New Britain herald., 1921-01-29

presented to the legislaturssSsnsterda than Col. Alfred L.. Thompson. And the answer to our Question.-there isn't any answer.
 New Britain's representatives arc urged to proceed cautiously before legislating the jitney out of existence in New Britain. Most of us have found it a convenient means of trans portation and have noticed that trol- ley service has been improved in some respect since the jitney made its debut.
 Competition is always the life of trade and the competition that tho jitneys give the Connecticut company is sufficient to keep both sides awake to the necessity of serving public needs.
 If the jitney must go, give the people a substitute in the shape of 8 five cent ride from any point within the city limits to the transfer point at the triangle. Powerful inAuences are at work in Hartford to abolish the jitney. It has proved to be a bless ing and If it is to be taken away from the people they should receive proportionate blessing in return. Disappointment is universal that legal minds have questioned the soundnesS of a measure brought be- fore the assembly to restrict the atavistic tendencies of certain land lords to gouge high rents out of their tenants. Private property should be kept sacred but some means should be found to check avariciouS property owners. With a view to opening dis cussion and realizing that his sug- gestion did not conform to accepted pratices, the Observer suggested some months ago that a public commission Dc appointed to act as trustee Of property where it could be shown the owner was profiteering by charging extortionate rentals. Nothing came of the suggestion. The newest suggestion, that made to the assembly is that public commission regulate rents. when appealed to, the owner of property having recourse to the courts. This also is considered beyond the pale.
 Some course should be adopted to prevent a man from using his proper ty in a manner unfair to the rest Of the community. Perhaps the time is
 
 when it will be a recognized fact that property owners owe a duty to the city in which their property is located and that they are responsible to their llow-citizens.
 General approval greets the an nouncement that Frank O'Brien has been selected as temporary clerk of the water department and 1t is hoped and expected that he will be given the permanent appointment when the proper time comes.
 MT. O'Brien is one of the veterans of the water department service. He knows all the ins and outs of the de- partment, having learned by long ex- perience the various twists and turns He has rubbed elbows with the public for a number of years and is we'll qualified to succeed the late P. J. Egan as clerk. MT. O'Brien deserves promotion. His service has always been high class and he has been faith full in the discharge of his duties. Perhaps no one else in the department measures up quite so closely to the ideal man for the promotion.
 Cold weather has brought a sudden revival of skating. Thousands of young folks. and some who are not so young, are out nightly. making the air resound to the ring of their steel runners and tho music of their gay laughter. (Enter Swiss yodler and merrie villagers.)
 Many factory offices are organizing skating parties for different evenings. The past week. with the exception of the nights when the north .. pole moved into New Britain, has been delightful for this outdoor sport The air has been clear and crisp and the light from the stars has been sufficient to light up the surface of the ponds.
 Health authorities say no exercise compares with skating for building up the body. Nearly every muscle in the human system is brought into play and the lungs are filled with fresh, invigorating air that acts as a tonic on the blood.