New Britain herald., 1926-12-04


 until they almost had the heebi jeebies. Billy Judd's machine show ed it's teeth this week and began to Top off heads in the departmen of public works. Plans had beer made weeks ago to find places fol friends of certain commissioner. and other politicians who would like to work for the city. The axe was sharpened but the powers-that- be hesitated to swing it. Finally they shut their eyes, filled their lungs, got lip their spunk and off came two heads. Joe Ryan, fore man in charge of the public works storeyard, and Robert Johnson, an inspector were dismissed without cause.
 Chairman Towers of the public works commission admitted at a meeting this week that Ryan was an efficient workman and no fault had been found with his services. He didn't have to tell this to Ryan's friends, who know him as a con- sciencious worker and man who always gives satisfaction. His dis missal was too strong for Tom Grove of the board and he demand cd to know of Chairman Towers why the city engineer hadn't been consulted. Chairman Towers gazed around the room, noted the presence of reporters, and gave the sign to "Shhhhh," adding that he would explain later. So he did. But Grove is not satisfied with the eXplana- ton, it is reported.
 The next news from the depart ment was that Bob Johnson had been given a blue ticket. Johnson is active in fourth ward politi/, has held office in the Swedish repub- licap club and was at one time a member of the republican town committee. The fourth ward, it will be remembered. showed unusual apathy on election day following re- ports that a fraction did not fall in with Judd's ideas of conducting a city government. According to gossip in political circles, the be- heading of Johnson was in the na- ture of punishment for the fourth ward anti-machine faction. It caused more of storm even thar Ryan's case. Apparently, Judd and his crowd have. heard the rumblings of thunder from the fourth because it is now declared, in an effort to smooth over the situation, that Johnson will be given back his job in the spring if he wants 1t.
 It is amusing to hear the names of those who are being mentioned for vacancies created by the ma chine. No less a parsonage than Con- nie Dehm, ex-alderman and present chairman of the fire commission, IS said to be anxious to get on the city payroll. His pay would be SS2 a week, or probably a little more. It is also reported that J. Willie Mills, former prohibition enforce ment officer, would like one of the vacancies but the machine hesltates to name him because of certain events which have not yet faded from memory. Mills has good back ing-he is the father-in-law of Chairman Towers and enjoys the friendship of other members of the party who contribute liberally to- ward campaign chests and, there fore. claims to have some influence
 The public works commission will hold another meeting next week and will lop off a few more heads it is expected. It is not claimed that men who are in danger of be- ing discharged are inefficient but the commissioners have friends who are hungry for city jobs. Altogeth- CT it is said, the board plans to create seven vacancies.
 Hilda, everybody's sweetheart, rolled up side of us as We were waiting to cross the street at the slightest break in traffic. She was a new car with several scratches along the lenders and a dented hood but she was still game. Her conversation rippled out at us as she stopped the motor.
 MY DEAR. l bet you were sur prised to see me driving my own car weren't you2 I just got it the other day after had finally learned how to drive a car and l am Just WILD over the idea. mean ] never knew what lot of fun driving was until l began driving my own car.
 "Poppa got me this car last week and the agency sent the cutest llltle man out to teach me how to drlVe and we had lots of fun and he was the cutest thing except when he got mad when l forgot to push in the clutch dingus or whatever it IS you push in and then he would get all red in the face and swear AWFUL IY, but as soon as l began to catch on we got along all right except a couple of times.
 At first l didn't know the FIRST THING about driving a car and spent twenty minutes one time try ing to start the car without the IGNITION turned on and then l drove about ten miles with the EMERGENCY BRAKE on and l had to laugh of thinking Of driving with the BRAKE on. Wasn't that a HOWL? But at that l did pretty good with only seven lessons and l didn't hit thing besides the rear of a stone truck and it was HIS FAULT really because he should know better than to stick out his hand and then STOP with an mex perienced driver like me behind him and I told him so and he said he