New Britain herald., 1926-01-08
THE CITY MEETING BOARD PASSES FROM THE PICTURE

S'ahu tFNt hAs NsHN NN''fNH TIE CITY MEETING BOARD PASSES FROM THE PICTURE With the opening of a new fiscal year for New. Britain there will be no city meeting board to give its approval of the budget and the es- timated tax upon property in the city to meet the costs of operation for the coming year, That board, like its predecessor, the city meet ing, has faded from the picture and the council will, hereafter, act upon city estimates. Such was the deci- sion of the last legislature which allowed charter amendment re- vising our scheme Of alloting taxes
 The city meeting was a relic of the past, so its opponents an- nounced several years ago. Its ac- ton was 10 ratlfy the annual bud get and act upon expenditures gen. eraly. Any voter was qualified to attend. For many, many years there was scarcely a handful of voters at the meetings and the es- inmates were easily ratified. Then came the low tax fight of few years ago, when P. $. McMahon, 1sadore Simons and others consid- cred that the proposed tax rate was too high. They had a substi- 'tute budget of their own and, If memory serves us right, were eventually able 10 enforce their desires. The meeting, at that time, was riotous beyond question and the rioting was seized upon by op- ponents Of the city meeting as an excuse to do away with 1t. This was done and the city meeting board created as a sop to those who thought that one of the privileges of citizen had been denied. The city meeting board was elected, representatives from each ward be- ing chosen to 1t. The board acted as the city meeting had before, theoretically and actually, except ing for staging a riot. lis members were empowered 10 pass upon the budget and prepare substitute if they deemed 1t desirable. But the attendance at meetings was very small and interest practically nil Whereupon the board is now de- funct and the council has the en. tire power of amendment to the budget and tax rate. The step un, questionably removes one righ from the voters, but the right thu is gone is one that has never beel appreciated.
 UnquestonabIy there are certain factions in the city who wish 10 re move as far as possible from tn voters the right to decide matter which involve them, They hay striven since inc first to do SC They consented to the city mceun board when the possibilities of city meeting were demonstrated b the ubiquitous P. s. NGMnhor Their concern was not so much th possibilities Of a riot. i, was th loss of power in controlling th public, They Wore slad, a'so, of q excuse 10 to away with the hoarc larger body lhan the council an a harder one to control. Eut the did have. shame upon the voter legitimate cvcHyo in b.th ig stances which t@} could "u.I , weapon to cu1arce th,jr wish.
 No moro will fine voter ha'" ao say in 'aX matters uu.css ho Wor' through ,ho medium of lis ropr sentative in the council a thtn which is not liable tp prove JC easy. IIo will l~1o difficulty, W presume, in trying to aa,n a hDa ing. uuDyes no hts the Ha,a.ng persons morr irNnouti7l :han q average councilman or alderman
 The members Of thc council Ina, assumed. whether th,y know if not. a great deal more rtspou~ihi fly to the public, Ratification of
 public tax is now up 10 them alon Of course. the pabuc has rocoUr 10 the ballot bov on election di 10 register protest aEd!hSL u decision of ward rcprnsrn'ati to the city council, but il cam act immcliatcIy if it is dissa'isii with fax matters as they are d velopinE.
 It will bo interesting to wat 
 developments on the new scheme
 things. io determine whether | late charter amendment works 0 more 10 the satisfaction of { voter than did inc city meeting a the board We houe that 1t do