New Britain herald., 1922-07-01
THE OBSERVER :
Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

| favorites to reward, to step into Chiel
 Rawlings shoes but the chairman o-
 the commission puts himself plainl,
 on record as being in disagreement,
 with such a policy.
 It is argued that an outside man
 could come here entirely free from
 any likes or dislikes and determined
 only to give the city the best police department administration it has ever
 had. Such a course would have its
 advantages, but it would also have its
 disadvantages because new man
 would not be familiar with local con
 ditions and. if he were strongheaded,
 could cause no little unpleasantness
 fer well-meaning citizens. Moreover.
 it would take him months to learn
 the ins and outs of the department to know which men were particularly
 fitted for certain kinds of police duty and to pick out those who did their stint Loyalty and willingly and those who were simply trying to draw days pay.
 New Britain has several candidates who are suitable to succeed Chief iN""iiisS' lNS idNN Ildu D1OptT tA- perience, they know their New Brit ain and are qualified in every respect to maintain discipline in the depart ment and get the best service out of the men. The commissioners should be able to choose at least one man out of the entire department who would make good on the job.
 When Chief Rawlings steps out, the patrolmen will lose one of the best friends they ever had. It is not difficult to find men in uniform who are ready to criticse the retiring chief but the majority have a good word to say for him and they regret that circumstances make his leave taking imperative.
 Chief Rawlings is not perfect To expect perfection in a mortal would be too much. However. it would be unjust to say that he was not con- scientious in all his official acts. He was fair to the men under him and to the public as well. Regardless of religion or nationality, a policeman who did his duty to the best of his ability could depend on the chief backing him up. He made allowances for human nature and was willing to believe the best of his men, some times, it must be admitted. when they did not deserve his confidence and trust, His long contact with the seamy side of life did not sour his nature and he was willing to believe that man who was down could get up again.
 On many occasions, Chief Rawlings | showed himself to De humanitarian In his treatment of those who had been unfortunate enough to break the | law. His justice was always temper ad with leniency
 In few words when Bill" Rawl- ngs turns in his badge the city is going 10 lose the services of an up tight citizen and policeman with ong and honorable record.
 If the boys in the North End of the city could vote. Mayor Paonessa would stay in office forever. The opening of the public swimming pool Ii North End park this week was the signal for a rush in that direction on he part of Young America. Almost rom sunrise until sunset, boys of all 'ges can be found splashing around, clothes and taking part n various forms of outdoor sport which does not require the burden of oo many clothes.
 The location of the pool is suf- iciently far removed from houses to become nuisance, it is thought It S also within short distance of one ,f the most thickly populated parts ,f the city and a blessing for tired mothers whose weary bodies rebel against giving the boys bath" every night during the hot weather.
 "Oh, Skin-nay."
 Residents of the northern end of the ,ity who would be served by a new ewer now in progress of construction disagree violently with the attitude of '. s. Chamberlain of the board of inance and taxation on his suggested abandonment of the project Mr. Chamberlain is opposed to the com oletion of the sewer on the ground hat residents of the outer axing district do not pay assessments in proportion to he benefits they would receive and le has gone so far as to recommend hat the city stop work. It would eem that this is not the best solution If the problem if there is any prob em. Good progress has been made ,n the work, large sums of money lave already been expended for labor nd materials and abandonment of the