Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-05-01
A DEEP LAID SCHEME.

Said That the Proposed Charter Vin
 Provide For the Election of the
 Board Of Education by the Aldermen. n '.What are you fellows continually bounding this charter committee for !" said prominent republican to a reporter of the DEMOCRAT this morning. "We have not heard a word against this action from any other source, and it seems quite reasonable to believe that if there was any thing wrong about the line of action we have decided to follow some of the rest of the papers would be after us. am not prepared to tell what changes have been ful that the legislature will pass the char ter, for I am fully persuaded that while it may touch some peoples corns 1t will, withal, be benefit to a majority of the taxpayers of this town"
 Upon being asked for more particulars about the charter. he said:
 ''I saw a copy ot the charter and am quite positive that if it passes the legis- lature the framers of the original draft won't be able to recognize much of their work in it."
 What is the most important change from the original draft ?" was asked.
 "The most radical change noticed is the system of electing the members of the hoard of education. If it can be put through in it's present shape the repub- licans are sure of the controlling power in that important body. Four wards will be formed in the outlying districts, and it is expected that there will be good strong majority for the republicans in the board of aldermen. This done and the rest is plain sailing. It Is proposed to have the board of education elected by the alder. men. and with the right kind of men in the latter board think it is safe to predict what the political complexion of the form CT will be. The same order will be followed in filling all the other appointive offices That board of education has been a bone of contention in city politics fol years.
 ''It was with a view to defeating certain candidates for positions on the board that the bill was introduced and passed extend ing the franchise to women at school cleo tions, but it dld not have the desired effect. Then an effort was made to have this act repealed, but this was an injudicious move and raised such popular demand to allow it to remain as it was that it was killed in committee and some people thought that the man who fathered the measure was buried with it. But this was a mistake. for he still lives, and those who counted him among the dead will recog l nlZe HIS uDBeE ulaTkS between the lines Ol the new charter. If it can be put throu | intact the junior representative from Wa terbury will have accomplished with thu: section of the proposed charter what he failed to do with the bill to disfranchist women. In fact it will serve the same purpose, for there will be no school officers to be elected by popular vote. therefore you see. the women will no longer be power in school elections.
 "0ther changes there are, but Hook upor this one as the most radical departure from the original draft which left the election of the board of education to popular vote I can tell you that the men who hay, l charge of this charter and those who art behind them would be willing to give every office in the gift of the people in exchang, for complete control of the board of educa
 tion. This feeling was voiced in no un
 certain words at last falls election when al
 your local contemporaries pronounced tn , democratic ticket an insult to the intelli , gence of the electors of Waterbury," In an informal chat Gith the same per
 son he said that it was stated at on of the secret meetings that no matter wha was lost it would be considered victory
 certain man coul1 be busted from thi
 board. Some one took offense at this re
 mark and the DEMOCRAT was given the ful ] facts of the case. that the public migh 3 be fully apprISed of the magnitude of tn scheme, and the unprIncipled motive un ! derlying the whole work.