The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-02-21

" will be printed in about two put report of the Waterbury Charter 'ok form, perhaps it will not be out st, on what 1t says regarding Water cen managed ever since the present
 effective in 1896.
 thing alike that of the much adver-
 tised Al Gillette, the famous war singer, during his brief residence in Waterbury. In this connection, isn't |! it interesting to relate that in case
 the commission form of government
 is adopted, it may be either MT Everett or MT Gillette will be asked
 to take the job.
 Young Charley Deckan was an- other expert employed to secure fig
 ures. His work took him much of
 the time in the company of the tax
 commissioners. We wonder if 1t was comment regarding the commission
 CTS. Under the proposed plan, a permanent expert assessor would be
 substituted for this board of tempor- ary amateurs" Reference to the
 good men the public has found in
 this office these many years as . Amateurs" seems rather out of place, and uncalled for. We wonder If that word "Amateurs' was coined by the Investigators themselves or used by the framers of the report. Charley Deckan is tall, boyish look ling, and tip-toed along the street, here, like one who was stepping on eggs. I never took him for one versed in the study of the problem of property assessment, above that he or some one says the tax com missioners are Amateurs"
 "J. A. F." on the Fire Dept. And then there was the dapper J. P. Piachetelli, commonly known iamong the other employees of the ex- perts office as "J. A. F." He was
 the gentleman assigned to investigate the fire department. His residence here was only about year, but in that course of time he or those above him decreed that several fire stations should be done away with, and the departments personnel re- duced, a very cheerful recommends tion just at this particular time for
 the members of the department. In the short space of time as mentioned,
 J A. hidoO AAOAV tions in the fire line than any set of commissioners or chief has made
 since the great fire of 1902.
 One day when "J. A. F." was cit- ing instances of proposed changes,
 he was asked by one of the under |lings of the fire department if he were an expert.
 "Why, eh, I guess so," he admitted with a noticeable shrug of his well shaped, but none too large shoul- ders.
 "Well, if you are,'' said the fire man, meekly, "allow me to show you what fire has done in Waterbury" And with that the little bow-legged fireman led him to the rear of fire headquarters where he showed him pictures of the 1902 confiagration which did so much ruin to the center of the town.
 Of course that was years ago, and ought to be forgotten. Fire isn't the same danger that it was then. and besides why does the city want such a. force when most Of the people carry fire insurance. Pretty good logic, eh?
 Under the proposed plan of action, besides doing away with several sta- tions, the fire marshal must be technically qualified fire prevention engineer, the commission says. You wouldn't find such an expert in any fire department in New England, and many doubt if Fire Marshal Brophy of New York, as great an officlal or the kind as he is admitted 10 pe, could even qualify for the Waterbury job.
 The Taxation Districts The commission has much to say |concerning the two taxation districts of the city, the first and second. Who remembers when there were three such districts. under the same char ter. The city functioned then all right, and seemed to know just how to make up its estimates, not budget until so christened later by one Of the City Hall reporters. At the hear ling on the consolidation act, 1t was clearly understood that no part or the police department charges other than for special service outside should be charged against the first
 taxation district, and the behe1 IS that the charter 50 states. And as we understand it, too. the charges of the fire department should be confined exclusively to the second district. Sop" had to be handed out to the opponents. and the late |Goyernor George L. Lilley. father or the act. promised whatever aid ne could give to the opponents for the
 purpose of having the measure |adopted.
 Recall Joe Byrne. Expert
 AS one reads the big volume, he
 recalls the visit of MT Joseph T.
 Byrne, of the Bureau of Municipal
 Research of New York during MT
 Reeves reign as mayor. MT Byrne
 then compiled a budget. and declared
 that every item should be so classi-
 fled as to make it exceedingly plain
 to the taxpayer and citizen. So. upon
 his advice. the budget was made up
 in that fashion until the commis- sion changed it.
 MT Byrne. it would seem, was competent. Just now he is in Peru. along with foreign and American financiers, in an effort to improve conditions there.
 If you have days of leisure, read the report.
 But don't let it fall upon your bis toe.