New Britain herald., 1929-05-17
POLISHING THE ISSUES

POLISHING THE ISSUES
 By now Mayor Paonessa has writ ten so many annual messages to the Common Council that he can be re- garded as an expert. In years past he has laid all the multifarious local issues upon the dissecting table. giv- en his opinion to all of them. and has awaited action in patience. He did the same thing the other night. telling the Common Council all about affairs as they press for set. clement and making Illuminating suggestions which that body can dis cuss and tackle at leisure.
 The mayor does not dodge thing. and he knows his issues. He even can prepare little bitter medicine for the Common Council itself, as when he declared that of the 90 members, not more than 20 have at. tended sufficient meetings for the mayor to get acquainted with them. This, he argues, is one reason why there should be . smaller council. one of dozen members, who would meet twice . month and attend to business.
 The mayors conclusions about civic needs in the main are sound. Of course, . message to the Com mon Council has one unalterable failing that helps to detract from its effectiveness. Too many of the gentlemen to whom it is directed re- gard it as . matter of form. They say to themselves that the mayor is supposed to produce such . message and naturally will rehearse all the issues until he gets through: and then they are under no moral oblI- eations to act favorably upon the issues Most of the time, indeed. thsy don't When one consjders the amount Of politics that are played in such . body. and this is weighed with the analysls Of the mayor that not more than . third of his col- leagues take . hearty interest in city proceedings. it is no wonder at all that there is much delay in carrying out some of the suggestions made by His Honor. Some of them seem to think Of politics first and the issues afterwards; and this is not to be construed as being a one.slded fail- ing. Both parties are inclined to be a little bent in this direction.
 The mayor has saving grace that should appeal to numerous citizens when he discusses civic problems. He usually gives his req sons for making suggestions, and on the whole they are sound. That isn't saying, of course, that they Will get through the craniums of the gentlemen who do the voting; but many a plan can be sound without getting that far
 We are inclined to wish the mayor the best of good fortune in attem pt. ing to carry out the improvements suggested; none of them can do any harm and most of them have the saving grace of progress. The plan to reduce the Common Council, of 1 course. is certain to meet with a chilly reception. if for no other req son than the fear that the mayor could control small council more easily than large one. We are not saying this is sound reason. bu, only mention it in passing. This plan for semi-annual tax collectioni seems sound enough to merit close attention at once. The suggestion that the New York firm be discon. tinued as water board advisers seem, to be in the interest of economy and is buttressed upon the belle, tha local talent now is fully capable O. meeting the requirements.
 The mayor has brought up on, point that has vast potentialities i ever carried out. This is the plan fol a canal from South Main street |, the Connecticut river. It is enougf to take ones breath away, although it. was brought up several years az, as means of insuring lower rail | ioo' 'otts upoft i'tdNN kOOuS, &uCI as coal. Not many boats might eve
 use such a canal but it's presenc1
 would give the city water preferen tial rates. as we understand it. AS W,
 understand it. the mayor meref
 wants us not 10 forget theNpossibili
 ties, and some time in the future
 when there is plenty of money o
 hand. and bond issues can be floate, without inconvenience. the cana
 might be built. In our opinion ther i, is many another costly project tha , will need attention before this take t.l