The Connecticut labor news., 1921-05-20

The proposed charter change occu- pied almost the entire time of the meeting last night and after about an hours discussion a resolution was offered to the effect that the Council go on record as absolutely opposed to the plan. This met with some objec- tions severa delegates expressing the opinion that inasmuch as another meeting came before the special cleo ton date, the resolution should be tabled until the next session so that if could not be said later full oppor- tunily had not been given for discus sion of the plan before an adverse vote was taken.
 That started still more discussion ending with resolutions that the lead CTS of both sides be requested to ap- pear at the nert meeting and discuss the plan and it's objections. This, however, did not prevail, the Council being of the opinion that the dele gates will be sufficiently informed of the merits or demerits of the scheme before the next meeting so that they will not need their time taken up by long arguments by outside speakers at the next meeting.
 Had the matter come to a final vote last night the Council would un- doubtedly have taken adverse action on the proposed manager scheme. Several delegates pointed out pertin- entity just how sincere the charter proponents were in their efforts to cajole Labor to their support by stat ing that the charter advocates had ignored union printers and had their printing done in Trttle, Morehouse & e11t ch
 They also pointed out how in other places where the city manager or | commission form of government IS in effect Labor had been "double-cross- ed" after being induced to support campaigns for the manager plans | The same would surely happen here | If the plan went through, they be- | lieved, and based this belief on the
 list of those published as behind the proposition.
 The inconsistencies in the charter, the sweeping powers 1t gives to the city manager and a probable clique of
 five that would dominate all city af- | fairs, were deeply gone into and de nounced as dangerous. It was prac- tically agreed that instead of getting the people closer to the oficiasl and | their city affairs, 1t would only widen | the gap between item and practically
 remove all public influence from the gang once it gets in. Experience of cities no farther away than Jersey City where the commission plan was adopted to get rid of a corrupt ring only to install an even worse bunch were reCited as incidents of what would likely happen here. Definite statements from prominent people in
 Jersey City, lamenting the change they had made were quoted and the thought expressed that what could happen there might also happen here and entirely against the intent or de sires of those advocating the plan.
 Fne proposed charter so strongly in trenches the first crowd to be elected that their removal would be practi- cally impossible, the conditions for recall or referendum on their doings practically impossible.
 While one or two members of the Council expressed themselves as in favor of the idea generally, they were not insistent that it was all that could be hoped for, but based their support on the idea that it was a step in the right direction and should be taken therefore. Defects in the charter could be remedied after it's adoption they argued but were opposed in that with the idea of others that amend ing the charter after it's adoption would be solely up to the crowd elect ed to office and couldn't be done and wouldn't be if it interfered in any way with their designs.
 In order to give everyone a chance 10 study and debate the question the entire matter was finally put over un- tlI the next meetiIg, which will be nearly two weeks before the special election and therefore afford plenty oi tune for the Council 10 publicly express itself.