New Britain herald., 1930-04-16
RENTING THE NEW
 AUDITORICM

Hllltee WHICH WILL ueClQc lulS llO- | mentous question certainly has our sympathy, and, if it is willing to listen, may have our advice.
 A newspaper is a quasi public | institution, not so much so as a | school for which the citizenry is generally taxed, but it's readers are legion and spread pretty generally | all over the city, circulating in all | clques and among many, many fac tions. Therefore, it is usually argued, certain cliques, certain organizations certain political groups, certain business groups, in which there is large percentage of Herald readers, have right to ask for free publicity, or have a right to ask us to sup press news of one character and play up that of another in order to favor the particular group inter- ested at that time. We are constant ly besieged by well meaning individ- uals who believe that we should give them something for nothing in order to promote a pleasure or a business. These folks consistently ignore the fact that it is costing us money to give them what they wish, maybe they do not even realize it. As we cannot afford to print all of the stuff that comes through. we would have no newspaper, rather a propa- ganda sheet if we did, we refuse to print any of it, referring those who desire to further their own particular aims to the advertising department, where they may purchase space. We, of course, occasionally let down the bars for some such a widespread and universal organization as the Community Corporation and give it a great deal of publicity-far be- yond the amount of advertising it does warrant. It is tough sledding to turn some applicants down-but it has to be done or the value of our
 paper would be destroyed and our revenue dcpreciated.
 As we sec it the city of New Britain IS in a somewhat similar position on the auditorium rental question. It is maintained by the citizenry generally. The taxpayers pay for it, hidden in their annual bills which are large enough now. When it is let to organizations with private interests, unless they are very broad indeed in their scope and their aims practically universal they should pe charged enough to reim- purse the taxpayer for the main tenance cost and a part, at least, of the overhead. Why should the tax payer support a convenient meeting place for groups anxious to make money for themselves or for their private charities? He most certainly should not, in our opinion.
 Possibly there may come time when some great city event, of inter- est or benefit to all irrespective of their social or business affiliations, justifes the loaning of the hall rent free. If it is loaned to one organiza- ton, with one aim, composed of taxpayers, but not many compara- lively speaking, then it should in all justice be loaned to another organi- zation, with another aim. and with just as many taxpayers. But if the bars are to be let down for one they must be for all, there is no man can judge between the comparative worth of the many ohjcctives that are being sought in this city. And as soon as that is done the cliques not interested in the particular aim that is being exploited at the moment are going 10 make it hot, unanimously and in unison, for the School Board, possibly entirely ignoring the fact that one of their groups might have used it before. Believe us, we know.
 Organizations should be charged enough for the hall to cover light, heat, janItor services, wear and tear, and a portion of the overhead. That is fair enough to all. Possibly an ex- ccption might be made of organiza- tions which arc planning some affair for which admission is lacking-but again what is fair for one is fair for all and all organizations would automatically have a right to hold their afflirs thcrc-and then there might easily be trouble. Human be- lItES uo llOl tIlIh dilhE, uo iIoI tii- joy the game things, one docs not wish to hear thoughts that another admrcs. And there is going to be something popping if every group is not satisfied, which might be done but seems impossible. And if every group is satisfied the bulk of tax payers arc going to foot the bills which should be no mean ones. It will cost money to light, heat, clean, repair and give janitor service for as many nights as 1t will Ie in use. More than the taxpayers will con- template with pleasure, we'll bet q