The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-03-22
BY WILLIAM J. MORIARTY Especial Legislative RepOrter)

State Capitol Hartford March 22-Waterbury's method of hand ling public works and purchases was bitterly assailed and stoutly defended here yesterday afternoon before the legislative committee on cities and boroughs. Several bills affecting the charter of the city were discussed and decision was reserved by the committee. D. Rob- ert Stevenson, Attorney J. War ren Upson and James A. White led the attack on the city admin istration while the principal de- lenders were Mayor Frank Hayes, ex-Mayor Francis P. Guilfoile, Con- troller Daniel J. Leary and City Engineer Robert A. Cairns.
 The battle took place on the bill introduced by the republicans of Waterbury which would amend the charter and force the city to call for bids on all purchases over es where an emergency is declared to exist the city can leave out con- tracts without competitive bidding.
 MT. Papc's Letter
 Attorney Upson declared that lOuE Ol LLC lINC 5S SAtAS6 OL tALO state require bids on work over $1,000. In Bridgeport the aldermen can vote to eliminate the bidding, however, he admitted. He termed the local method hit-or- miss system. A letter from William J. Pape, local publisher, was read at tacking the present administra- tion's methods of handling con- tracts. He also pointed to the grow ing deficit and declared that an- other $1,500,000 deficiency bond is- sue will be necessary in 1937.
 E. Robert Stevenson declared that bids should be called on all work involving more than $500. He then called the committees at- tentionf to the Waterville sewer job where no bids were called for. He said the contractor got the job for $81,O00. Later the same con- tractor bid $447OQO on job Tn West Hartford but the lower bid der did the job for $282,929. He asserted that the city paid $17 per foot for the sewer here while West Hartford paid $10 per foot.
 White Leads on.
 MT. White made the first bitter attack. we don't want distator in Waterbury. All we want is a square deal,." he asserted.
 Attorney Pasquale DeCicco, Mrs Florence Webser, Andrew J. Coon ey, Arthur E. Blewitt, Mrs. Julius Smith and Attorney Maurice Grus- kay were among those who spoke for the bill. H. B. Stark, represent ing the socialist party of Water bury, also favored the bill. At torney Gruskay gave the commit tee pictures of curbing jobs done in the city which, he said, were carried out poorly because they were done by contractors who did not have to offer competitive bids. Patrick Griffin and Attorney George Crccicchia followed in sup port of the bill, also.
 Mayor Defends
 Z Mayor Hayes declared that the present provision in the charter has been there since 1895. He de- clared that Waterbury is the one city in the state that has reduced its taxes steadily for five years at this time. The cut in taxes has been 25 per cent, he said. As for one of. Attorney Gruskay's pictures, he said, the curbing was done in 1920 by a contractor under competitive bidding. He was the lowest bidder and the job wasn't much good.
 The mayor added that since he's been mayor, all paving, sewer, water main and sidewalk work has been done by the city with the ex- ception of the Waterville sewer. He explained if competitive bidding was called for and the work let out to contractors the cost would be more and out-of-town contrac- tors would bring ins Out-of-town