Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-04-30
AGAINST RlNGSRULE.

handed Methods Of the Self Con- stItuted Charter Committee. Editor of the DEMOCRAT:
 I notice that the proposed charter re- vision has reached the committee on cities and boroughs of the legislature. Nobody has been able to ascertain who has been instrumental in sneaking this proposed scheme to Hartford, in direct opposition to ninety mine out of every hundred of the taxpayers of Waterbury, and am not sur prised that inc individuals who had the audacity to so quietly, and stealthily steal it and present it to the committee are ashamed to allow the citizens of this city to know their idendity. but those who are re- sponsible for it will deeply regret their part in such uDwarranted interference in the rights of the taxpayer. For that mat ter. what do they care for the rights ot the taxpayers. They have an object of their own in view. and the taxpayer be d-d. There is no doubt that they will do their best to railroad this obnoxious scheme through the general assembly. and it is highly probably that they will be success ful. unless the taxpayers without regard to such ridiculous and unwarEanted dicta- tion. Politics has no place in this pro posed charter revision, and anybody who undertakes to make a political question
 
 opportunity.
 understand that a couple of our Water bury legislators are connected with this combination, who propose to force this ob- jectional charter on this commonwealth. and it is also understood that one of them that is foremost in pushing this consolida- tion scheme, intends to head the city ticket next fall. If he persists in using his in- fuence to railroad bill of this character through the legislature, contrary to the wishes of the almost unanimous opinion of his constituents. he certainly ought not to have the cheek to ask for their suffrages in the future C
 The prestige derived by manipulating of our new water supply was certainly great enough, but it was insignificant in com parison to the political prestige derived from material furnished by this proposed charter scheme. The taxpayers are dis satisfied with the proceedings of this com- bination, and will wait patiently for an op- portunity to rebuke them at the polls, no matter with which political party they may beaffilisted. It therefore becomes important to ascertain who those individuals are, who force laws on this municipality that they know are determental to the taxpayers, and give them to understand that they must come to a halt As long az the taxpayers allow them to do these things. they will never put a stop to their intrusion on the rights of the public. These men who in- sist on dictating to the whole thirty-hvs or forty thousand population of this town. are | men whose only motive is to legislate for their own selfish benefit, and as far as pub lic is concerned 1t is a matter the least considered.
 The chief arguments urged in favor of this scheme. is based on the principal of burdening the rural taxpayer wiih an ad- diticnal fifteen or twenty mills tax on their depreciated property. no matter whether they sanction 1t or not. It seems to be i'm material on their part to consider public opinion at all. and the rights of the citizens of this community are of no con- sequence whatever.
 The combination that mAnipulates these diabolical schemes has been organized for many years. with the exception per haps an acquisition of some of our Water bury legislators. This addition to their force Is probably for the purpose of having the proper influence always on the ground. Of course our legislators would have su- perior advantage over the people who wish to dispute the justice of this consolidation project. The wisdom displayed on their pat by this addition to their ranks shows conclueively that their tactics are bril- liant. aLd it will require the utmost vigi- lance on the part of the taxpayers to coun- teract their skill ln this particular line of legislation. They have had large exper- fence in concocting schemes to defeat the will of the people, and 1t will be absolute ly necessary for the taxpayers to be on the alert in order to expect any sort of a show to justice and fairness. This IS not the fl rst time that this same combination has undertaken to dictate the law to this city Al Al. al. A.. without the consent of the common coun- cil. and they have generally been success ful to the shame of the representatives at Hartford
 As the statute books will show, there are laws on the statutes to-day that have been forced on the city by this identical com- bination. that everybody knows are detri- mental to the interest of the taxpayer, which in justice to the taxpayers should have been repealed long ago. If the tax payers of this community are willing to al- low these things to occur repeatedly from year to year there is nobody 10 blame but themselves.
 There are others connected with the combination who aspire to political honors and expect to receive the suffrages of their constituents. AS long as they are supported every tune they are nominated for office they are encouraged to dictate to the disadvantage of the taxpayers, but if the voters do their duty and work for their own welfare financially, they will re- fuse to elect them to any position of trust. Then the taxpayer would effectually put a stop to this outrageous and unreasonable dictation. Politics should cut no figure in a case of this kind, and any man who aids an abets in forcing this objectionable charter on the citizens of Waterbury. be he either democrat or republican. should be taught a lesson that would be of profit tc him in the future. Give them the proper medicine when election day comes, and they will discontinue this outrageous prAc- tics. The remedy is simple but you will find it effectusl.
 The legislators in Hartford. if they un- derstand the charter question intelligibly, will not be so unwiss and inconsistent as to force charter on this city that is al most unanimously opposed by the tax payers of both political parties. without giving the people & chance to vote on the question. It would be contsmpibl0 to rS-
 fuse them that privilege. they are the
 proper authority to detsrmine the law tC govern this municipality. and whichever way they dicide will be satisfactory to every taxpayer in Waterbury. If the charter project is so popular as the promoters of iI
 represent. they ought not be afraid to put the question fairly and squarely before the people. Be fair. gentlemen. and let the tax I r-k4 s.-A c Aha r10 n@A AkA1 hw