New Britain herald., 1929-12-19
SAFETY FIRST IN
 TAX COLLECTIONS


 The Common Council believes in caution. How could men elected 10 serve the best interests of the city, be otherwise than cautious? Thus, instead of taking umbragc at the collection of taxes oven when such functions hurt, the Council gave the tax collector q hearty pat on the shoulder and in effect told him 10 continue being the patron saint to the city's income.
 As We stated yesterday, the city can have any kind of financial situation it bids for, provided the tax collector is willing to join iii car rying out an easier policy. The city can have the chaos of Waterbury or it can have the vastly better finan- cial condition Of New Britain. The Council lost no time in coming to the conclusion it preferred to see enough money coming in to pay expenses.
 That is caution. The city. like any individual or any business house, has a fixed overhead, Let there be a recession" in the income and the overhead can easily run into the red" If running the city "on business prin- ciples" means anything it's income must be kept on an even balance with it's outgo. We have nowhere noted a disposition to reduce the outgo; indeed, the reverse is the case. So long as the city is progres- sive this will continue 10 be the case.
 It was difficult situation in some respects, and politics or mere de sire to hold up an end in an arEu- ment could not be allowed to be de- ciding factors in coming to con- clusion.
 No one in the city government wishes to see foreclosures of pro- perty merely to enable the collection of tax money that may be insignlil- cant in comparison with the value of the property. Such foreclosures merely enable somebody to get prop erty cheaply. They result in bitter ness, domestic tragedy and the sys- tematic Encouragement of that en- terprise which provides property for the city 10 tax.
 The Common Council by it's re- sounding vote indicates it does not believe such things are likely to happen. It has confidence in the tax collector and that must include confidence in his judgment in such things as in all others.
 The tax collector has received a vote of confidence by the Council De- cause, all things considered, a con- servative aprasal of the city's needs suggested such action. The Council could not afford to play with fire. II would be q community disaster if tax payments were permitted 10 get below the needs Of civic outgo. Men who are sworn to protect the cltyS interest nave no business in taking such chances.
 The Councils action does not necessarily mean that ii did not sec some merit in the mayors argument The mayor made a strong point in his announcement that there is q "human side 10 the government and that no citizen. "with his back tC the wall. should be sledged out oI his property rights"
 Doubtless every mcmbel Of tho Common Council heartily agrees with this thesis, but that would moi and did not prevent the Counni from expressing vote Of conf denco in the tax collector.
 Any other action would hay" en- couragod .oo many people who would have taken advantage of thu situation 10 avoid paying ta%o: whiIe actually able 10 do so. Such in. diyduals need uot b. encouraged te think the cltys tax bill is scrap O. paper. Common experience every where has shown that mon "out tt beat the city" need very little en- couragemeut to attain their end That is Why in som. cities the list Of delinqueuts have tEa appearance Of q city directory The Common Council. il is evident, wants no such . experience in this city.
 Finally, the action of the Common Council is notice upon all citizen: that they are expected 10 pay their taxes, Such citizens who can give genuine reasons for finding il diff ficuIt to jo so no doubt will have nc difficulty in proving the circumstance