Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-09-23
WATERBURY, EVENING DEMOCRAT SATURDAY
POLITICAL POINTERS.
Republicans Trying to naKs Capital
Out Of City WORK.

The republicans are TALKING about
themselves and some of the things
they are saying prove that the posi-
ton maintained right along by tie
democrats with reference to contract
work in municipal affairs does not
always produce the best results. Here
Is what somebody says regarding the
methods of the present department of
education: The system Of employ
ing workmen directly and of buying
materials at wholesale, instead of
paying a profit to contractors, has
proven a saving in money! There
can be no doubt about the truth OF
this but under existing circumstances
it is plain violation Of the city
charter. What is the reason that ev-
cry job, large and small, under the
jurisdiction of the board of public
works, has to be done by contract?
Charter provisions fixed up here and
railroaded through the general assem-
bly, provide that all new work shall
be done by contract and as conse-
quence the bulk of the money raised
here for public improvements goes
into the pockets of nonresident Ia
borers with the result that there Ia
very little demand for local unskilled
labor. Our merchants get none of this
money and business men in other lines
feel 1t too. The republican party
made this law and compelled demo-
cratic administrations TO be governed
by 1t. but when John P. Elton saw
that 1t worked to the detrlment of the
people he made no protest when he
learned that the school board and
other departments were saving money
for the city by ignoring the contract
system in all cases where it paid to
employ workmen directly and buy
material at wholesale instead of pay
ing a profit to contractors. IF this
order of things should be followed,
the superintendent of water would
have a force of about 80 or Is men
at work all summer instead Of half a
dozen. The same thing would apply
to the street department In this
way Waterbury labor would get a
good share Of the money paid out for
public Improvements and according
to testimony which comes from the
republican side of the house and the
contention always made by the demo-
Gratis, the work would be done cheap
err and better. Now that both agree
on this point the party which lis re-
sponsible for the contract labor sys-
tenn cannot evade the responsibility
for the evil it has done, is doing, and
will continue to infiict upon the COM
munity until it is replaced.
The executive committee Of the
Third ward republicans Is trying to
get up meeting of the club for
day night to talk harmony and rati-
fy the ticket.
The democratic city committee will
meet at headquarters at o'clock to-
morrow afternoon. All successful
candidates for office on the ticket are
requested to be present
.'The man In whose work the ex-
perts failed to find a flaw" remarked
somebody last night, when NJ. D. Rus
sell, the democratic nominee for
comptroller, appeared before the con-
tion to make his speech Of acceptance.
The republican conventions will be
held tonight The race-fof The city
clerkship Is still on. Some say it will
go to Mr. Sandland, others contend
that Mr. Ellis will land with both feet.
and there are other people who pre-
dict that neither will get there. A
new name, L. w. Beardsley, time
keeper in one Of the factories, was
mentioned in connection with the
nomination to-day and was said to
have strong backing.