New Britain herald., 1925-08-22

IlHNuF anu common CONnCll tnlS
 week in deciding to drop the project.
 Under the circumstances this may be the proper thing 10 do for the present but tho subject should not be dismissed permanently.
 Several months ago the Observer. after a survey of the situation in the northeast section of tho city. came to tho conclusion that part of the large realty holdings of the consoi- dated school district adjoining the Washington school would bo tho and playground. At present this large area is not being used for any pur- pose. Several years will pass before it Is required by the school depart- ment as a site for additional build ings. Until that time arrives it would be possible to make uso of it by transforming it into q pleasure ground for the people The district which i. wodld serve teens with children, many of whom are forced to play in the streets, endanEcring their lives and inviting accident. The Observer thought that this condition could be amelioratcd if the children were encouraged to concentrate their hours of play in Q new park near the Washington school. If playground equipment were installed it would attract the children for blocks around.
 The Observer also suggested that part of the land bc made into a park which would be used by adults. At present the people of the fifth ward are forced to go 10 Walnut Hill park. The Washington school land is right at their own doorstep and it seems unnecessary to ask them 10 leave their own district when the outlay or Il few hundred dollars will give them suitable facilities for enjoying thoir evenings out of doors during the warm weather.
 Members of the board of educa- tion have expressed disapproval of the transfer of the land to the park department, The park commission says 1t is not in position to take over the property and develop it for park purposes because of lack of funds. No doubt the misSloncrs of both boards have good reasons for their convictions but when the board Of finance and taxation has it's annual meeting the objections of the park commissioners can certainly he eli because a fund can be ap- rropriated for the purpose. If tho board of education does not wish 10 grant an absolute transfer of the property 10 the park department, an can be effected by which the latter can have use of the land until it is needed for a school site.
 The project should not be aban- doncd. Fifth ward representatives in tho common council should make memo of it and bring it to the at l"ntion of the council or the board of finance when the proper time comes.
 Councilman David l.. Nair's cam paign for the republican nomina- ton for mayor was launched under Q smoke screen attack on the board of public works at the common council meeting Wednesday evening. In a speech which bristlcd with ai- Ioctcd indignation he attempted 10 rake the board fore and aft for its method of dealing with the Myrtle street paving contract.
 The board, two Wcks ago, made a recommendation concerning the award of the contract, The council declined to accept the reCommenda- ton and, without legal authority, at tempted 10 dictate inc name of the 10 whom the work should be given. Tho board, refusing 10 allow the council to usurp it's DOW CTS, came back Wednesday night by rcitCrating its recommendation Then arose Councilman Nair with the ardor of Patrick Henry, denounced the board, declaring: "Wc here, in the common council, are not mere rubber stamps,' We don't have to accept what the board of public works wants every time. We have 80 members to consider every prof. cct."
 Well. nobody ever said that the council had 10 accept what the board of public works or any other board wants every time. Rut 1t should be taken into consideration that q board gives special attention to the subjects which come before 1t while the common council, having a great mass of projects of every de- scription to deal with, cannot give each the hours of study which it de- serves. Therefore, in the average case, the findings of board are apt 10 he based on more substantial facts than arc the findings of the common council, which are not in frequently dictated ny politics and a desire 10 show who is boss.
 Councilman Nair declared that the board is empowered to engage a contractor and then complained that the paving ioh had been allowed 10 drag along IA days unnecessarily. Both of these statements were in correct, The board has only power to recommend a contractor and inc council has powerto approve or dis approve of the selection. So that. the council really was to blame if this matter dragged along for II days unnecessa rily."
 It is quite true as Councilman Nair said that there are 30 members Yes. "hurksomc" was tho word to