Norwich bulletin., 1919-10-18

commissioners.
 This exception eouId4 not be avoided
 as Alderman Byron A. Tones, Wht
 filled the positions so.s atisfaetorfly imember of the.court of coG1mon co1n- cfl. A new member Was lselerte fos that place. He is Major Morris W Payne. a new entry into the politica game in New London He recently re- turned from military service overseas 8 and perhaps was given. special con- sideration for that reason. And per haps not. He is civil engineer and
 architect. and. that may have been, the
 reason why. Hiss selection is sconsid- t<ered significant in connection with ] the proposition to add yto the source ot water supply for athe city. x.sea.9s sss.- 7 AS has been related in this cores pondence, there is quite fight on as 1 to; whether the city will take over the Miller pond, now in the control of Westerly investors, as recommended of commerce., ors the, 8Bogues brook, as recommended by the board of water
 and sewer Commissioners. There has
 been difficulty to get, an outside en-
 gineer to- make investigation and re-
 port, as it would be a breach of engf-
 neering etiquette. This may be chang
 ed with Engineer Payne on the board
 But this wa1r story is familiar to. all
 has been theroughIy X threshed out
 from start to the present time in all
 it's details.
 Major Payne has also been favored
 committee wise, and again. perhaps
 for purpose. No doubt the major
 for the honors conferred. The mayor
 appointed him to the important com
 mittees on streets and sidewalks and
 the fire department Alderman Chap
 pell is retained on this latter commit
 tee. as is also Alderman Woodwork.
 thus indicating that their action in
 the police muddle of the past has the
 approval of the mayor. There has
 been much criticism. even by the may
 or. of the inactivity of the streets and
 fire committees during the year pass
 ed, yet the mayor reappointed Alder
 man ~Curt&s to the chairmanship of
 both. The committee street lights is composed wholly of democrats. AL dermen Gragan. Collins and Wuest. as
 is also the committee on printing, AL dermen Wuest. Pendergast and Allen. That is Alderman Aliens only com mittee, and he will not be overworked. Alderman William T. Harrigan. a Greeneville product, now a successful New London merchant, is the only other democrat given a craftsmanship. He heads the important committee on health and is also member of the finance committee
 The democrats in selecting candi- dates for offices within the gift of the republican council had the nerve to sumbit names as candidates without their knowledge and Ihe first intima ton they had of tLe action was when of the meeting were printed in the local press. This action is not fair to the men named, as it would give in? pression that they were seekers for office that they would not ac- cept if offered them on the traditional golden platter. This is especially true in the case of the candidate nominat- ed by the democrats for the office of of charities.
 There seems to be stir in Norwich over the appointment of a third ser geant of the police force, the methodt Of appointment or something ofTthat sort. and there is criticism of seeking legislative action authorizing the ap- pointment of the Aforesaid sergeant. | But that is Norwich matter that does not concern but still interests i New Londopers who do not under l stand what 1t is all about. The New London police force is composed of a chief in the person -of the mayor. a ! ca ptain, a lieutenant six sergeants 1 double :. the number Norwich is to have), 31. patrolmen. two supernum | cries and a janitor. There was no fuss i ,ver the appointment of sergeants and i he increase in number gradually from ] ,ne sergeant to the present number. There was no legislative authority | sought, nor even authority from the i ,ourt of common council. The com nittee saw fit to make the appoint nents. and that's all there was to it. Three of them are utilized as desk ergeants,& and the others for special | treet duty.3e The inside chaps serve F ,ra cticailys as clerks for the captain md lieutenant of police. They do the i 'ook work.~4that is perhaps done by II me of the policemen in Norwich and i n consequence the real officers of the | department are not tied down to any 'articular part of police routine.
 The time was when old Captain | Haven and Lieutenant Jeffers per ormed all the duties of their office without the assistance of clerks or lesk sergeants- But that was in the lays before an unsuccessful attempt ras made, by. the committee of the po- ice department to place little New london on a par with big New York, hereby demonstrating champagnel ook. On the quiet, the present po- ice force is not a whit more efficient han the department of two years ago, ut in many particulars is less effl- tent. Today the janitor of the police tation is getting just as much pay as vas paid the captain of police two ears ago: The words of the late la H nented Ben Franklin were not heed d in police matters: Don't pay too much for your whistle.S
 The sale of business buildings is still oing on. and there does not seem to e any let-up in the high prices paid. he purchasers are practically all of tt he same race, and noted for their usiness ability. These purchasers know just where they are at s they rarely spend a business dol IT without getting & fixed percentage f profit in return. They have paid