Norwich bulletin., 1919-03-04
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Water Department superintendency.

Mr. Editor: The sentiment in letter
by Citizen last week met with my ap-
prevail There has been very little
agitation in relation to the important
amendment to our charter concerning
the water department. Why was the
Office of superintendent of this depart
ment chosen as worthy of perpetual
tenure? Why exempt the city clerk?
His term was extended to two years.
Why was that act making the term of
clerk two years separated from the
other bill concerning the water de-
partnent when both were before the
same session of the legislature? Was
it selfishness? Was it simply because
one man thought that he was more
worthy than every one else and was
very particular in advancing his own
welfare to the exclusion of all others?
This is a very democratic manner OF
securing a job for life. 1t is in keep
ing with the onward march of popu-
lar government as expressed by the
will of the people. Verify, by Sar-
casm of law and rhetoric we are free
men"
Time was when we taught our chill
dren to remember the words of one of
our greatest orators, namely: that the
people are the fountain source whence
flow all the rights that public officers
possess and that Office seekers must
bow to the will of the people" But
now the men that are sent as our SER
wants 10 Hartford are in reality our
masters Suppose that q bill had been
| introduced at the present session OF
| the general assembly providing that at
! the city meeting to be held at Nor
Wlch next June all the candidates for
| Office who may be elected shall hold
| their positions during good behavior,
! what would the citizens of this city
| think Of such a statute? Yet action
/ of this nature has already begun and
| the voters of Norwich seem TO be in
! different.
! The republicans endorsed the demo-
{ cratic candidate for tax collector, and
! the democrats did likewise to the re
publican candidates for town clerk and
| Judge Of probate They did so in open
| caucus and convention, and the citi-
! zens approved their action. The peo-
pie did the same with the amendment
| of our charter in relation to the police
| department. These matters were dis
cussed and approved by the municipal
| itv. Nothing of the sort has been
done TO ascertain the will of our city
! concerning the water department. A
| CITY meeting condemned q similar bill
that would have bestowed like favor
on the health officer after the present
| incumbent of that office had been
carefully deprived of his job. No one
| knows what would happen if meet
ing of citizens had been called to con-
slider the bill now pending to repeal
the act we are discussing. At least
the opinion of the freemen of this
| community might be divulged. Is il
true that cities rights and privileges
shall meet with dericsion at the CAPT
toll?
Could an expression of our disap-
prevail of such juggling with oul
| charter be disregarded by those tt
| whom we have confded our politica
welfare? This unfair law will prob
ably remain in force and effect unit
the people demand its repeal. 1t can
not be done this year. Our city gov
ernment has let the opportunity sliI
away from it. 1t is a fair Inference
Judging our officials by the lethargJ
they have displayed, that no one hac
courage to start something" 1t re-
minds one of Mark Twain's knight who
rode forth on q crusade and did no
carry his lunch on his spear, as ina
would not be proper, so he tried t
conceal a sandwich in his helmet bu
got caught at it, therefore laid it aside
and a dog got it. Lacking moral cour-
age to ignore criticism, the knight los
his supper. Do ,our officials see thu
point? The president of the boart
has, like the cowboy of pious memory
done his damnedest," but he had M
assistance Some democrats have no
recovered from the shock they received
when a democratic councilman votet
for republican candidate for waite
commissioner, thereby tossing a hanf
grenade into the ranks of democratl
officials in that department, driving
them from their "dugout."
Reviewing the history of this case
we have seen "the revelations o
John" but have yet to hear the Ia
mentations of jeremiah" After tn
supreme court and the legislature fin
| ish. the board of water commissioner
NAV sing "Auld Lang Syne." Bot
!; democrats and republicans may cas-
a last, lingering glance at tn
; coveted office of superintendent OF tn
water department.
, | Nerbum salts.
Yours truly,
PUBLICO.
1l10