parking space for
the evening at very nominal sum,
say fifteen cents or a quarter, as is
done in many other cities. AS it Is
many people are afraid to leave their
cars unguarded while they attend the
theaters or any other event which
takes several hours.
=
The reorganization of the Chamber
of Commerce takes us back three Or
four years to. the time when the old
New Britain Business Mems associa-
ton was abolished in favor of the new
chamber, organized at the time by
professional organizer named W. B.
Moore. All remember the glowing
tales related at the time prophesying
a new era of business prosperity for
the city as a result of this organiza-
ton, but in the minds Of many of
the business men the Chamber of
Commerce has failed. Now in order
to reorganize it, or more exactly, to
organize a new chamber. it will be
evidence of ability to produce them in
order to obtain membership. Those
working on the inside are very OPP
tinistic and see success ahead. Those
on the outside are not so favorably
inclined. They look at the PROPOSE
ton with the skeptical eye of the
proverbial Missourian. But there is
no doubt that a good, live Chamber
of Commerce would be an asset to
the city but such an organization must
be live one. it should have a live
local man, rather than an imported
secretary, in charge, its members
should work in harmony and, above
all, it should be so conducted that
the members will get value received
for their money. The new organizers
have anything but an enviable task.
That section of the new automobile
law which provides that all vehicles
which are so constructed as to pre-
vent a. free view of the operator to
the rear must have a mirror equip
ment is causing more or less specu-
lation among the public and even
lawyers themselves are somewhat at
odds as to what the strict interpreta-
ton might be. At first glance it
would appear that any car, being
operated with the top down or the
side curtains up, as we'll as sedans
and limousines, should have such q
mirror enabling the operator to see
behind him. Acting upon this belief
it is noticeable that many motorists
have attached these mirrors to their
cars. There are others, however, who
hold that a car with only the top
down permits the driver to put out
his head to look behind him, or,
possibly, to see in the rear through
the calluloid windows. These people
do not think it necessary to attach
mirrors. 1t is probable that judges of
various courts will place different in
terpretations on the law and the first
prosecution brought under this
statute will be watched with interest.
Meanwhile, safety first.
Within the next week or two the
board of public works will conclude
its fall work as 1t is getting too cold
to do much outdoors, and when freez-
ing weather comes 1t will be impos-
sible to do any cement work. The
work accomplished by this depart