New Britain herald., 1923-03-24
THE OBSER VER- Makes Random Observations x. On the City and Its People

l
 When Quigley reigned supreme | We had handsome fellow;
 When others held the throne
 The people yelled out Yellow"
 But now we have boss
 Who's something of a mixer"
 And says, in City Hall.
 He will not be a fixture.
 If Bryan, William J.,
 Had always been consistent, We would not mind the fact That he has been persistent.
 He's lost most all his hair;
 He's altered his complexion, |.
 But that won't bring success
 In any big election. ....
 The point we're getting at
 It may be hard to see it.
 Is, burdened is our land;
 It's mighty hard to free it.
 Good looks or, such won't count;
 Most folks are grinding axes;
 The man we're praying for
 Will tighten all our taxes.
 Looking over the political situation. and passing the time O day" with men in politics, the Observer" comes to the conclusion that the advisability of not being exactly regular" is rec ognized by former regular" members of the machine. And this is saying nothing against such former mem- bers" A man passing through this city a few days ago made the remark that he considered this city the most perfect example of a machine rum community he had ever seen This comes from a stranger, but as out siders sometimes see most of the game, we are inclined to agree with him. There may be many reasons for criticizing the present administra- tion. but if it is breaking point be- tween machine regulation, and rule "of the people, for the people and by the people 'we will have reason to congratulate the present administra- tion even if, after another year, it | sinks into that region made famous by Grover Cleveland's expression of innocuous desuetude.
 Even those whose systems require a steady diet of political excitement | must have been we'll nourished dur ing the past week. There have been disputes between different depart ments of the city government and there have been differences among those who hope to get into the legis- lative department of the govern ment.
 Mayor Paonessa exploded the noisiest bomb when he declared that he would push his measure to have the city meeting board rescind it's action on the school bond issue. He prosecuted his program vigorously and spent part of the week discuss ing his policy. which is based on the conviction that New Britain does not require additional school buildings.
 The saying that politics makes strange bedfellows" is emphasized by the announcement by ex-Mayor Quig- ley that he would back up the mayor. Just about year ago these gentle- men were engaged in the gentle pas- lime of getting elected, being opposed n policy and about everything else Q what the other wanted. Had MT. Quigley received the support of his own party, the result of the election night have been different. But that s water that has passed over the lam or down the throat, or some place. Here we have Messrs. Pao- { lessa and Quigley, once strident and aucous opponents, standing shoulder 0 shoulder and singing a duet on owe, and their voices blend beau- fully.
 Speaking of resembling votes, would not be a sound plan to place a ime limit on which votes can be re- cinded. In some respects the city meeting board and the common coun- il are similar. While the latter is upreme, it is possible for the for ner to exert no little moral authos- ty and it does occupy quasi-legis- atiye position, claiming to interpret he will of the people quite as cor ectly as the council itself. It has cen shorn of some of its supposed ower, it is true, but it is still re. arded as body whose word carries reat weight. Because of this situa- ion. it might be well to limit the me in which it can rescind action 0 that the records may be kept traight and folks know where they re at.
 No one can truthfully say that Iayor Paonessa is inconsistent. Many lonths ago he started on the trail the school authorities and he still ursues them relentlessly. It is aimed that he has been outdistanced the sprint for the good will of the 'mmittee on cities and boroughs hich body, according to all fore- ,sts. will report unfavorably on the to limit the spending ower of the school board. But the ayor is one who keeps his powder " and trusts in his own perspicacity ld it behooves the members of the bard Of education to step softly if 1t ould not tempt him to start shooting gain at their classic brows.
 
 From a purely political standpoint, e most interesting event of the week as the filing of petitions for re- iblican primaries. The situation Llled for strategy in it's highest de- 'ee and the board of strategy man. lvered in the best conventional rm. Men who had announced their .ndidacies silently stole away, and dn't even leave holes on the ground
 show where their tents had been tched. It is said that in some cases. e announcements of candidacies ere for the purpose of discouraging her candidates who do not "belong."I