New Britain herald., 1929-12-10
OUR SYMPATHETIC MAYOR

OUR SYMPATHETIC MAYOR
 Mayor paonessa these days has an unenyiable opportunity 10 note the hard luck side Of life. Ever slncc it became generally known that he wears two sympathetic ears for the unsllilled unemployed in the city he has become a man who must listen to one distressing story after another. Small wonder that he thinks the Republican na- tional administration is not so hot. The mayor, thrown into daily con- tact with the ills Of some of our townspeope. looks toward the gay Christmas season with sad eyes. If his histrionic talents fitted him for the role of Santa Claus to the poor he would prove great success.
 There was the case of blind man who was led into the mayors office. There is much important civic business always to be done in the office of the mayor. but there was time 10 listen to story Of misior- tune such as does not reach any ones ears often. Not only had the man gone blind, but he said he had been bilked out Of his money. The fact that he hailed from NewinS- ton gave an opportunity to pass him on 10 the attention Of tha' prosperous suburb. This. Of course. is only an instance. The mayor has been hearing hard luck stories from women as well as men. He has word of sympathy and kindly help for everyone, as any executive W1'h . warm heart would have.
 Not many mayors of cities would be so disposed. Let some individual with a hard luck story try to edge his way into the sanctum of Mayor Walker of New York, for instance. and see now far he would get. The police probably would arrest him as a suspicious character, Most mayors are not go easy to reach. New Brit aims chief executive seems to have the latch string on the outside ot the door.
 There are some critics, of course .-N bo alleee that the mayor has an eve toward a renominalion and will run again. and that his interest in the Jowntrodden and unfortunate has a political significance. We have heard such an occasional report, but place little, stock in the thesis, The mayor always has had pair O. eagle eyes upon the welfare Of the ordinary people. X year or so ago. when he made trip 10 New Jersey, ne did not return NltI pretty stories Of the increasing value of real estate or how big business was prospering in the rear of New ark Bay. He instead returned with the information that the working man was not doing so well and that the situation was considerably superior in New Britain. We i'm agine he is d sort Of Connecticut Andrew Jackson in his mode O. thought.
 Property owners who complain Of taxes also set a sympathetic car but the mayor seems to be some what critically inclined. He himself IS a taxpayer ot parts and isn't anxious 10 hand over more tax money than the state ot the city tleasury calls for. But he isn't showing an intention of ahgnins himself with impractical ideas. He IS in favor Of a lower tax rate and lower assessnents--if it can be done. No one has yet shown him how both ends can be achieved and until that happens we suspect he will continue to do his own thinking
 His recent crusade for public works WAS started before President Hoover thought Of the samc thing He has been consistently pushing ahead on the idea ever since. too. even if there arc incidental outlays. Whn the state water commission shocked City Hall with information that something would have 10 be donc about the sewerage system or it would force action tn" mayor seized upon Inc information with satisfaction. Here was public work of the most important kind. exactly m conformity with his idea O. work for the unemployed. II + nothing remarkable. therefore. that h. never once mentioned the cost; he city already has the legislative right to ,ssuc the bonds aId that i2