The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-10-01

wears. Mayor Hayes qualifications for the high office he now holds are beyond question and his record during the past two years snows clearly that all that was predicteo for him at the last city elecuon has come true. He is a native or Waterbury and has large business; manufacturing. banking and reaA estate interests; pays approximate ly one hundred dollars every worK- ing day in taxes and. therefore, has a very great interest in seeing that taxes in the city of water bury are kept as low as posslble; Mayor Hayes vast interests ana ability are a decided asset to the peopie of Waterbury because It would be impossible to hire man to do the same work with the sams high degree of efficiency TOT the salary which Mayor Hayes re- ceives.
 Mayor Hayes is conducting his campaign for reelection on the record that he has made during the past two years. He has full filled all pledges and promises made to the voters two years ago and there is nothing for which he, or his administration, should oner an apology. Despite the depres- sion, which Is unprecedented Tn our minds, this administration mas been able to be economical and re- duce the tax rate, & thing whlch has not happened for great many years in the city of Waterbury. But, considering these questions and the fact that the republican ticket is endeavoring, by every means within it's power, to belittle the accomplishments of Mayor Hayes administration, it is well for us not to be misled by inaccurate and misleading statements about finances and figures. You know, as well as I know, that the re- publican campaigns for the last six or eight years have dealt exclu- sively with finances and two years ago the same questions were pro, pounded. Nevertheless, the voters of Waterbury expressed over whelming confidence in Mayor Hayes and, by reason of the record that he has made during the past two years. am confident that that expression of approval of the Mayor Hayse' administration and his record while in office, will be reaffirmed on next Tuesday by an overwhelming majority. You and I should consider this question Of finances in a common sense, every day manner. We are not account ants and bookkeepers, but we do know what 1t costs us for each ad- ministration in the way of taxes. My suggestion is, that when you return to your homes this evening, look at the tax bill you paid a year ago and the one you paid this year under Mayor Hayes. Mayor Hayes. you know, has only had but one tax bill issued that reflected a tax rate that he levied. You will find. that you paid 16 2-3qo less taxes this year than you did the pre- vious year. I think that means % us that we are having an oppor- tunity to save some money in these days of hard times and depression and I feel sure that the people of Waterbury will look at this ques- tion in this plain, common sense to pay less taxes this year than the year DCLOIC anu WO Wht hok pO misled by inaccurate and mislead- ing statements that the republi- cans are making in order to belit- tie the obvious a nd plain accom- plishments of Mayor Hayes ad- ministration and for the sole pur- pose of getting themselves into of- flee.
 Although the Hayes admins. tration has been able to maintain consistent, economical policy and has further been able to reduce the taxes by 16 2-3Io, and the public debt by almost two and one-half million dollars, the work of car ing for the streets of the city has not been neglected. As a member of the board of public works,
 AS a member of the board of public works and, therefore, fa- miliar with the public improve ment policy of this administration. need but remind you of the splen- did work that has been done throughout the city. We, in go- ing to our homes this evening, will have occasion to observe nu- merous streets including that big accomplishment on Baldwin street where storm sewers were installed and where paving was laid from Scovill's bridge to Pearl Lake road. I do not intend to take your time in reciting all the places in the city of Waterbury where such work has been done by this administration but I merely mention the fact to point out that Mayor Hayes activ- ities have not been confined mere ly to reducing the tax rate. It would be possible to reduce the tax rate and not spend money on pub lie improvements. This, of course, would be a one sided policy and one which would necessitate the spending of millions of dollars in the future to repair and replace streets that should be taken care of from time to time as Mayor Hayes is doing. In this connection, the people of Washington Hill and the surrounding sections will now be in a position to provide whole- some recreation and comfort for their children to the same extent as the people in the Hamilton park, Fulton park and Chase park districts are doing. This is because VI thC 0ONCtVPAiSAt OA tAAS ooss- ington park and the erection of the community house. When 1t was my privilege to approach Mayor Hayes on the subject of securing . bond issue to erect the community house, at washington park. Mayor Hayes readily appreciated the need of this section of the town and promised to assist in every manner possible to secure . bond issue. We were able to have this bond Issue passed. at Hartford. and the house is now an course of construction. In this connec- ton, I am reminded of the fact that Mayor Hayes and his admin lstration had no difficulty whatso. ever in securing the approval of the republican legislature. at Hart ford. for any bond issues that he requested. I am in a position to know that the committees on in the last legislature exc pressed high confidence in Mayor Hayes ability to run the city of and stated that while Mayor Hayes was handling the af- fairs of the city of Waterbury they