New Britain herald., 1921-09-22

Seventeen voted to keep tho prom
isc OF tho city to tho firemen. n the
face OF n legal opinion from the Cor
poration Counsel, that they might
legally roscind Ii, and nine voted to
break that moral obligation 80 often
made and reiterated by the Council
anc others.
Thus was the two-piatoon system
adopted after IL has been legalized by
publication. Tho point was made by
tho dissenting report that Fire Chief
Noble had rearked that tho efii-
cheney would be lowered by the adop-
ton OF any two-piatoon plan other
than that including ~ men. The Fire
Chief hal reference to the lowering OF
the efficiency OF any two-platoon plan
other than the best: that We need the
~ men plan and he should not be held
responsible for serious results IL any
other two-platoon plan we're adopted.
He believed firmly. however, ~ his
signing OF the report and other re-
marks show. that the plan
adopted ut last nights meeting will
DO n step forward and will make the
IRE department OF tho city more effic-
lent
The arguments OF Councilman Hart
were presented In n fine. strong man
net. His wide knowledge on sub.
Jects pertaining to manufacturing. his
fine presence and manner OF speech
will add much to tho interest OF
Council meetings.
But Councilman Harris arguments
were the arguments OF one who has
had intimate dealings with large con-
Germs composed OF units employed to
make money for tho concern. lie
brushed aside tho city's promise to
the flrcmon lilo compared tho re-
sclnding Of this action taken by the
old city meeting TO the re-
scinding OF a vote to make an i'm
provcment In n plant. Conditions
later. waS his thought. might make
the directors and stockholders wish
TO change that plan. They. from
whom tho idea had come. had a per-
feet right to do so.
This IL very true. but a plant Is not
group OF men relying on the promise
OF all the people OF their city as
sembled. lilo compared the three or
four hours mt home to the time n bus
iness man spends with his family.
The business man must sleep seven OF
the hours ut home. and work even
ten away from It, leaving only seven
hours with his family" Tho fire.
men has three or four hours with his
family Some OF the time must DO
spent I'm eating. And will Council.
man Hart compare the sleeping hours
In n station cot with those spent
within tho confines and soothed by
the comforts OF his homer.
man compelled TO spend all but
three or four hours away from the
home--the proud American home
which has been called 40 often the
bulwark Of our nation" is little more
than n aiave-and this city has de-
cidod not to make slaves OF It's en-
pioycs. Mr.. Harris suggestion for the
Council was that Ii passed tho final
word. ordinarily, in financial matters.
and should BIO IL check on cxpendi-
lures or the city's money. And yet.
II memory serves, he later voted to
psy out money because of the injury
90 a fireman which, had IL happened
few days later, would have been
paid under "a new law OF the state.
surely hero money might he saved the
city. Tho payment was prompted by
the hcart-sympathy OF members of
the Council. 1t did what no law re-
CURED II to do. 1t was "A good act.
taat Is all.
Ii cannot be denied. therefore. that
the business slogan. Get the most
for the least money" mentioned. IL
memory serves. by MIR. Hart. cannot
70 tho strict rule OF the Council. The
Common Council cannot he conduct
Cd along the strict lines of bu-inoss
corporation. And fortunate are tho
dwelioru In the city that 1t cannot be.
A matter OF some financial and
much sentimental interest was
brought up when a resolution was
presented by Alderman Weld seeking
the Councils approval OF the attempt
of the American Legion TO get the
Marine Band here to give a concert.