New Britain herald., 1928-01-18
CHANGES IN CHARTER
 AG|TATED BY SMITH
One-Man Boards, Paid Council, Smaller School
 Commission

Henfy A. smith, at present the only avowed candidate for the office of mayor of the City of New Brit ain, is an admirer Of "Bossy" Gillis, Newburyport, Mass. chief executive, and wouldn't mind having him as . speaker in the spring campaign, provided he would exercise the forceful marnerisms he has shown in Newbu>1Sort atd ansn,s sn Cd . strictly legitimate oasis, he said today.
 Mir. Smith displayed an intimate knowledge of metropolitan politics over a period of nearly 50 years. tn- a stretch of four years serv- Ice on the Brooklyn board Of alder men. His discussion of charter law of the City of New Britain indicated that his platform would probably embody many important changes in the system of government now em- ployed.
 One of the fir1nest convictions ex- pressed by him today is that no man should hold state and local office at the same time and he would 50 amend the charter, if it is possible. so that this would not be possible. His ruling to this effect would ex- clude Alderman William H. Judd. chairman of the party whose mayor al nomination Smith seeks. from holding the position of representa- tive and at the. same time be an alderman. Smith is fully aware that the leader of his own party is in- cluded in this category. and in dis cussing what might be regarded as a political faux pas. he declared:
 T am a republican through and through. once ran for the senate on the democratic ticket only after the republican party in Brooklyn had sidetracked very fine candf- date. Judge Joe Aspinall. If the re- publican party nominates man who think should not be in office. l will vote democratic. How could l do otherwise? That's the kind of a ! am"
 With reference to his short period of residence in New Britain. MT. Smith pointed out that although he has been here only two years and is not yet voter in this city. he has lived in Connecticut 25 years and had been the owner of extensive property at Hammonas- set for many years.
 He was employed in various ca pacities in Brooklyn city hall and was later connected with the street cleaning contracts there for nearly 25 years. He has also been in the contracting business in 
 If elected mayor. Mir. Smith promises 10 work for one-man com- excepting the board of finance and taxation and the board of assessors; paid common coun- cil of about one-half to one-third the size of the present council; and a school committee of about one-half the size of the pres ent board. the membership to in clude equal numbers of men and women.
 His would not be an administra- ton in which thrift and saving would be put ahead of efficiency and he said. He would see to it that the police and fire de- partments were increased in size. build more and better schools. the proposed senior high school addition, which he believes Is sorely needed, would develop the water system along the lines planned by the water department. and would have municipal collection of gar. bage. ashes and rubbish. While these improvements would increase taxes. he believes the taxpayeru would gladly assent.
 Mr. Smith has already selected . manager but is not pre- pared to make an announcement along that line until he has had further conference with the man. ager. He is now working on platform and is preparing fer | viz orous campaign to secure tse repub- lican nomination after which. fl Ae le succesDfui. he win 11Fect Ate forces against the democratic party.