The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-04-06

Robs Ruling Masses OF
 Voice Ln G0Dernment;
 NullifIes Party Liberty

ating deficit, we are with the vast
 majority of cities.
 ''The proposed city manager form
 of government takes away from
 the people of this city the right to vote for the person who has full ad-
 ministrative powers. Under the
 proposed charter a council of five
 men is created and these five. men choose a city manager who has full administrative powers of every de- partment of the government except the city court-the control of the 1 judiciary is expected-but yet that manager is not responsible directly to< the people. This is radically wrong and violates all concept of our form of government. It is reminiscent of the system adopted by continental countries and against which those who established the colonies successfully rebelled. some years ago.
 By placing the administration of all the affairs of the city in one man, who is responsible to five other men only, we will have a centralized form of government, which is strongly repulsive to our ideas of democracy.
 l. New Charter Summarized. Let us look at the proposed char ter and ascertain how the city will be governed:-
 Article 3 relates to the city coun- cil, it's powers, etc, and is as fol- lows:
 All powers of the city, except the powers vested in the city court by the terms of it's Charter, shall be vested in a city council consisting Of the mayor and four aldermen elected in the manner herein pro- vided. The council shall determine the policies of the city and may provide for carrying out and en- forcing each and every right. power ana privilege, expressed or implied, vested in the city except the power vested in the city court, and for se- curing the performance of all debts and obligations.
 You will notice that there is no provision setting out from what sec tions of the city the four aldermen will be elected, that is, whether they will be elected at large or whether the city will be districted and one alderman shall be elected from each of the four districts. There is noth- ing to prevent such districting and there is nothing to prevent a re- publican majority in the legislature at Hartford from so dividing the city into the four districts that the re- publican party shall always be sure of an election of three to the board of aldermen or council men and that means that one party will always be in power. This is absolutely de- structive of democratic form of government.
 Control by Few Individuals.
 "You can readily see that hand full of men could nominate and con- trol the board of aldermen or the city council and thereby control the appointment of the city manager, with the result that the govern ment would be in the hands of few. The. supporters of the city manager plan say that politics will be abol. ished. Indeed, they will be because there will be only one party in power and the other major party will go out of existence
 Party Plan Best "Such a situation would be de- structive of the success of the city. !, The best plan of government pro- vides for two major parties, each watching the other and at certain intervals, at annual elections or bi- annual elections, the votes of the people are requested to either keep in or put out the party then in power.
 "In the city manager form of gov- ernment, this rivalry is extinguish- ed. The operation of the govern ment is placed in the hands of a few, with the result that public interest in governmental affairs and in the conduct of the city's bushes wanes; the people find their complaints are without avail. that they cannot by direct ballot, remove the administra- tive officer, the city manager and so they allow the ship of state to take its course under the guidance of a few.
 Tt is claimed by the proposers of the city manager form of govern- ment. that the city is corporation and it's affairs should be conducted like any other business corporation. admit that the city is corpora stockholders and that each one should have the right by his ballot to say directly what officers shali be chosen. The officers should not be chosen by a board of directors or the city council as is proposed. The conduct of the affairs of munich pal corporation differs from that of a business corporation in this. that in a business corporation the off, cers are chosen by a group of men who hold a majority stock and who control the affairs of the corporation by virtue of that majority holding. They control the election of the board of directors and thereby con- trol the conduct of the corporation. When the proposers of the city man. n 14 ii pal corporation should be operated the same as a business corporation, apparently they have in mind that a group of men will have a ma ajority of stock, that is. will control ma jority of votes and will thus con- trol the municipal affairs for all time. Again, in the Constitution or Charter of a business. there is inva- riably found this provision, the care, management and control of the af- fairs of this corporation shall be in board of directors Under the city manager form of government the care. management and control of the affairs of the city of Water i bury would not be in it's board of directors. that is. in it's city council | but would be in one man. the city manager. This is far different from the conduct of a business corpora tion and would create pretty nearly a monarchial form of government
 That there may be no mistake about what is proposed. let me read the provisions of the proposed Char ter in reference to the city manager:
 Section I.
 "'The council shall appoint a city | manager. who shall be chosen with | out regard to his political or religi- ous affiliations. and solely on the | basis of his qualifications to manage | the affairs of the city. He shall be q | citizen of the United States but need | not. when appointed. he resident of the city or the state