Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury [Connecticut]) 1903-1917, 1905-09-23

he might become. The plain fact OF
the matter Is, that these changes In
our charter have been made for the
purpose of keeping certain local re-
publicans In Office. / believe that the !
administration Of the city should have
the power to control Its subordinates-
1t has the responsibility and should
be in a position to carry out what pol
lcies 1t sees fit. Our opponents say
that a municipal corporation Is like
business corporation, but no superiI-
tendent of factory or president OF
any concern would be satisfied to have
his hands tied in the way that our To-
| cal republicans have tried to tie the
| hands of any democrat who might be
| elected TO the position Of mayor. II
might happen that some of these men
who are In for life might become in
competent. or out Of sympathy with
| the city administration, or In some
other way unfit for public Office. Ii
this should happen, believe that the
head of the city, who is responsible
to the people for its welfare. should
have the power to remove them, or at
least that the people should have the
right from time to time to pass upon
their actions.
Municipal Lighting
The tendency of the democratic
party II toward public ownership OF
what may be classed as natural mon
opolles. We have in our city public
ownership of the water supply. II
has been q very profitable investment
| for Waterbury, and pays very large
dividend to US every year. No suspi-
cion of crookedness or graft has ever
arisen with regard to 1t. It Ia well
conducted and it pays us a good profit.
1t may be that 1t pays us too much
profit. | have thought that the water
rates should be revised and equalized,
and that Is subject that shall take
up, if I should be elected, but In any
!. event, whether the water rates are
lowered OF not, the system yields US a
profit of great many thousands OF
dollars every year, which otherwise
would have to be paid out OF the
pockets of the taxpayers. see nc
reason why the same course could moi
be adopted with regard to electric
lighting. The experiment has beer
tried in Norwich for short time, and
! as far as appears is succeeding very
WELL 1t probably would succeed bst
ter. IL under the law which the electric
combine had passed at Hartford, tie
city of Norwich had not been COM
PEELED to buy the plant which was al
ready there at an inflated value. The
J interest which II has to pay on this
: watered capital of course cuts dowr
/ its profits. | have never been able t.
i see why the city, or any other corpor
/, alton desiring to start In any line Of
, business, should be compelled TO buy
J. out every existing competitor, bu
: that was the view which prevailed a
r Hartford, and so the law was passed
5 This city can with profit look into thu
7 question of municipal lighting. though
r with this. as with every other problem
7 involving a large expenditure of pub
S lie money, should favor its adoption
l. only If the plan was rarfed by Thu
Q people.
: Special Legislation.
!. The democratic party has nevel
a been In favor of the constant tinkerinf
!. of our charter, carried on for politica
4 ends. and which has continued eve
!. since the charter was adopted. A uni
5 form charter for every city Throughout
the state is, what We ought TO have
and Ii will come In time. There Is NJ
special reason why the needs Of Wa
+ terburr in the way or city government
:. are greatly different from New Haven
q Hartford and Bridgeport. A uniform
5 charter holding whatever mayor b
! elected to the highest responsibility
I and giving him a corresponding
: amount of power, is in my judgmen
i the best thing that can happen to al
the cities In the state. The mayo
: should have the right to select the cor
e poration counsel. Almost all the do
ings of the city which require lega
q advice arise from actions of the mayo
I and the board of public works. II hai
e happened time and again that the pol
7 lev of the mayor and that Of the re
! publican party. Of whom the city at
: torney is the official head, has great!
9 differed. The rule generally Is tina
! the mayor should have the selection o.
!, his legal counsel. and know Of n.
other reason why a different pIaI
should prevail in the city Of Water
bury.
City Assessments.
e We have been somewhat disturbet
a during the last year or so by report
} Of financial shortages, In the matte
i Of city assessments. This has been /
T matter Of public notoriety for a mum
e Der of years. and while not In any wa,
e prejudging the matter or rehectInI
J upon the carefulness or honesty o
' anybody concerned, we believe tina
the matter OF these city assessment
should be cleared up at once. Tn
s matter has been held up long enough
!. II Is time the amount due should b.
4 collected and paid over to the cit,
I. treasurer. No personal friendship o
d political or social influence should b
2 allowed to interfere with the promp
o and fair settlement of this. the onl,
J. financial scandal that has occurred Ii
; Waterbury for a great many years.
Il