Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-09

. sSfIN A1Ou W AM 4NE<%NAN was voted down by the house. The city voted to build conduits and again the house voted it down. I presume this committee thought the board of aldermen was foolish when they voted, for a municipal lighting plant and to build eonduits; that the city did not want them. If the board of aldermen was not wise in such matters of i'm portance, how was it the board came to be so wise i'll voting for this bill.
 'sThis matter of consolidation has been a hobby with some persons for years. It has been brought before this senate time and again, but notwith- standing it has always been rejected. Now it voted to not destroy a single line in the bill, but to give those who have lived long in the town of Water bury, who have paid the taxes and built up the town to its present proud standing a form of government they have not asked. I don't believe the committee would deny the people of Waterbury the right to vote on any other matter. I believe it is always the duty of a people to adjust their own affairs. If thought, Mir Presi- dent, that was asking too much to let the people be allowed to vote on this, matter I would not have asked it. But 5.OO0 people and about 1,200 voters ought to. be heard; they have sons thing to say about this and they should be allowed to say 1t. 1 appeal to you. gentlemen, coming from yari- ous parts of the state if some persons were trying to crowd upon you bill you knew nothing about would you mot think it radically wrong: If it has come to this when certain persons run things for years to suit themselves and now want form of government to suit themselves without asking what the other people think about it at all, it is a very strange thing. If you believe in free text books and other things because they benefit yourselves, I ask you to grant this be- cause, it is only right and fair"
 Senator Kepeally of Stamford re piled to Senator Kennedy's remarks, after which Senator Bree made a short reply in which he stated that in New Haven the referendum exists in three wards which have not yet been absorbed by consolidation. Senator Goodrich said it would not be wise to hand over the bill to the tender mercies of horde of ward politicians, and then Senator Kennedy said in reply:
 He began in a humorous vein by al luding to Senator Keneally's peculiar view of the referendum, which caused much laughter. sBut it is evident to the gentleman from the twelfth dis trict,Y resumed Senator Kennedy, ''that he is aware the people of Wa terbury want consolidation as much as the people of Stamford, and they voted against it. The honorable gentleman is wrong in his constitutional law. Can Hartford with all its wealth ab- sorb the neighboring towns? Is it be- cause the committee reports fayorably on measure every senator should feel compelled to vote for it to pass? If that is fact some of us might as well pack up and go home. q.aughter.) Suchs:a course is wrong in principle; even in theory it is wrong. If seven or eight men can legislate for all Con necticut then things have come to a pretty pass. 1 hear We will have two reports soon, and if Senator Keneally is on the minority I wonder what ex- cuse he can make.'' This was a rap at the 300 feet of land disputed by a railroad. "Is it not always a principle that the minority shall be respected? And if 10 per cent of the people of Waterbury who have helped to make 1t what it is cannot vote upon this measure without the whole city doing the same. it is matter that ought to be explained. How does the senator know that the city of Waterbury wants this measure? I ask the chair man of the committee, how does he know it? Let me say that not fifty out of 50.000 people have been heard on this bill. If this has to be decided by percentage of population it is evi- dent that 1t shall not pass. Concluding. 1 must say. gentlemen, thatthe closing remarks of the senator is a graceful close to the assault made in the house some days ago upon the honesty and the integrity of the people who have sent me here. While it is true that we are here to legislate for the people, it is good to be careful and prudent in what we say and do for them. If it is too much to ask to submit this meas ure to those who pay the taxes and foot the bills. only ask what has been granted to others. It was granted to New Haven. Why should it not be granted to Waterbury. I am sus- picious about this bill. The arguments advanced for it are unkind and un- called for. They have pointed all over the state to Waterbury as the seat of corruption. Possibly that had an ef- feet on the minds of the senators. The remarks were foul and vile. such as 1 hayeNnever heard before heaped upon any community. Never has there been q call made upon the people of Water bury but they responded gallantly and courteously, and they have never sweryed from their duty as American citizens. The colors of the country have never waved over "a truer people than the people of Waterbury. The formation of the town government is over half century old and never has