New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1917-12-22
Tom Topics

! which the aggressive third ward war
| horse locked horns with Mayor Quig-
| ley on the issue, has become the cur
| rent topic of conversation. That the
authorized investigation will provide
| some interesting reading for the pub
lie, regardless of what developments
are brought about, is assured. And
| in this present controversy the posi-
ton Of the mayor, as touched upon
| at the council meeting by Alderman
| Curtis when he said he could remem-
| Der a time when His Honor was not
| above rejecting on the integrity of the
charity department, is interesting.
Today George A. Quigley, as mayor,
stands staunch behind his charity de-
! partment. ready to back it to the
! limit. Yet look back five years.
George A. Quigley, then Alderman
| from the second ward, occupied
| role similar to that of o. F. Curtis
| today. He was the official investiga-
| tor of City hall and it was at that time
that the famous town home scandal
occurred. when Alderman Quigley
charged mistreatment Of it's inmates
and viciously attacked the charity de-
partment. In fact 1t was his at
tempted expose of the town home
management and his attack on the
vehicle on which he rode into public
favor and ultimately the mayors
chair. Politics is a queer game and,
as the saying goes, makes strange
/ bed fellows. To see the mayor now
lined up on the opposite side defend
ing the charity department just as
vigorously as he ever assailed 1T, is
but one OF the many whims Of fate,
yet one cannot help but smile as they
reflect-and the mayor too, must oc-
casionally indulge in a grim grin him
self as he thinks the matter over. -
II, as he asserts, Alderman Curtis
has proof that the charity department
has unnecessarily wasted money, then
the facts should become known, for
what the people want is efficiency in
public management. The fact that
this department admits, in it's report
to the council, failure to go through
the proper channels to obtain extra
monies needed might make some be-
lieve that Alderman Curtis can prove
his statements. The practice of any
committee knowingly over-drawing it's
appropriation without coming before
the council to ask permission to use
more money Is q dangerous one and
should not be tolerated, but this is
no time to make any insinuatiQns
against the men on the charity board.
They are all intelligent, reputable and
honest men and their is no reason to
even hint at any financial Irregular
tiles. Poor judgment and possible
lack Of good business methods seems
to be the worst that can be charged
against them-and to err is but
human. These Investigations should
not be primarily for the purpose Of
heaping criticism and abuse upon
those who may have erred, but rather
for the purpose Of pointing out errors
| that they may be guarded against in
the future and gnot occur again.
Now is the time to make your New
Years resolutions. To use less meat,
wheat and sugar seems to be reso-
luton that almost everybody will,
perforce, keep this coming year.
AS for certain other kinds Of New
Year resolutions-they will be in
vogue for at least six years more and
it will continue just as much fun to
break them. After that it may be
impossible.
The practise of some policemen in
court, in taking it upon themselves to
| act as a first or second assistant prose-
cutting attorney is amusing to the lay
man and annoying to the legal pro-
| fession. To see one or more police
men interested in case continually
| racing across the court room to whis-
per new idea to the prosecutor does
not add to the dignity of the court,
| reflects on the prosecutors ability to
accused natural impression that the
cops have 1t in for him."
The filing out Of the new draft
questionnaires is not such. a simple
process as many imagined and for
those not familiar with the English
| language it Is even more difficult. To
assist in giving advice as to how
| these should be filled out the legal
| fraternity of the city have rallied in
| a commendable manner, even as the
medical fraternity responded during
| the examination days last summer.
| met the one lawyer, reported as charg-
| ing a regular fee for such advice,
| should be given a lesson in profess
| sional ethics and patriotism. The at
tention of the governor should also
he called to the practise Of another
I man, not lawyer, reputed as charg-
| ing SO or SO for giving QUESTIONABLE
service to foreigners. There is no
| law against this. but the ignorant
! foreigners should not be thus inn,
posed upon when he essays to per-
form his patriotic duty. The greed
for gold seems to slip in everywhere
and even patriotism is not exempt.
Buy some Red Gross stamps. A few
Thrift stamps ought also be pur-
J chased. Likewise don't look the other
| WAY every time you pass the Saliva