Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-02-13
DURANT TALKS.
Says He Had Nothing to Do With Coles Nomination.

Attorney II. R. Durant is Il scarce commodity hcrcabouts since his cleo. tion as assistant clerk of the low,r house of representatives This morli ing, however, Il Democrat reporter ran across bim and asked him q few qucs. tions regarding the .judgcship of tllt city court. Mir Durant was very in. dignant at the insinuations made by Judge Burpee q few days ago follow. ing the introduction of the resolution nominating Attorney F. r. Cole for the judgeshp. As to what the chances of each were he could not say.
 ''The idea of Judge Burpee saying or intimating that was partly re- spoDsiblc for that introduction was ab- soluteiy false.' said Mir Du:ant. and should say that he knew it when he said it. What influence could have with Senator Peck. opposed his nom- nation at the caucus and he knew it. fought him every inch, as the whole city is well llfaware, and my fight was open and above board. Senator Peck is n good senator. I did not fight his nomination on that point. He simply was not the choice of my friends. that was all. But did not ask him to in troduce that resolution and had nothing whatsoever to do with it.
 As to the chances of Judge Burpee and Judge Cole, don't know how they stand. l have very busy office il, the legislature, want you to under stand, and l don't have much time to daily with affairs outside of it. I will say. however. that Judge Burpce Is good judge, from judicial point Of view. but for the city's interests. he is not. He simply treats the city's interests with absolute indifference. Which is seen by the number of days he was absent from the court last year. His haste to get away from court, when he happens to be present. Is another way he has of showing how much he cares for the citys interests. If the session happens to be anyway long, he gets impatient to be away. and the consequence is that many a case is not half tried, or properly tried.
 He said I did not properly prepare my cases. yet it took him eight years to find that out. will say now that my cases were prepared as we'll as the present prosecutor prepares bis. and will also say that in every respect looked after the interests of the city in my official capacity as good as they are taken care of at present in the city court.
 NOW. regarding this matter of as sessments charged against Judge Bur- pee. No one for q moment -thinks Judge Burpec is q thief. I do not at all events. but if those interested in having him removed from the city court would take hold of the situation ln the proper way they might get some results. ! don't think that assessment affair will cut much figure in the mat ter. anyway. because. as I have said. no one thinks for moment that Judge Rurpee did wrong wilfully. Nothing has been charged against him yet. any way. The point his opponents should take is his absences from the city court. and the way he handles bust ness there when he is in hurry.
 Judge Coles appointment would not affect me. I don't think Judge Cole would make any changes iii, tho personnel of the present staff. couldn't accept an appointment under him. anyway. because I will have work about five or six months every year in the capitol. But Judge Burpee could accept an appointment because Inc would come and go any way as he has been doing for tlra past eight or nine ycars.'
 It was said today that the ar.s Dint- mcnt of judge of the city court will not be made until after the report of tlIc special committee to inquire into the assessment affair is made public. If, however. it is delayed beyond req son. it is said the matter will bc taken up by the house of representa- lives and all those concernad locally will be subpocnaed by the judiciary committee.