New Britain herald., 1928-11-22
THE COUNCIL ACTS ON HIGH SCHOOL

A ildJOIltS IuC ScAhAAAioA ~SoH cil, having voted favorably for the construction of an addition to the senior high school. at the same time dealt Mayor Paonessa resounding moral defeat. The mayor. who has been fighting the proposal to con- struct the addition with all the pow CT of an aroused municipal gladiator. suffers no more at the hands of the Council than this moral defeat. how ever; he still has the veto power in reserve. and unless he suddenly changes his entire outlook upon the high school business, will exercise it with complete and unadulterated vengeance. In the long run. how ever, the mayor cannot win; the best he can hope for IS delay, and this may extend to the time when he goes out of office, and by that time traf- fife in the high school will be so jammed that an addition will have to be provided for by the succeed ing administration. And if anything is certain in this fruitful topic of augmentation, it is that the longer the delay the quicker the action when it finally goes through.
 Of course. the Council may pass the high school addition resolution over the mayors veto: but that seems hardly likely if the Il gentlemen on the mayors side stick to their trenches. If a barrage of logic has any effect some of these may waver and desert the cause ere the stigma of final defeat descends. But meanwhile the outlook is com forting to the mayor. His chief weakness is that he has no logical alternate plan, unless it is unreason- ing delay in doing something that ultimately will need to be accom- plished anyway; or perhaps he still hopes to construct a new high school elsewhere, which would cost twice as much as an addition to the pres ent shack" as he chose to call 1t.
 The mayor has been defeated all along the line in this war of the high school First he called for . new high school elsewhere; but this plan vas left high and dry when the cost became known. Then he appointed a special investigating committee for the high school which reported con- trary to the hopes of the mayor. Then he appointed another commit tee to investigate all the schools. which reported in favor of building up the elementary school plant first. saying the high school could wait few years longer; this was not ex- actly a defeat for the mayor, but it was not exactly a victory either. Meanwhile a report came from the state education board which had in- vestisated the high school, saying it should be enlarged forthwith. The Board of Finance and Taxation, giv- ing hearing to the school commit tee and others willing to speak, pass ed . resolution recommending that the Council proceed with the addition at cost $54o. 900. and issue bonds. Then the Council getting the reso- lution passed it 1f 10 II, riding rather roughly over the mayors opposition.
 The only hope left for the mayor Is that the il will stick to him when he vetoes it. Why they should do so in toto is not quite clear. Some Of them appear to have supported him in the belief that the matter should get little further study-yet there Is no issue in the city that has been 50 completely investigated by so many < capable minds Every member Of the Council worth his salt has had abundant opportunity 10 be im- mersed in facts. figures and statis- tics on this high school question: yet those really thinking they need fur ther eluciddtion should be given the opportunity. Of course, if politics de- termines the views Of any-regard- less of on what side of the political fence they may be grszing-then that type of civic service needs no study at all, now or at any other time. Blind partyitis Is all that IS re- quired under such circumstances. We are not saying definitely there is any of II being sprlnkled about; we merely hope there isn't
 We believe the mayor IS sincere in his opposition to high school action at this time. He at least has done a service Tn forcing those who favor