New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-07-27
Blodgett Say. That
Statements Given Out
Were More for "Win-
dow Dressing Than
to Give Accurate
Facts.
Rebukes Mayor and Comp
tr0ller - Asserts Alder
men Have Illegally Add.
ed Amounts to the Grand
List.

Hartford, July 27 Rl-That f1nan-
cial reports of the city of Waterbury
are published for window dressing
rather than to be an accurate guide
to taxpayers" and that the finances
Of the city could not "be more thor
oughly debauched" than they are at
present by the board of aldermen in
illegally adding amounts to the
grand list and rate book are further
charges made today by State Tax
Commissioner William H. Blodget
against the financial administration
of the Brass City in letter to the
Waterbury Democrat.
Rebukes Mayor
The commissioner rebukes Nayor
Francis P. Guilfoyle and Comptroller
Peter FitzHenry for their "evasive
answers" to his charges of violating
the city charter. made by the COM
missioner in letter published on
Wednesday.
Declaring it docs not help the city
for any official there to respond in
such fashion to my letter presenting
figures obtained from the official re-
ports of Waterbury," the commits
sioner says "evasive statements and
alibis are no longer to be employed
to befuddle and confuse those who
6eB ascertain the facts In rela-
uoA ~ eterbury's financial affairs.
/ insist "a tax commissioner of the
state that the assessors and collect
ers, and others dealing with tax
money in the city comply with the
terms of the charter and with the
letter of the charter relating to those
subjects in every point where it is
possible to do So"
LINED With Red'
Mayor Guiifoyle in answer to Mr..
Blodgett's charges published We'd
nesday. when the state official de-
clared Waterbury was taking "fi-
nancial joy ride said the "commis-
sioners remarks are rather lined
with red" The comptroller is quot
ed as saying that he had been given
statements from the auditors stating
that his accounts have been examin-
ed and found correct and in proper
shape. But, says Mr.. Blodgett to the
Waterbury Democrat, "in neither the
quotation from the mayor nor in the
statement made by Mr.. FitzHenry
Is 1t observed that these officials
claim the charter has been adhered
|to."
Can't Get Figures
The tax commissioner says he has
had difficulty in securing reports
|and figures from Waterbury. Even
the Waterbury press has had to get |
Them occasionally from the state de-
partment, Waterbury's city hall not
always desiring to release the figures
Upon publication. Mr.. Blodgett
claims. Mr.. Blodgett has had ex-
pert accountants go over the reports
he has gathered and they have been
found to be incomplete and mac
furate. Next more censurable than
publishing no report in violation of
he law is the publication of mac
furate and misleading reports" says
Mr.. Blodgett in his letter. The COM
fnissioner's own agent was securing
figures through a certain channel in
he office of the comptroller but
boon found that closed and figures
we're obtained thereafter from the
mayors own secretary.
The charges in the commissioners
fnost recent letter involve the mayor.
board Of aldermen, board of relief
ind board Of tax commissioners Of ,
Waterbury. 1t has been discovered ,
hat the board of relief in accord
nee with the authority vested in it ,
Py an act Of the 1928 general assem- {
ply has never made additions to the
frand list and rate book when prop +
|rty has been discovered on which ,
|axes are due after the board has I
mpleted its regular work. /;
No Authority
The board of aldermen, without
| ny authority. according to the city's
|orporation counsel, has taken over
|his duty, and has. therefore, il
egally added property to the grand
st and illegal taxes to the rate book 1