New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-12-18
COMMUNICATED.
GARBAGE AND ASHES.
RCader Also Discusses TaX-Paying
City Officials.
Editor, New Britain Herald:


In reply to a communication in
IueSdaE 5 issue signed 'WOman Tax
payer | would like to make a few
remarks, answer a few questions and
make a few observations. First. as
TO a system Of garbage collection,
ashes. Tin cans and old bed springs
included: Does the dear lady know
that this question has been brought up
by the health board several times and
put off because of the expense en-
tailed? " this system is adopted it is
going to cost the taxpayers much
more than they are paying now, and
even in the best regulated garbage
collection circles it has been rumored
that some women actually comment
on the quality and scarcity of their
neighbors garbage, insinuating that
their neighbour doesn't eat more than
one meal a. day, etc. Still you would
not be rid of the smiling inspector
with his postage and printed matter
and notebook, because someone has
to watch the collector Why pick on
a poor S1,00O-a-year inspector, any
way, who was born with d smiling
face? He will probably lose his smile
trying tocWatch about 20 slippery gar
bage collectors who are getting so
cents an hour.
As to the lid on the big wagon: 1t
is hard to keep wooden cover in
good repair when it is subjected to
suCh hard usage, and it is impossible
to gather UP the smell and keep it all
in the can while you are transferring
1T into the wagon. A practice fol-
lowed by the writer and found very
effective on approaching a garbage
wagon on the windy side was to take
deep breath about rs PAGES on the
weather side of the wagon and then
sail majesticaily by, thinking Thoughts
Of fields of clover Or begonias or
something nice, and on reaching a
point about rs PAGES on the other side
would let go and proceed just as if
you had passed q bevy of biscuit
shooters on q Thursday afternoon. BY
the way, after frequent trips to Hart
lord, where they are supposed to have
such an efficient system, I have come
to the conclusion that our garbage is
lust as sweet as theirs, and as for
their ash collection, I have been show
cred with lovely coat Of fine ashes
blown from their wagons, making my
one suit look like a palm beach"
Now, the salary question in that
particular board is the same in all the
others. I do mot think the board of
health is raising the salaries to pay
it's help because of the $40 extra
hours, but because it knows that the
employees are entitled to 1T. The cost
Of living has been increasing for the
past four years. Meanwhile, the city
employees of all boards have been
worrying along, sticking to their jobs
faithfully, for, the same old salary,
while the la'borers, mechanics and
some business men have been reaping
q harvest Of high wages. bonuses and
increased profits. The average city
employee has been forced to go into
debt during these trying times, or cut
tho family down to two meals day.
ard most Of them are trying to raise
family on a salary that would not
keep respectable canary bird
IS far a g having a common council |
composed Of taxpayers and requiring
city officials 20 be taxpayers, I will |
just offer few figures:
Out Of rs members of the various |
commissions who spend your money. |
Il nre taxpayers--93.4 per cent: SO |
out OF II city officials are taxpayers- |
92.7 per cent; IS out Of 30 common |
council members are taxpayers-s6.e |
'ner cent, This does not include all |
city employees such as clerks, inspec- |
tors, etc. because. although they nav |
have rosy plans for the future and al |
ways try to appear to be enjoying life
like a person with regular lob 7 am
afraid they will never have that glori-
Gus feeling that steals over a citizen
of New Britain when he puts his
John Hancock" on the bottom of a |
tax list and raises his hand solemnly
to God to witness the truth Of said
declaration, even though he NAV have
forgotten to put down the Ford and |
the piano and the COW
Trusting that this may purify the
situation and hoping that the lady
taxpayer has declared her property at
it's full value. I remain
Faithfully yours.
A TANPAYING CITY