New Britain herald., 1925-08-22
TIE OBSER YER Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

.;:.;,,:;,,,t.:t.:,,:,..,s:........:.:.,,...:; of the council "to consider every
 project" But 1t is doubtful whether many of them are qualified to pass
 on the merits of paving contract Their acts show that they are rub
 Der stamps" because they follow ab- ,solutely the instructions given them
 by the republican machine when Alderman William J. Judd, the self
 appointed government, snaps the
 whip. Councilman Nalr should be the last man In the council to bring
 up tho subject of rubber stamps"
 because ho knows that large num-
 Der of his colleagues arc that and
 nothing more. In fact, 1t is com
 monIy believed that he himself takes
 orders from the strutting little boss
 of the machine in the council.
 Alderman J. Gustav Johnson, run ming true 10 form, made one of the
 silliest suggestions heard in the
 common council for years when he
 asked whether Chairman Conlon of
 the board of public works and City
 Engineer Williams would post
 bond of $5,000 each to guarantee
 the city against loss if the board de- cided 10 undertake the paving con-
 tract itself. This Is nonsense, the kind that dsgusts the American
 citizen with the mon elected 10 the
 government.
 Councilman Christ objected 10 the l board taking over the paving job i but there was reason behind his
 words. He explained that work of i this nature done by a city usually
 costs more In the end than was an- t1cipated. There is ground for this
 statement. But in the case of Myrtle street, it is hoped that MT. Christs
 fears will not he realized. The board has in its employ q com
 pctcnt and experienced road build
 CT and it has confidence in his abi- iity to go through with the construc- 1 tion of the pavement to the satisfac-
 tion of all concerned.
 Block Island is again part of the 1 United States. This news may sur prise New Britain folks who have
 made practice of transferring their iallegianCe to the island for few weeks each summer and who shared
 with Block Islanders the belief that | the dot in the ocean off the coast of
 Rhode Island was sufficient unto It. self, SO far as law observance is con- cerncd.
 1 When the eighteenth amendment
 10 the United States constitution be-
 came effective, Block Island virtual | ly ceedod from the union. It occu- lpies a place of strategic importance
 which bootleGgcrs and rum run nors were quick 10 appreciate and take advantage of. It is doubtful whether any other spock in the country Is so favorably situated geo. gra phically. On its shores has been landed liquid gold by the gallon, the value of which was far in excess of Itho golden dubloons buried away on isolated shores by Mir. Kidd, inc well known and justly feared cut throat and pirate. Sojourners at New Shorcham have staggered off incom- ing ships dying from parched pal ates. After they landed they stag Eored some more, but not because of thirst.
 Why go to Bermuda when you t. T 1 !. popular irony. And the answer was, "Why, indecd?" But all good things come to an end. Block Island has
 heen captured. It capitulated this week before the combined attack of three members of the Rhode Island mounted police, whose invasion re- suited In the arrest of the proprietor Of the Yellow Kittens Inn at New Shorehnm and his conviction for selling liquor in a court at Newport. Block Islanders. natives that is to say, have not recovered from the shock. Interference with their sweet will by representatives of au- 1 thOrity was unthinkable. Really, you know, it wasn't being done. But 1 it was done and the natives feel as Ihlue as their own dear ocean. As if | 10 add insult 10 injury, the Rhode
 Island police have taken it upon themselves to patrol the roads and enforce traffic rules. Such injustice
 in the twentieth century is incon- ceiNable, residents of the island say. The situation has become so tense that tho natives and Foreigners" may form rapprochement. Feel ] ing between the two factions has run high. The natives look with disap- proval upon business ventures of
 'forcicners" from Rhode Island, especially if those ventures concern l the importation and sale of spirit
 uous and intoxicating liquor. One
 Mir. Charles O'Malley of Providence
 opened the Red Top Inn. Last Sat
 urday morning a band pounded on
 the portals of his establishment and Inc fired two shots at them. But
 two shots-not tho liquid kind meant nothing to the attacking
 party. They broke down his door, | packed MT. O'Mallcy up against the
 wall and their spokesman said:
 Were here 10 put you out of busi-
 ness as we said wc would a year ago | if you didn't quit" Mir O'Malley
 tcol the hint. He has gone away from there. They're nice people, those natives, if you don't compete
 with them in business.
 Recently a Providence man
 bought house on the island. The
 natives decided he intended 10 use
 it for the sale of liquor. The for
 eigner" was warned that his advent
 in Block Island would not be sig
 nallized with the presence of a brass
 band and committee of welcome at
 the wharf. He laughed heartily. A