New Britain herald., 1921-08-19
RUNNING A CITY.


 ming a city. One man, the mayor, may, according to the charter, con- strue one section one way, the people another. The charter provides, Tt shall be the duty of the mayor to recommend the adoption of all such measures connected with the police, security. health, cleanliness and orna- nent of the city and the improvement of it's government and finances, as he shall deem expedient.'
 The charter continues to provide for the mayors general message to the Common Council.
 The charter also provides that he shall be an ex-officio member of the fire board, for instance
 It would be out of the question to suggest that the mayor be left in igno- rance of all the important actions of the different commissions and boards. Evidently, in framing the charter and making the mayor a member of the fire boards, it was proposed that he
  these boards. Yet there is no intima- ton in the charter that his shall be the predominating voice in it's de- cisions. The Common Council is sup posed to act upon the suggestions made by that board.
 The general interpretation of the charter and it's provisions as to the duties of the mayor, does not con- template that his opinions shall neces- sarily dominate; it does suggest that, he shall be kept aware of what is going on. 4.rs
 This suggests the other theory of government of the city. A mayor may believe in allowing all the boards to reach their decisions regardless of his opinions, and let the Common Council pass upon them. Such a mayor would never attend commit tee meetings and, unless consulted, would remain silent in their delibera- tions.
 M This would be an easy way for a mayor to run city; but whether the city would run itself easily under such a system may be open to debate If a mayor has information that would tend to enlighten a commission or board, it would be a strange board indeed that would fail to call for his data on this subject.
 A mayor, disliking personally and dis1iked personally by members of a commissicn or board, should be as willing to give what information he 7. has and to urge the adoption of his opinion as strongly as one in full sympathy with the board. If the commission or board he himself has appointed differs from the stand he takes, he should be willing to allow the plan in which he does not ap prove to go to the Common Counci nevertheless.
 The whole matter rests on tht ability of city officials to work togeth CT. No mayor, doing justice to hi other duties, can be as we'll informed on the affairs of a certain departmen as are the members of the board ..governing that department them : selves If those members have worked conscientiously.
 No board may have as general knowledge of the city affairs as conscientious mayor can have. AS long as boards and commissions
  work Tn harmony-as long as the on assumes to assume duties in absolut isolation from the other, there bound to be friction.
 The personal equation enters int the matter, of course, but both boar members and mayor should have wis dom enough, power enough, to hel il. the cooperation which is so neces sary to the proper running of cit
 There are two sides to every ques ton.
 The boards should not =abrogate themselves the duty of running th particular board without obtaining a the information possible, and witho1 considering matters within the pee liar Knowledge of the mayor.
 And the mayor should not tai upon himself the duty of dictating t a board upon matters which he h appointed them to attend to.
 ANOTHER MATCH. Plans arc in the air for a cha,