New Britain herald., 1928-12-04

political operations in the depart ment under the existing scheme. Ar. Quigley said tho recent vacancy in the ranks of fire department officers brought to his office not less than 20 men interested in the lieutenancy who sought to have him prevail upon the mayor and the commis- sioners in their interests.
 Attorney Thomas F. AcDonough agreed with the ex-mayor. having had similar experience with candi- dates for promotion to the job i'll. ed less than two weeks ago. ''To- day the firemen regard 1t to be . question Of pulling political wires, rather than proving ability. The system is bad and the morale Of the department is being broken. saw the firemen in the winter of 1927 fighting a fire and recognized that something was lacking. When asked one of them what was the trouble. he answered.: If the pec- pie of New Britain knew what is going on in the fire department. there would be blow-up.' The commissioners can't stop it, but civil service can."
 F.. W. Christ Explains stand
 Mir. Christ at this point made known his objection and his inten- ton to oppose the plan. asserting that there are a good many reasons for his s4 q. He reminded his auditors that the departments must be maintained along semi-military lines. and expressed . conviction that it would be unwise and unfor. tunate to divide responsibility be- tween the boards and another group. Admitting that some Of the appoint mcnts made since civil service was dropped are not the vei' best. he called attention to the Case with which boards can slide out of simi- lar situations by claiming that civil service tied them down to unfortun. ate selections. Under the existing method the city has some one to shoot at and it certainly does take advantage of the fact. the next sen ator said. He cited cases where real 'smoke-caters" and men of cool heads and judgment were stopped from promotion because they could not show their ability with pencil and paper.
 Called Old system Rotten
 Mir. Lang. who served on both boards. made rather indignant repl, 10 some of the claims advanced dur , ing the meeting.
 'I am surprised to hear suck gross congregations" he said. "Yo' will generally find that these men , who attack and criticize fire and police commissioners. have little pet Of their own who didn't get wha; he was after. Why not e honest , about it? The civil service system was dropped because 1t was se blamed rotten. Why. a man admit. ted to mc that he got 90 points ir an examination that he never would have passed if he had not been posted on the questions. There are plenty of college men now interfer. Ing with the work of practical mer without bringing 1t into the city government. remember under Mr ouiElcy's terms We had mon heforf the boards and they were punished l for playing politics."
 l Attorney McDonongh pointed tt Police Sergeant Michael !. Flynn a, the tynn of man civil service places i in positions of trust. Sergeant Flynr received the highest mark ever siv cn a candidate for a sergeancy. Mayor raonessa added a word ir , favor of civil service. saying that h, | would welcome it's return. The DO lice and fire boards would he re. 'i"vcd nf muc', unr'~nsantr"ss q th" rlan were adopted. he orired. Discussion ended at this point. tt he resumed when a proposed draf' cf an amendment comes before th. hoard.
 pronos"< Two Extra Wards Sfan'ey t'chalik inquired whether thor-ht has been given the nucstic- of dividing the ffth and sis ward' tn create seventh and ci-hth wards He proposed that the dividing 'in' he such as to make the Belvidor' section a senarate district. and th' locality of Pennington avenue an other.
 1 Other members Of the committee agreed that the present ward boun daries were too great hut they pro posed voting precinct rlan az : substitute 10 the new wards schen,.- Mfr Uchalik said that this was sat isfactory. his object being to handl' the problem of voting.
 Long discussion on the matter e city audits brought out an unanim'