New Britain herald., 1926-10-16

ment Of acton on matters peLOlc the board of adjustment as re- suit of absences or disability of members.
 The commission has been in operation for less than a year, but already there have been many in stances where matters of great inn portance to the applicants nave been tabled because some member of the board could not be present. or because a member of tho board saw fit to disquaify himself.
 Absences cannot be avoided, par ticularly when board is made up of men who have important busi- ness and professional interests which must be taken care of, and the board of adjustment is just such a body, having leaders in ii- nance, industry, the professions and the business world as its members. A condition peculiar to this board is the fact that one of it's members is the father of an at torney who has had extensive prac- tice before the tribunal and con- sistent with legal ethics, the con- missioner has insisted that he be disqualified.
 Since there are but seven com- missioners and the charter pro- vides that five must vote affirma- lively to change a zone it can readily be seen that the board may often work under difficulty.
 A solution might well be found in framing charter amendment modeled after the rules governing the board of compensation and as- 1 sessment. In the absence or dis | qualification of a member of that | commission. the mayor is empOw- cred to appoint an acting commits sioner to serve during a specified period. Such a rule affecting the board of adjustment would insure a full attendance at meetings,
 Delays on appeals or petitions to the board of adjustment almost invariably demand quick action. | C lllOI GuLdItIy IIlOSC " IIO NOiIlt bC- Gore this board learned of the ne- cessity of appeal just before they planned to build when they were refused a permit. Financing plans have usually been arranged, ma terials ordered and contracts sign cd and unless they are placed in position to execute these agree ments or cancel them without de- lay they are sometimes put to needless expense.
 The need for a change in the system has been apparent to the present mayor and his predecessor, as well as to members of the board of adjustment, and it is hoped the charter revision committee will not lose sight of an opportunity to make change of general public benefit.
 The proposed installation of the telephone typewriter in the police department, by the use of which valuable time can be saved in spreading to all parts of the state, alarms of automobile thefts and other offenses, will mark the realization of the idea for linking up the police of the state, which was originated, so far as New Britain is concerned by David L. Dunn, former chairman of the po- lice board.
 MT. Dunn, who was generous with his time and effort for the improvement of the department noticed the advantage provided law breakers in the delay by the police in communicating by tele, phone when the need arose fol speedy action. It is not beyond the power of imagination to conceive of the escape of man in fas car, given a few minutes start. | is reasonable to assume that tho minutes lost in obtaining a conncc tion by phone between New Brit ain and Meriden, for instance would allow the thief just enougf time to keep ahead of the net, ant the time consumed in getting in touch with the prope officer to receive the report, added to the seconds required for calling back the registration numbers ant verifying the description of the ca and, possibly, the driver, migh provide the exact margin of tn thiefs victory over the law.
 Investigate the matter, MT Dunn was convinced of the ad vantages of the proposed system If the common council approve the recommendation drafted by tn board at the meeting last Tuesda evening, it will be possible for tn police to flash the message to al parts of the state more quick than telephone connection to single city can be made under tn present practice. Then, too, ther is the feature of accuracy whicl guarantees the saving of preciou minutes. The message received O the apparatus is exactly the mes sage flashed. There can be no mis understanding because Of poo connections, "cut offs' or lnablit of the receiving officer to hea plainly.
 Not alone in the battle agains automobile thieves will the ne system prove advantageous, for an sort of message can be sent. It ar pears to be a decided improvement and at the cost of s75 per mont it sounds like a wise investment.
 Human nature is admitted to I tickle. but in no way does this tra = show itself to such advantage CD { n is the meanings placed on the tra e fic lights at street intersections. W recently launched our automobi
 upon a trip through four states an know our subject. A traffic ligl r. is at almost every corner in lare cities, and even Podunk and Hicl vile Crossings have to have or wherever Main street is intersecte