New Britain herald., 1922-12-21
DID CITY FATHERS MAKE BIG BLUNDER? Philosophical Phil Wonders Why
 They Don't Read Charter


 Philosophical Phil this morning as he gazed sadly at a representative of The Herald who was trying to convince himself that there would be news stir ring at a. m. Here they've gone an disqualified themselves for keep ing their jobs in the common council or else they've invited one O. their members to do somethin' that dis qualities himself An he done it, too don't know this mornin'." the an- cfent, good -humored critic of things In general went on, whether we got D common council or not. Readin the charter it looks to me as though jhe failin' eyesight O that thar aug pst body, preventin' 'em from read In the charter. long bout page 46. Which is section O Chapter XIII, has made 'em commit awful blum der
 s What did they do. Phil?"
 ' Wal" returned the old man. shift Ing his stogie to the unused corner bf his mouth, they decided to pay Alderman J. Gustave Johnson bill Ter work he done long bout election lime. which was all right, guess. He pone a lot O work, all right, an 2course the selectmen who hired him wasn't expected to do the mechanical Work he done. But the thing they asked him to do at the Imeetin'e last night they didn't have no right to ask him to do an, seems to me, renders Fem liable to bein' disqualified from tervin' on the council any more. Trouble is, though they all allowed the deed to be did; in fact, they in Sited and listened to the alderman, an so they'd, have to expel them aelves. accordin' to the charter. An when Alderman Johnson done the deed last night, he done jest what he was asked to do, so the common coun- Gil. providin' there is any common council not disqualified, can't very we'll disqualify the alderman for doin' somethin' last night they asked him 4o do'
 What was the terrible deed the city fathers did last night?" asked khe interviewer eagerly, scenting real news.
 ''Why they asked him to tell what The done to earn the money he charged in his bill agin' the city for election work on the votin' ma- chimes" responded Philosophical Phil. s"Afl'," he went on, casually producing Sa copy of the city charter, you kin see from readin' thar on page 45 an .A6 that they've got emselves into a mess. See, the charter says that no member O the common council kin git Interested in any contract made with the city. except in sellin' goods like they does every day-an prob ably Alderman Johnson was sellin' his services. so that parts all right, but the charter goes on to say that no member O the council shall be heard to speak upon nor shall be allowed to vote upon any matter in which he has direct pecuniary interest. Wall Alderman Johnson was allowed to speak an he did speak, as everyone knows who was there, an he seemed to have a right to speak cause one O the aldermen asked him to speak an all the rest lowed him to speak, so they is all guilty, But the turri- ble part O the thing that's in the charter, the punishment for doin' what they all done last night, comes next. The charter says referrin' to speakin' an allowin' member to speak or vote, that any violation of this provision shall be ground for the expulsion of any member violatin' the same. That's right thar on page 46. So don't ye see the poor op city fathers invited member to do some thin that was punishable by expul- sion from the council, an the mem- bers theyselves is liable to expulsion because O what they did. But they's one good thing about it." concluded Philosophical Phil. tucking his cher ished copy of the wise old charter in his pocket, nobody kin do nuthin' to nobody cause all the members is sort O. tarred wi the same brush O. igno- rance O. this here provision O the charter. An the alderman got his money which it seems 'sthough he earned"