Norwich bulletin., 1919-08-23
tspeclal to rhe Bulletin,

Especial to The Bulietin.)
 New London. Aug. 22.=The highway l commissioner Of Connecticut has am I nounced that the state highway across l the Thames river. formerly the rail- ].foad bridge will be open to public I uanie on Monday. September is II Is fair to presume that the commis- l sioner knows whereof he speaks. even l if conditions do not look favrable Yto ] the opening ons that date to the mex 1 perienced eye. Mayor, Morgan has ! taken the commissioner at his word l and has taken preliminary steps to properly celebrate the event that I means SO much to the city of New I London and the state. He has se- l 1ected committee of consultation I to decide upon the nature of the eel general outline will be made known I in the very near future, for if the cell I ebration is to be one worthy of the name there is none too much time for | delay in the matter and it is believed that he will push the good work along. It ought to be one of the biggest of the big New London events. and it will be if the mayor persists to the end and he probably will. To achieve the desired result he will proba biy appoint a big committee and prepare for the celebration on large scale. same 0Ti0ae Q80&Sat- ed to railroad purposes there was not a great big civic celebra tion. but there was a celebra tion just the same. Railroad, city and state officials. to- gether with the architect, the. con- tractors, and prominent citizens went by special train to the bridge. They walked to the center of the draw where the bridge was formally turned company, followed by short addresses.
 The special train was then run over the bridge, and on the return. the en- tire party boarded the then new sound steamer Connecticut and took a sale out into Long Island sound, There were refreshments galore and just a little bit more of the liquor of the kind that is now prohibited by law.
 There was general giorihcation. and some speeches, too, aboard that steam er- The principal speaker was the late Hon. Augustus Brandegee, father of Senator Frank Brandegee. AL ways an excellent speaker. he was at his very best that occasion. Of course his speech was extemporaneous. as the saying goes, but it was with out doubt the very best speech the gifted gentleman ever made. It fitted that was of interest in connection with the event. There was wit. genuine humor and true pathos, and in fact. every essential that made complete the masterpiece This speech and his. argument in the noted Diamond John son case were perha ps MT. randegeets- greatest forensic efforts.z
 While some of the gentlemen, lead CTS in the trolley strike, call Mayor Morgan boob" four fusher'' and on, just because he had the eour-' age to give public expression of his conviction. right or wrong, does not tend to help their cause or convince the public that the mayor is not just as much gentleman as are any of his traducers. Bilingsgate and abuse doesn't get anybody anything. Thus early there is talk of opposition to a proper celebration of the opening of the state highway bridge. just because the proposition to celebrate eminated from Mayor Morgan. the proper source.
 Mayor Morgan may not be a winged angel nor the greatest mayor ever. but when there is threat of practical estracism and opposition to every thing he proposes. good or bad, even to celebration of the sort proposed. it is about time the dear people began to find out just where they are at To their credit, be it said this disloyal l insinuation does not come from gen tlemen interested in the trolley strike |
 That once favorite Ocean Beach day, when the beachites prepared big eel 1 ebfation for the day and evening, a | part of the latter being a general i1- ] 1uminatjon, canoe parade fireworks. | and band concert. has been omitted for l several years. due it Is said to the | population at the beach in the l good old summer time. But there is to | he a similar celebration at the beach | this year on next Labor Day. It will be under the auspices of several semi | official organizations and is intended i as a general reception and welcome home to the men who have been in the service of the army and navy. There is to be a variety of water sports for pFozes, dap fireworks, and as special | novelty moving picture show by day appointed to take charge Of what Is planned to be a real big event. and the general work has been divided and placed in charge of competent sub 
 Mayor Morgan announces that he will give $500 of the Fifty Sixth Reg ment fund towards the payment of he expenses of this welcome home | home reception to the service mon. provided no serious objection arises. objections before the donation is made, pr forever after hold their peace.
 The comm issioners in charge of the ferry between GrotoH and | New Lendon, like the former lesseesI of the ferry, are coming in for some | adverse criticism, which is always the case with those who direct public | Some of the criticism is warran nted and some is not There surely is justice in the fault being found with the wayl the ferry business is conducted in the public inconvenience It | was the custom of the ferryboat that | mooreds at the municipal wharf, to | come to the ferry slip and make the l first trip from New London to- Grotont at 6-20, and not hold up half hun-