Putnam patriot., 1920-02-06
CAN SEE ONLY
 MATTER OF DOLLARS
Sarcastic Comment Is Given Prominence In Danielson
 Transcript
The Patriot Will Not Believe Officials and Citizens of Borough Will
 Endorse It

While it is common talk that the people of this country are almost money mad" the following unbe- coming and unworthy article, given prominence by the Danielson Trans cript, is to be deplored. It can not be that officials of the borough or the officers and men of the Danielson fire department can endorse such bit of sarcasm and caustic and unwarranted criticism of the action of the Putnam common council and it's method of, in a small way, trying to show the city's appreciation for the invaluable ser vice given by the officers and men of the Capt. Put fire company on the night of the Hotel Chickering fire. It is to De hoped that the borough off, eials and officers and men of the de- partment will come forward to say it does not express their feelings and that they can see something besides the money side of the action taken by Putnam's executive body. Here is what the Transcript has to say:
 "The Observer of Putnam announc- ed in it's issue of yesterday (Wednes- day) that the City Council of the City of Putnam had voted a donation of $50 to the Capt Put Engine Com pany of Danielson as material evi- denee of appreciation for efficient ser vices rendered that city when the Chickering Hotel was razed by fire re- gently. The City Council is to ac- company it's kind donation with let ter of appreciation.
 'The opinion was expressed in Dan- ielson today that a typographical er- TOT must have been made by the Ob- server in reporting the $50 donation, the critic suggesting that at least one cipher must have been omitted, as the City of Putnam must have believed that the help rendered in it's time of need by the local fire department was worth $500. But as the Observer sell dom makes typographical errors, the reported gift of $50 is doubtless cor rect. This being the case, there is at least one consoling fact left, letter of appreciation is to accompany the generous gift of the lavish Putnam ties"
 The Transcript put monetary val ue on services rendered in time of need. There is no such thing as a monetary value under such circum- stances. Had conditions been revers- ed there would have been no thought of compensation by the officials of this city.
 It is a we'll known fact that most fire companies have fund to be used for the members and it has been GUS tomary in acknowledging work per formed by men of other companies to make a small donation to be added to such fund. There is no thought of trying to fix monetary value on ser vices rendered by the town from which apparatus comes. It is expect ed that any town will render assist ance to a neighboring town in case of need without thought of being reim- bursed. It would be expected that any town would stand ready in such case of need to help from purely hu- mane and friendly motives. It can not be possible that the people of Danielson would wish an offer of a substantial sum for the borough treas ury as pay for what their fire com pany did in Putnam's time of need.
 The letter to be sent the borough officials will include an offer to reim- purse the borough for any expense in- cured To offer pay for such ser vice, we believe, would be looked up on as an insult by the officials of any town, borough or city. But the Tran script, and it's critical fellow citizen, wants pay for doing an act that all loyal citizens of neighboring towns should be proud to do.