New Britain herald., 1925-11-21

] obstruetionlsts in the New Britain council than can be found In any governmental body anywhere else. And all in the name of politics rather than good government
 It is almost impossible to get measure through the council promptly. It was surprising to note that that body adopted so quickly the ordinance proposed by Coun- cilman Bartlett 10 forbid the sale of a certain type of coal which is considered source of danger. But the need for immediate action was so imperative that the council could not follow it's usual policy of delaying action.
 In the matter of tho fire com mission report on the construction of an engine house in the Bclvi- dere section, the council decided that there was nc hurry. It is doubtful whether this decision was due 10 thought or a desire to harry the fire commission as much as possible. The commission had con- sidered plans and specifications submitted by several architects, de- perior to the others and recom- mended that 1t be allowed to en- ter into d contract with Architect Mckay for drawings. But the council deferred action and asked for another report from the con- mission. Certainly if city board studies a subject thoroughly its opinion should be respected But the council is jealous of it's pre- negatives and there are just enough obstinate members in it to force a delay on any items of business brought before it..
 The building commission point ed out plainly the need of addi- tional inspectors. New Britain is in the midst of a building boom of proportions heretofore not experi- enced. Laws have been passed re- gently which add to the burdens of the building department. The need of more inspectors is obvious. But the council listened to the re- port, yawned and pushed the pro- ject one side.
 Who's to blame? The public, of course. If the voters would stop ac- cepting hand-pickcd candidates, chosen by the cliques, something might be done about it. It might | be possible to have a council com posed of energetic business men done. But as long as apathetic voters listen to the leaders who are now at the helm they need never expect anything different Most of the members of the coun- Cil swallow instructions whole. They remind one of marionettes - the string is pulled and they re- spond. If a project doesn't suit the leaders, it is promptly killed or ac- ton is postponed.
 Many people in this city have expressed surprise over the fact that only d small percentage Of the eX-servicemen in this city took part in the Armistice Day celebra- tion. A canvass of the ex-service- men shows that their idea of the proper observance of Armistice Day is not in line with the manner in which the day was observed this year. While the parade which was staged this year was proceeding through the streets, anyone pass ing up and down the sidewalks could see numbers of eX-service- men mingling with the crowds in stead of being in the parade.
 Questions as to why they were not taking part in the parade elicited the answer that they were not interested in marching any more.
 They are of the opinion that the Armistice Day observance should be held in the morning at the hour when the Armistice itself was put into effect. This was at ii o'clock and the eX-servicemen think that a proper observance would be to have the ex-servicemen hold a short street parade ending with memorial exercises at Il o'clock for the men who passed away dur ling the World war. The remainder of the day could then be given over to merry making if the peo- pie of the city wished 1t.
 Efforts of the New Britain traf- fic bureau members, the Chamber of Commerce and others to persuade the Interstate Commerce Commis' sion to give a better freight rate tc New England from the West Nir' ginia coal fields are worthy of com mendation. Every householder every manufacturer, every business man in New England who is de- pendent upon the whims and eccen' tricities of the United Mine Work CTS of America and their periodica strikes, which interfere with anc curtail his supply of anthracite coal should and probably does, lend hi moral support to this movement.
 But when the statement is made that West Virginia semi-bituminou' coal, or British semi-anthracite coa is just as good or better than an thracite for household use a mis leading argument is being used There are many different kinds O anthracite coal. as Is the case witl Isoft coal and both kinds include long range Of softness and hardness There is a kind of anthracite knowl at the mines as birds eye" whic'
 can be crumblcd in the hands almos
 as easily as soft coal and there
 some soft coal which closely re sembles this "bird's eye". But coe
 dealers and coal miners and thos
 who have worked in coal mine
 agree on one thing, that there ar
 only two kinds of coal, hard an ] x. -....,....;.o npd bifupinnus