New Britain herald., 1922-01-27
THE COMMON COUNCIL MIND

THE COMMON Cot MIND
 Before a man may fill an office properly he should know what ms duties are. If those duties are merely ministerial-things that require no iudgment-his task is easy. He should never think for himself. By so doing he may scatter dirt into the cogs or the thinking machinery which is To- cated in the brain of the boss.
 If the mans duties partake of the judicial, or are advisory, he should think a lot An entirely different mem tai equipment is necessary. -
 The mind of the common council should be essentially judicial and ad- visory. That mind is in the difficult position, almost impossible of filling to the satisfaction of everyone and everything concerned, of representing two factions whose interests while in reality identical, are often apparently opposed to each other. Constantly the common council has to decide between the taxpayer and the city. The tax payer makes claim. The council must decide if the granting of the claim will establish a precedent that will be had for the city, of which the taxpayer is an integral part, and if refusing the claim will establish a precedent that will be bad for other taxpayers simi- larly placed. And all the time the purse of the city must be guarded.
 The mind of the attorney, for 1n- stance, has an easy time in comparison to that of the city. That mind must think only of the clients side of the matter. It is not concerned if the per son against whom the client has claim does not like the arrangement the lawyers mind decides upon and seeks to enforce The common council, on the other hand must feel that the claimant is no more its client than is the organization against which the claim is made.
 The board of directors of corpor- atien has an easy time comparatively. It must think only of what will bring the greatest financial returns to the corporation. The welfare of the work CTS plays part of course, but con- sideration of their physical well being and health is about as far as the board of directors of Ia corporation ever goes. Purely sentimental happl- ness of those workers is no concern of theirs, as a rule.
 theoretically, a good name for city officials, including members of the council. Their duty is to consider not only what will be best for the city financially, but what will make it more comfortable and happy. This is no sentimental theory; it is the most practical of facts. A common council which is hard, governed absolutely by business precepts of proven worth, is not the ideal sort of a council.
 Remarks heard at sessions of the council often indicate the momcntary feeling of it's members-'m momentary" is used advisedy, for it is believed that such expressions do not disclose the general feeling of the members who utter them, nor the general spirit of the council.
 ''The common council is a business body it's duty is to get all that it can for the city for the least money" Such an expression does not describe it's proper altitude Those to whom the money is paid are just as much wards of the city as the other tax payers who help pay that money. There are jobs the pay of which could be cut 25 per cent without los ing incumbents," is another similar re- mark Lets decide this and not waste our time any longer" is another, made when the interests of citizens of the city regarding a contract are being considered.
 The mind Of the common council should be the mind Of q strong, busi nessike but understanding and just city father, making plans for all its wards as fairly as possible and as economically as is consistent with | justice.