New Britain herald., 1921-03-12

passionate yearlng Tor freedom. ne words of Patrick Henry kindled a blaze that has mounted higher ana
 burned with more intense heat as the years passed. Self-determination which is liberty in another guise, that's what we all crave, that's what we demand with fcrvor, and that's what we will
 have even if we do the determining for our neighbor.
 A visitor from abroad at recent
 city meeting might we'll ponder over
 the question whether we Americans are capable of self-government,
 whether we are a safe people to be entrusted with such a powerful m-
 strument. True government IS based
 on the rights of the whole as opposed
 to the privilege of a few. When that
 principle in thrown out of balance, the result is something besides govern
 ment Ii was not only thrown out Of
 balance. it was thrown out the window
 at the city meeting, and senses were
 blinded to right and wrong ln the
 heat of the moment
 Two powerful forces were strug-
 cling for control. One was that repre-
 sented by duly elected government
 officials: the other was cosmopol'ah
 aggregation primed to howl down any
 opposition Whether Mayor Gurus olo
 or did not, as final act impose ms
 will on the gathering by unfair
 means, is not the question. me one
 fact sticks out that, even prior to the
 ,navor's decisions. no citizen could
 get 2 proper hearing. The speaker Tor
 tbe low tax rate was frequently un-
 able to make himself heard because of
 the tumult created by his own fol-
 lowers. Certainly, it will not be con
 tended that any SD H.,'>cr for the hlsH
 rate was given a square deal. AhS o.iS
 with the emerity to speak IroIh 'he
 floor in favor of the budget fecoIli ,,ended by the board of hnance anu taxation was greeted with catcalls anu iears Tn brief, it was not an Amerl-
 can meeting. There was no temper
 ,nce of speech, no moderation no
 aaas;dor,tion for the other fellow. For the purpose of removing a par
 rio- to our future social ana CIVIC
 ,ranouiiIity. the committee haFlhs Ill
 oI,arre the revision of the city charter
 has under contemplation an arrange
 ment which will abolish, Tn us pres
 a,t form the referendum of the clts
 t,x rate to the people. Wild eyed agl-
 tators should not think that 'ie
 neople will have no say Tn the hiat'ei
 That is a procedure followed out III
 many other cities, but IL "oulo o@
 S1ch a raOlCal Iui h'
 tom in this city that 1t wouio cauSe considerable unpleasantness.
 The Observer believes in felereA au,,o to the people, but by a dlHerehI method. Various plans are being dls- cussed and the majority of . people racosnize the danger of continuing to hold city meetings year after yedr at which temper may overcome Juus ment and serious consequences resui'' -o,,,a+bino we would all regret as rof7ect:nr on the name of New Britain. Ii has been suggested that the uiiii- cultv might be surnaounted oy HaH ing a. special referendum at the poiis' This would be an expensive proce dure, the cost growing as the ol.s exnands. but it would have this merit' :. rro,,ld he decisive. It is possible thai an effort may be made to rear ranea the city calendar so the es'l- n,ates can be voted on at the regular snring election. thus eEmlnallns extra. expense and profIio.e economy On the other hand' It "ouiu omen a field for unscrupulous poiiIi- clans who would pander to the pas sions of the multitude. CandloAteS for office-some of them-Woulo ally themselves with a movement asdilis' the rate recommended by the ci'e and regardless O1 their quaiii
 for office would probably be elected. It would perhaps, be more deslraple +o keep the tax rate divorced aosolu'e- l,, from the actual common councli elections. Unless this is done, Ne" Britain may find in high office men who are qualified neither py nature breeding or study to discharge the responsibilities incident to government positions
 Even though the cost would De oreater. the determination of the tax rate should be kept apart from city elections It could be decided on the present schedule. The city could recommend a certain budget. Any dissenter. or group of dlssenters, could appeal to the people, but under cer,ain well-defined conditions oroup which is dissatisfied with the Official budget could submit budget of their own, provided that thelr reponstrance is signed by certain ,ercentage of qualified voters. twenty five per cent for example It "ouie he necessary to impose some condl- lions in order to bar out cranks who nave no following and radicals who have no brains. All substitute budgets would have to be filed a certain tune hefore the referendum at the poiis.