New Britain herald., 1927-01-22
THE OBSER YER Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People


 started by Councilman Samuel Sab- lotsky at the council meeting this week, to change the system of regu- lating salaries of city officials and employees, works out satisfactorily, 1t is well it has been inaugurated, be- cause there is the possibility of its resulting in some improvement of the system, or lack of system, in ef- feet at present. True, efforts have been put forth in years gone by, to correct conditions as regards the salary question, and still the burles- que goes on annually, some officials and employees benefiting while oth- CTS, equally as faithful, capable and certainly as needy, are held back in a rut with no chance of increasing their earning capacity unless through a threat to leave the en- ploy of the municipality.
 It is hoped that the committee which Councilman sablotsky's reso- lution calls for, will consider the matter very thoroughly and not merely go through the formality of holding one or two meetings before allowing it to pass by default. It seems like one of the livest topics that has been made the subject of inquiry in some time and it is de- serving of proper handling. It is a fact that practically every council member ever to have served on the salary committee realizes the im- practicability of the manner in which the question of compensation for services rendered is handled, and is fully cognizant of the need for a change.
 The main purpose behind the pro- posed change should be to arrive at q plan which would be equitable to all. The laborer is worthy of his hire in city hall just as well as in a factory, office or store. and he and she should be paid accordingly. The fact that one official or employe hap pens to have more friends in the council than co-worker has, should not give the former an advantage when the question of compensation is up for decision. An honest effort should be made to gauge the im- portance of every position and the worth of the incumbent, and the catch as = catch can, hit miss policy should be scrapped and never resurrected.
 While the uproar over the in- eligibility of 16 high school basket ball players is still audible and criti- cisms are being directed at the regu- lation which. led to their being barred from games played under headmasters' rules, it may be we'll to give a hearing to the proponents of such a measure. The rule was formulated for several sufficient rea- sons, the complaint about it being more against the way in which it was forced into operation on so many unsuspecting players than against the rule itself.
 In the first place, it is designed to prevent a boy from playing too much in any sport and thus burning him. self out" It is believed that one or two games week, with practice ses- sions on other days, give the player all of any sport which his physique can withstand. Scores of promising youngsters right intNew Britain have ruined themselves by overdoing basketball and other sports, and it now appears as if too many games were wearing out the National Guard. The schools justify them selves as long as they give the boy enough sport to satisfy him and not enough to hurt his physical condi- tion; their weakness comes in that the substitutes do not play enough under this plan and seek additional action elsewhere.
 Again, it is claimed that team