Norwich bulletin., 1917-03-27
Another City Court Official.

Mir. Editor: In the good old days when Judge Brown or Judge Kellogg wore the judicial ermine in our city court three court officials were thought sufficient, judge, prosecutor and clerk. When the judge was sick or absent, he paid a. justice to sit in his place; when the prosecutor was absent, a pro tenn. prosecutor was called in who took the fees for the cases he prose cnted; and when the clerk was absent, the judge or other officia. did his work. Now we have four officials, with the number of cases about the same and it is proposed to add fifth. in the legislature, attending to the duties of their constituents, further help would be real nice. But perhaps present conditions will not always continue.
 A few years ago it was thought something of a gain for the taxpayer when the compensation of the prose cutting attorney was changed from the fixed salary of $1,200. This was SUD- posed to have reduced expenses at least $200. But later the office of as- sistant judge was created and that advantage was wiped out. Of course, if the rate of taxation is not likely to be large enough, new office better be created, and if this will not do it, let salaries be increased, including that or the new incumbent
 Judge Back of Danielson, who it will be recalled took a fatherly inter est in Norwich upon the new town question two years ago, and who still keeps his weather eye open in this direction, thinks conditions here are quite scandaloLs and must be changed, for the reputation of the state, if not for our own good, and possibly there is no appeal from this opinion of his rendered from the bench of the judi  ditions here quite anomalous in this respect and knows of only one other case in the eastern part of the state which is as bad.
 TAXPAYER.
 Norwich, Conn., March 26, 1917.
 A Pre-VecationaI School.
 Mir. Editor: It is matter for regret that all parents of children in the public schools could not have been last Friday and heard the compre- hensive report in favor of pre- vocational school which was made by the committee that have devoted themselves to investigation of the sub ject during the past winter.
 Those acquainted with the cordi- tionS agree that there is urgent need of additional school room in Norwich. building was erected, while some of those now in use have done service for three generations and not only are they unwho!esome places for chi1- dren to spend their growing years in but they are unduIy expensive to maintain. Furthermore work is car ried on with a serious loss of efficiency because of inability to properly dis tribute and apportion pupils and teachers. In visiting other cities Gne is impressed by the modern. conmodi- ous, well lighted and well appointed schoolhouses that have become nu- merous in recent years throughout the country, and 1t must be admitted that Norwich is not abreast of the times in this fundamental matter of ade- quate quarters.
 If then the time has come for the erection of a modern building it would appear to be a favorable opportunity to carry out the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce and adapt the new building to the needs of pre- vocational work. The investigation of the committee has established the edu- cational value of such work in teach ing children to apply the knowledge gained from books and to become self reliant and resourceful Facility in work. coordination of the increased usefulness and in terest in home affairs and guidance toward the career for which they are best qualified are further advantages to the pupils from this training.
 A trade school is hardly attainable at present, in view not only of the high initial cost of constructing and a building confined to that purpose but especially because of the Tar greater cost per pupil for mainte- | nance; as compared with such a school l as the committee advocates, which is not essentially different from what will soon be required for the ordinary The committees plan