New Britain herald., 1923-02-17
THE OBSER YER
Makes Random Observations
On the City and Its People

/, the beard Of finance ana taxalian h5
Judge John II, kiFkhsm' corporation
counsel,
Finance Commissioner Fred A,
seaTls, who led the opposition 70 spe'
eiai appropriations 70 provide for an
lieiRated defieils an the ground that
lhes were eeeasioned by, the payment
Of salaries in excess Of what Mas al
lowed by the city meeting board. ana
who e0Rtended that that body vas
supreme, had asked Judge Nxirkham
for an opinion as 10 the relative pow
eFs Of the twe departments Of the
city government,
Judge Kirkham explained that II
the city meeting board appropriated
fund for a specific purpose and that
fund was oyendfawn. the city was
protected against any suit by the IN.
diyidual with whom the city had
made a contract; II. in ordinary APP
preparations, the funds had been ek-
eeeded, the city was protected only
against the commission causing the
o,erdraft. but not against the indi-
yidual. However. in any case. the
council was In position 10 M a sal
airy In excess of an appropriation.
even though II be for specific pur-
pose. n II was proved that II was nee
essary TO the efficient conduct Of the
city government.
II had previously been explained
that the school department can over
draw II need In felt ami that the
charity department or public works
board funds TO afford proper care for
the poor or 10 prevent roads or high
ways from becoming impossible. they
too can overdraw an appropriation.
The health board In time OF emery
ency. such as In time OF an epidemic.
Is also permitted by state statutes 10
ovcrdraw.
Judge Kirkham's opinion places The
city meeting board and the common
council on n footing similar TO cor
responding bodies In many other
cities OF tho size OF New Britain.
In most cases action Is taken at the
polls only on bono issues and the |
bodies corresponding to the board OF
finance and taxation and the common
council have control over all other |
appropriations. Under Judge Kirk
hams version. the city meeting board !
to the voting at the polls,
questions that arc In other. cities
turned over for popular vote, being !
directed to that body.
The corporation counsel's opinion
trips the city meeting board of many
of the absolute powers that Il was
believed to be in possession
If, particularly on the question OF. sal
Try appropriations.
The observer" never having been \
lccused Of being an Anglomaniac,
nay be allowed to refer to the i'm
,ression made by the little dispatch
rom London telling of recent act
# the young PRINCE of Wales. The
hing he did. showing a depth of hu-
nifty which is almost unbelievable to
man. reveals heart as tender as a
The Prince had visited a hospital
nd had seen most of the former
ghters disabled in the war. There
we're seven inmates who were not
hown to him.. He insisted upon see-i
1g them In spite of the desire of the
ospita people to keep the terrible
ght from his 'princely" eyes. The
ght would be too shocking for his
elicate royal blood, they felt. But .
e insisted and he was taken to them. a
hey were terrible to behold as those {
ho have seen the mutilated faces of 9
ome of the men injured in the war
lay know. The Prince walked with
lem-and counted them! There were
My six. Where was the seventh? J
ne may imagine the .consternation of :
lie hospital attendants when he =
'ked to see this seventh man. THE T
rince' must not ask that! Only ply z
clans and nurses ever looked at that I
st sufferer! The sight was terrible
uietly the Prince insisted and at last
2 was taken into a little room Where
lis man lay-this man SO terribly y
that none other than the h
scessary persons. were permitted to G
ok upon his face. a
And SO the Prince entered. He a
walked firmly to the bedside but b
rned very pale when he saw the af- F
cted veteran. For a few moments o