Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-03-02
JOHN o'NEILL TALKS.
A Strong Argument AEainst One NHs

A Strong Argument AEainst One Man
 Rule fin Waterbury.
 Attorney John O'Niell is opposed to the proposed new charter. He said to DEM ocRAT reporter yesterday afternoon:
 "I am very doubtful. about giving so much power to the mayor, because in the first place. to get the position he has got to promise places to different local leaders; if he did not fulfill his promises. of coure there would be bitter strife against his appointment at the next election, no matter how meritorious his official acts; i; and secondly, because if a mayor with such power had schemes to be carried out they would be accomplished no matter at what sacrifice or however unpopular they might be. Take for instance the pay ing of the public streets with Belgian blocks few years ago. think that if Mr Baldwin had the power and the. board of public works under his control he would have paved the streets with Belgian, block from one end of the city to the other as quickly as possible and at as, little expense as possible. if you please, no matter what ths wishes of the adjoining property owners might be in the premises. This same thing was done by Boss Shepherd in Washington, and al- though it was a great public improvement
 
 an Sful burden for the people to carry at that time, just to satisfy the whim of Mir Shepherd that the improvement should be completed at once rather than extended over a number of years. s&
 ''It is common for large schemes to en- ter into the noddles of large men; and of course, after this charter is passed none but these latter may aspire to be mayor of Waterbury. The trial they had in Derby for the last year has been significant Dr O'Sullivan was elected mayor. He imme- diately surrounded himself with heads of departments whose names are significant. Jeremiah O'Toole was road commissioner; Thomas O'Donnell, chief of policea Bryan McShane was at the head of the heAlth de- partment; Richard O'Toole presided in that department which overlooks the sew CTS. Of course the employees in each of these departments usually partook of the same patronaymics. Those names are only gwen to illustrate:.what is meant and not because men of these identical names held many the several places. At the end of Dr O'Sullivan's first year Of official life there were belonging to the same party who were offended because Avors were not showered upon them, Dissension arose and at the succeeding election the | doctor was cast down and out. Mir At wood succeeded Dr O'Sullivan and on the first day he stepped his foot in office all the tOs' and the Macs were cleared out bs g and baggage. How the scheme would work in Waterbury of course I am unable | to say.
 "There are two methods of conducting | the business of the town. The one man power, most of our forefathers fled from in Europe because they hated and despised it. am afraid that after we have had a little experience in this line We shall detesi what we shall call the rings and the favoritisms shown to certain nen and bosses, that there will be 8 building up oi political machine and that all the power of public patronage and the public funds will help to swell the popularity of those who may be in pc wer, and that in short time We shall have little else to do but walk up to the captaln's office and pay our taxes. The other method of govern ment is the town meeting or town council If the town council were not almost always Il gerrymandering. giving five representa- tives to 8, ,00O voters in the fourth ward and the same number of representative to l 500 voters in the second ward VI might have an honest expression of tho will of the people; and am fully persuad ed that the voice of the people when fairly | expressed in right every time.