Norwich bulletin., 1920-11-13
NEW LONDON AND ITS FIRE DEPARTMENT

l. small when scompared with other office holders in the city hall, but a fire mar i shall ought to be fire department of
 flee.
 It has been proclaimed that the fire t committee as at present composed is te | conduct the department on strictly busi- ness principles and for the best interest | of the city. That sounds well and it ! may be the real intent of the gentlemen of the committee so to do. If so there l will be change in method of the purchase of fire apparatus. The committee has decided to junk the Niagara steamer. as there, is no further use for it since the 1 addition of number of triple-combina- tion apparatus to the department. But why junk" it? Why not save the city a thousand or more dollars in, its dis position. This can be done, by asking for competitive bids. ine e,the purchase of additional fire. apparatus. The establish ed price of piece, of apparatus is fixed, but in the deal liberal allowance can be | made in exchange for another piece, of ! apparatus and this is done in a compet- itive transaction. This fact has been overlooked in. the past in some instances | and if this committee really intends to !, conduct the city business on business principles and for the best interest of 1 the city the time will come with the 'junking" of the Niagara steamer.
 They do say. sub rosa, that when the
 wedge is driven home, and that paid 1 department is realized. that the present
 chief of the department will be relieved and that he will be succeeded, not by New Londoner of the present time, but
 rather by a representative of a certain
 type of apparatus It is said that the
 gentleman is an experienced fireman and expert in the care and operation of the l type of apparatus in which he is interest 1 ed. Such a thing might come to pass in
 a paid department. but a volunteer de- partment, never. The people would not stand for it. But with paid depart
 ment all present conditions would be changed. It would be well to keep an eye on that wedge.
 There is much press agitation and
 more or less discussion who're men meet relative to a substitution of a commission form of government for the present anti
 quated methods of managing mun:c pal business in New London, or the revision
 of the city. charter so as to change meth-
 ods that permit of extra vagance,. mis-
 management and perhaps a waste of the
 peoples money by the present methods
 of disbursement of the appropriations for
 the several departments of the city gov
 ernment. There is strong talk against the present ward system of representa-
 ton in the city government it being said , that the members of the court of com
 moncouncil under the ward system are not all representatives of the business life of the city, and by reason of the system
 business men and those really interested in city affairs. that is representative men
 will not accept nomination for the court
 of common council. Since the ward sys tenn became effective some members of the council have been fully competent tc
 serve while others have not. This is nc : political secret.
 Even with an increase in press aEita- t ton and cracker barrel talk there will be no change in the present form of gov t ernment for the next two years. unless the old saw of Deeds. Not Words e prevails. If there is to be result 2
 competent committee should be appointed : forthwith on revision of the city charter Q That is a committee of citizens fully fit e ted for the difficult work; men that car f command and should receveive adequate e financial recompense. Not committe 8 of aldermen or cheap politicians, or raer s who would recommend changes fer req h sons that would not be of personal ben f eft. But men whose soie purpose woulc n ! be to sercve the cityy we'll and faith n fully, This work ought 10 be thorougf ). and complete, and therefore cannot b >. done by tinkering.
 e The city charter cannot be revised r. without legislative action. and that i T the reason why there should be no un 3, necessary salary de,ay in the appoint f. ment of a proper revision committee ( tt It is work that will require consider II able time. The next session of the lesis st lature will convene in January and ad o journ not later than in early June. an e the revised charter out to be ready at th y latest during the first month of the ses
 sion. It takes time to put some meas it ure through the legislative machinery am ,e the charter of the city of New Londo to might be one of those that it not pu n through with rapidity. There might b e some strong opposition to adoption. an ,r the city might have legislative fight t -