New Britain herald., 1920-02-21
likely that conditions would be as bad

again.
 During the entire influenza cpl dcn1ic the bealth beard was under the direction of a man not of the medl- cal profeSsion-Chairman Mortimer Camp-and while the affairs of that department were handled i'll an eftl- cient manner in consideration of the handicap, there may be ;i question as to the wisdon of the boards policy.
 The board has now. and has had for several weeks past. the itpplIca- tions of several physicians. all of whom ;1re considered capable men ana might make good supcrintendentS Action on the appointment Of T sue "csSor to Dr. William M. StoCkWell Was held up awaiting the return of pr. T. Eben Iteeks from the south. because Chairman Camp eNpla ;ned. the board did not wish to act with cut his approval. During the interim, the city has been left. in a measure, without adequate protection and New Britain has been near the top of the list with both influenza and pneu- monia cases for several weeks. In some qua rters the board has been criticized for it's refusal 10 act on the matter of appointing superintendent.
 In addition to the handicap of be- ing without doctor at the head of the board. the comm ssion laborcd for several days minus four employees and is still working with three cn- ploHcs on the sick-list. Also. the pres ent plumbing inspector Thoma QuniNAn is working on his reSigna- lion notice. There are those who faN- or the early appointment of a health supe rint endcnt 10 draw the tattered fabric of the board together.
 Chairman F. $. Cham berlain of the board of finance and taxation has a good excuse for attacking the prin- ciple of the city meeting as undeliber- ative bodies. governed by mob rule" and won by the fellow who can shout the loudest. as he did at the common council meeting Wednesday night. Those who were present at the near riot into which the famous city meet ing of 191a at the state armory, de vcloped will bear witness to the ia ct that this meeting at least was far from diSnifed. MT. Cham be rlain. as a city official explaining the city budget was hoOted. hisSed and openly insuted br the crowd. which was then swaycd one way and another by the oratorical powers of the spea kers.
 However. We can hardly agree with Mir. Cham berlnin that city meetings should be discontinued. The city m mceting is the one connecting link be tween the people and the governing powers. II has been handed down from generation to generation and is the one system of government that was in vogue duriS the days of the pioneers To take away the city meatin. would be to rob the people of the heritance and make of them subjects. rather than residents who live under the rights of rule. of the people. for the people and by the peo- pie" It would harken to the ways Of monarchy.
 Mr. Chambcrlan believes that the city meeting does not function as ii should because those attending do not rcfullN consider an deliberate the matters up for consideration. He is right to ;s great extent hut the r"1ne- dN for this iS .\mericanlzation and cd esSarily apply to he alien foreigner If people. everybody will give more ca :-eful attention to tn cir -overnrnont a all tim rather than sim ply election time and when taxes are lev jed we would have better govern ment. The right rests with the pco- plc. Let them awaken from their letharsv and act intelligently on mat ters of civic and national interest