New Britain herald., 1921-05-21

work are responding readily to the request to sign and when the final list is presented to the commission the members of that board will no doubt discover in unmistakable terms that the people are behind the 'busses Unless evidence is offered to strengthen their claim the jitney men will be ruled off streets where the Connecticut company says it gives service.
 In the course of his annual mes sage to the common council Mayor Curtis remarked upon an unusually large number of important subjects. In face, it can be said without re- hecting on past executives that the message, as a whole, was one of the most comprehensive that has been presented within recent years. It covered a broad field and the sub- iects discussed were presented in an able manner.
 Mayor Curtis constituents will join with him in regretting that the legislature did not see its way clear, fSr reasons not disclosed, to enact laws to remedy the renting, or hous- ing situation. Such remedies have been effected by legislatures in other states and it is to be seriously de- piored that the Connecticut assem- bly lost such an excellent chance to pass laws of such vital interest to everyone and particularly to those who have been forced to bear the yoke of interruptions landlords. The Observer is pleased to note haf Ma gestion made in these column" short time ago that proper rec. ton be, made of the acceptance " the city of the Burritt Memorial statue in Franklin Square. On this point, the mayor said: 'The committee having in charge the providing of Burritt or peace memorial have performed their task and now desire to turn it over to and place it in the care of the city. It would seem fitting that the ac- ceptance of this work of art, in re- membrance of our city's most dis tinguished and world-known resi- dent, should be accompanied by some service of ,:n appropriate ard public character. Therefore. would recommend that a committee . of citizens be appointed and authorized
 
 occasion, reporting at a later meet ing of this body"
 Another important matter dis cussed by Mayor Curtis was in ref erence to purchasing agent for the city. His remarks this subject were:
 "One of the charter amendments provides for a board of purchase and supplies. This has been under consideration for several years. The present method of city purchases does not tend toward economy or good business management. On the other hand, is the amount of business of that character sufficient to warrant the employment of an agent for that purpose alone? Can an agent famsliarize himself with the various kinds of supplies re- auired by the different departments so to furnish them with what is best promptly and at a lower cost then under the present method? As it is discretionary with the common council about putting this amend ment into operation, I would recom- mend the appointment of a com mittee to ascertain the ia cts bearing on this subject and report to the council their finding and recom- mendations." m
 Purchasing agents have been tried in a number of cities and opinion is not unanimous whether they have been successful. However, Mayor Curtis should have no fear about purchasing agents inability to fam iliarize himself with the supplies re- quired by the departments. Every modern factory has a purchasing agent. who familiarizes himself with everything from pencils to pig iron and who follows the market closely enough on all important items to know how and when to buy. Fac tory purchasing agents do all that would be required of a city purchas- ing agent. One question which pre-