New Britain herald., 1922-06-22
THE COMMON COUNCIL


 Members of the common counei are intensely interested in the cit business just at present The ful meeting of that body last evening teS tiies to this fact. Whether or not tho criminations and recriminahons spoken and insinuated, which have been going the rounds adds to thi! interest is uncertain. At any ratf there is at present what is known gen orally as pep" in the council chambel when the members gather.
 Sincere applause followed formei Fire Commissioner Herpes plea fol the two platoon system. He appeared as "private citizen" He combines practical statements with a senti- mental appeal that was effective. His appearance was the signal for per sonal tribute which was significant III view of the recent action of the board in dispacing him as chairman, an event which he might have prevented had he voted for himself as the new chairman is reported to have done.
 Mir. Hierpe estimated that the de partment would be 75 per cent more efficient under the two- platoon system than it is at present. He cited the in- stance of The Herald fire as one oc- casion when fresh firemen, obtainable under the two- platoon plan, replacing the worn out fire workers, might have prevented some of the damage done, His plea that tiremen be given such hours as to allow them proper time at home, held touches of eloquence, and his statement that between the hours of seven and nine o'clock in the duty in some of the fire houses em- phasized the wakeness of the present situation.
 Former Commissioner Kranowitz s added word, tending to show that the increased efficiency of the department would be many times greater than the increased expense, added much to the strength of the appeal. The former commissioners showed a proper atti- tude in their expression that the action of the council, in determining to refer the matter to a special com mittee of eight composed of an in surance man, a manufacturer and d merchant, not members of the council and five members of the common council, was in accordance with their judgment as to what should be done.
 The attitude of some members Of the council in feeling the report of the fire commissioners, as the board is now constituted, should not be con- sidered by this committee because of a personal feeling against such present members, was untrely unwarranteG. The report is an official document which should be considered regardless of the popularity or unpopularity of the men composing the board.
 It was satisfactory to note that most of the members of the council ap- preciated that some respect is due the Mayor of a city like New Britain, and that he should not be embarrassed in his effort to keep the mayors of flee open every day in the week even though it is necessary to pay d secre- tary the sum of $500 a year to bring this about.
 It is to be hoped there will be less trouble over the ever-troublesome municipal garage under the new com mittee appointed to manage it's affairs, It would seem that this trouble in the past has resulted in a great measure from the unfortunate personality of those who have had to do with it.
 It is good that no prolonged hesi- tancy on the part of the council pre- vented it's acceptance of the state s offer whereby the city acquires practi- cal title to a piece of property 16o by 100 feet, purchased by the state ten years ago for s10, ,500 merely by placing proper fence about the prop erty.