The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-10-18

Politics have not been played in the makeup of the personnel of the state tax department, neither fs the department being overload ed so as to take cahe of favorites as inferred by States Attorney William H. Blodgett, the incum- bent, State Tax Commissioner Will liam H. Hackett stated today in a letter to E. Vincent Maloney, ed- itor of the Waterbury Democrat. Attorney Blodget was Commission CT Hackett's predecessor in office. In his statement Commissioner Hackett points out that the four men in charge of the inheritance, municipal, corporation and excise divisions of the state tax depart nient are all appointees of former Commissioner Blodgett who were continued in office under the pres- ent democratic regime.
 Efficiency Rules
 Attorney Blodgett claimed that ''Governor Cross has loaded up the state tax department with politi- cal jobs instead of looking for effi- ciency in this highly important part of the state government" The statements are purely political misrepresentation and misstate- ments, declared Commissioner Hackett.
 A startling point is brought out by the commissioner to the effect that irregularities in records of tax officials of several towns were dis covered by his appointee in the { municipal division and that they were irregularities that existed several years under Commission CT Blodgett's term in office. He asks why this condition was not uncovered before.
 Praises Governor
 In defense of Governor Cross, Commissioner Hackett declared that the state is fortunate to have such a chief executive as Governor Cross. He paid tribute to the governors kind nature, benevolent disposition and versa tile accomplishments. The letter follows:
 The Editor,
 Waterbury Democrat,
 Waterbury, Conn.
 Dear Sir:
 My attention has been called to the fact that at a republican rally held in Colebrook on October 3rd, former Tax Commissioner William H. Blodgett was reported to have said
 Governor Cross has loaded
 up the State Tax Department with political jobs instead of looking for efficiency in this highly important part of the State Government"
 As Tax Commissioner, may I be allowed to comment briefly up- on this statement.
 In regard to loading up the Tax Department with political jobs, may I call attention to the fact that the four men in charge of the In- heritance, Municipal, Corporation partment, are the same men who In three of these divisions, namely; Inheritance, Municipal and Cor poration, the number of clerks who were employed in these divisions is the same as under MT Blodgett. LhCASAOTcs tHSiC Has UCSA ilO lod0~ ing up in these three divisions.
 Tn the other division, namely: the Excise Division, may I quote a statement from Mir Goodrich, the Director of this division. In let ter to me, dated October 18th, MT Goodrich, in answer to question from me as to whether the help employed in the Excise Division is in excess of it's actual needs, Mr Goodrich says:
 '.May I say that the last Ses- sion of the General Assembly enacted n law imposing tax on the gross receipts derived from the sale of alcoholic beverages. The administration of this law was placed in the Excise Divis- ion. At the time of the enact. Inent of the Liquor Control Act, the sale of beer and wine only s was permitted. With the repeal