New Britain herald., 1927-05-28
PUBLIC APATHETIC
ON CITY BUSINESS
Shows little Interest in Boards
Conducting Government

city officials spend nearly $4,000
600 of the public's money annually.
few taxpayers go to the trouble Of
attending meetings of the common
council and the various boards, this
in spite Of the fact that in almost
every instance the meetings are
open to the public.
Aside from the serious phases of
the question and the desirability of
knowing how and why ones funds
are being laid out, there are nu-
merous instances where this lack of
interest prevents the public from
sharing in the hearty laughs that
punctuate the deliberations of city
fathers. The incidents are. generally
speaking. not sufficiently germane
to the important subjects Of dis
cussion to find their way into the
columns OF the press and therefore
they so unrecorded.
"Star Chamber" Meetings
Star Chamber" meetings are not
entirely obsolete functions. Some
times the public as represented by
press correspondents. Is told blunt
ly that it cannot be admitted. A
few years ago a prominent public
official adopted another course. In
the ante-room leading to the cham
Der in which certain board was
about hold a meeting, this Official
accosted representatives OF three
n
aware they weren't especially well
come but they had planned to be
in attendance. this fact notwith-
standing. But, the official stalled
them with appraised hand, and said:
Boys, I'm going to tell you little
story. l am entitled to be heard, but
if at any time you wish me to dis
continue you may tell me so and go
your way-but il you insist on 60
ing into the meeting. then / insist
on the courtesy of being heard. Now
1t seems there was a huge pile OF
sand on the roadside. A small ant
crawled up to pile. picked up one
grain of sand, brought it to a dis
tant point and then returned ito take
another grain of sand. This grain
was carried and placed beside first.
The ant then returned and took a
third grain of sand and brought this
to place beside the second" The
speaker depressed moment TO say:
| Remember boys. this was a huge
pile of sand and the ant was a most
persistent creature. bent on carry
ing through his work to completion.
| Well. anyway. to return to the ant,
it came lack to the pile and took a
fourth grain of sand and brought 1t
to place beside the third"
At this point he was interrupted
by the assurance of the reporters
that they had elected the alterna-
tive of going their way In prefer
ence to remaining until the story
OF how the entire pile OF sand had
been removed. grain by grain. had
/ been told.
| A short time ago members Of a
| commission were hard pressed for
the solution of their problem as to
, how they might reward an employe
who had given the use of his pri-
vate automobile on city business
over an extended period of time.
! He had not received the allowance
which customarily goes to repre-
scntatives Of boards who employ
their own machines in city work
Finally commissioner came out
With the suggestion that the COM
mon council be asked to buy him
! a set of tires. When he came to a
realization of how unusual his re.
guest was an how 1t would sound
when read off at the common coun-
Gil meeting he joined in the laugh
and withdrew the recommendation
A recommendation made at a
meeting Of the board OF public
works some time ago to emplo,
street cleaners on "piece-work bas.
is" was short-lived.
Bills for Fire Water
AS suggested method Of increas.
ing the revenues OF the water de-
partment 1t was proposed to The
charter revision committee foul
years ago that the department bill
the fire board for water used ir
fighting fires. Probably apprehen
sive Of a program OF economy as {
result OF such an order. other mem
bers OF the board demurred at once
and the fire department was as
sured the water Is available in what
ever quantities are desired. gratis
At last weeks meeting Of the com
mon council resolution wal
adopted which. had it not been re
considered, would have left the cit.
without police and fire protectio,
every Saturday afternoon. Fo
many years past, laborers In the EN-
ploy of the board of public work
and the water department, hav
been allowed Saturday afternoons OF
with their pay so adjusted as to al
low full wages. A resolution t,
cover this point was introduced il
specifying what workers were t
benefit. the motion was that "all cit
employees" be given Saturday after
noon off. A unanimous vote Il
favor was recorded A momen
later Chairman Rodman W. Cham
berlain Of the police board whispere.
to member of the common coun
Gil to advise that such action. thougl
very evidently not intended to do sc
would allow polic4inen and fireme
to quit work on Saturday at noon
BY reconsideration of the motor
the matter was speedily adjusted.
A prepayment of mechanical device
for city work recently arose and OBJ
jected to "scraping roads wit,
horses"
How are you going to scrape
road with a horse" Alderman Will
liam Fl. Judd asked, and the arg,l
ment was brought to an end befor
1t was well under way
Price on Patching Dress
A very we'll dressed young won
an came before the claims commit
tee of the common council las
cI- e.