New Britain herald., 1921-08-18
embe- of The Associated Press.
Meruber Audit Bureau of Circulation.
THE COMMON COUNCIL.

]
 ! Three matters of peculiar interest, taken up at the session of the Com mon Council last evening, are worthy of discussion.
 Naturally, at the very end of the 1 meeting the two-platoon system mat ter was brought up. Alderman Pa onessa mentioned his previously formed intention of taking the mat ter up, but gracefully he declared . that a conversation with the mayor, and the latter's statement that plan would be presened at a meet ing to be called in two or three weeks, had changed his plans. Thus more turmoil was avoided. An un- necessary unpleasantness was at least postponed, which will rebound to the advantage of all if the mat ter is taken up between now and the special meeting three weeks from last night, with the proper spirit.
 It was the evident intention of Alderman Paonessa at last nights session, to pin the Mayor down to some promise that would insure the presentation of a plan which would satisfy those who want a real two- platoon system, and not a make-shift which will not bring the promised re- lief. MT. Paonessa went as far as he was able, in all courtesy, in try ing to make the Mayor force his hand, but was unable to obtain more of a promise than that he (the Mayor, who did not know what the plan would be) would favor what was best for the city. No one mentioned what was best for the firemen. It is to be hoped that their welfare will be considered in the formulating of whatever plan is presented.
 Considerable confusion arose over the matter of the Gas station near the Swedish Evangelical Bethany church. It is claimed to be nuisance and for this reason is sought to be removed. In this respect it differs from other gas stations sought to be allowed, regulated or prohibited at any street curb. There can be no excuse for referring the matter of an alleged nuisance to a committee in- vestigating matters of the same kind but which are not alleged nuisances, merely to provide ordinances regard ing their location.
 This gas station assumes the plfse that would be taken by any other sort of alleged nuisance. If it is a nuisance it should be abated in the same manner the fat rendering plant nuisance was abated recently. Prac- tically 1t has nothing to do with other gas stations, under the allega- tions of the petition. It might have been an establishment of quite a different nature, such as a fruit stand and should follow that other route until the matter is settled. Abating g nuisance is far from regulating the
 class of business to which an al Ieged nuisance belongs.
 It is unfortunate that Fireman Hu.
 Der was injured before the law wen
 into effect placing firemen in the class of employees of a city who may re- ceive compensation for injuries re ceived in the performance of hi
 duties. The fireman was injured il May, and the law referred to did no go into effect until July. AS tht laW stood at that time, according t, the opinion of the acting corporation &scounsel, who seems to have good au
 thority for his oponion, a fireman
 not as an employe. The law, recog nizing the justice of a fireman
 claims, later included men in his DO
 sition as coming under the workmans
 compensation act, but the law is no
 retroactive, and under it Huber mus
 go without compensation. So anxiou
 apparently were the Mayor and mem
 bers of the council that the ma
 be aided that they were glad to post
 pone action upon his claim until tn
 law might be searched further an6
 possibly, way found whereby h
 might be legally helped financially
 As a way out of the difficulty, whic
 cannot arise again as the new la
 is more equitable, it would seem ths
 in this one instance a special al
 propriation might be made to tt
 charity department and through it tf
 aid be given that would have bee
 given directly from the city had tf accident happened since July first. \
 stigma should attach to the sufferiE
 man for acceptance of this sort
 "charity," as it would be understoc
 he would be receiving only that al
 which would be given directly frol
 the city today if the injuries had con
 two months later.
 The plan to arrange a fire prevel