The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-10-07

FRANCIS F. GUILFOILE of permanent character. The result of all this was a great but necessary expenditure.
 Then came the new laws regu- lating bond issues, requiring early capital payments. This, with all the foregoing, required 8 'reor- ganization of finances. The said special tax was refunded. The custom of paying the other special taxes was abolished so that dou- ble payments were required in 1930, and frequent capital pay ments were also required. All of this caused the great burden of a Al mill tax on Mayor Hayes ad- ministration. And then came the depression.
 32-Mill Tax Rate
 It is now a matter of history how successfully Mayor Hayes and Comptroller Leary quickly re- duced this high tax until it is now 8 mills, and I do not believe there are two other men in this city who could have matched their work, certainly they were not to be found among the oppo- sition candidates or their back CTS.
 The chief battle cry of our op- ponents appears to be based on our alleged highest tax rate in Connecticut. I do not think any of the opposing candidates re- alize the situation. Waterbury has the most centralized munich pal government in this state. There is only one small school district-the Park Road, that is not supported by the proceeds of our tax rate. Other municipali- ties have districts and activities separately supported and with their expenses not reflected in their reported city or town rate, so that actually their citizens contribute considerably more than the reported rate discloses. What is more interesting at present is that practically all the larger towns and cities have all ascend ing rates while Waterbury has reached the peak and it's rate is descending. This trend is of the highest importance and is the re- suit of the work of Mayor Hayes. Comptroller Leary and their board of finance.
 Contracts
 There are cries of extravaganza raised. We have not spent fool- ishly. Our Shepaug and water system would pay all we owe and more. I personally had much to do with great private water com- panies who would gladly buy if we deemed it wise to sell. Think of some of our largest cities with their large indebtedness without this asset and reflect that this as- set alone insures our credit every where.
 But we are charged with ex- travagance in not letting all of our contracts to the lowest bidder. Waterbury has greater physical difficulties than any of the other large cities in the state. It is silly to compare our city with West Hartford where an ordinary blow can do. as much as conl- pressor and steam shovel here.
 Moreover, we have learned lesson. Recall the McGovern con- pany's failure on the original trunk sewer project, the contrac- tor who in more recent years al- most involved us in numerous lawsuits when through his incom- petence he nearly caused numer- ous factory and mill buildings to be undermined-and those who attempted to build the Poplar and upper Cooke street sewers. It cost the city plenty to take up and complete their work. The general assembly, at it's last session. ,ec- ognized Waterbury's physical sit- uatioh and wisely decided to per- init us to retain the present method.
 Mutual Aid
 And one more alleged extrava- gance-giving people work with the help of the fifteen per cent cut in wages. Had this not been done, many hundreds of families would have suffered terribly even with the Mutual Aid which was sponsored by Mayor Hayes. Every official in the state, tnclud- ing the governor and chief jus tice, willingly suffered 8 discount to alleviate the condition of their unfortunate fellow citizens. It would be well for those of us who are charitably minded to analyze the minds and hearts of these as- pirants for office who attack Mayor Hayes in regard to this. for with this instrument he brought hope and comfort to our distressed and needy. Of itself, this attack is sufficient to dis credit MT. Burrall and his asso- ctates.
 I think can understand the flood of abuse and misrepresenta- ton which has been turned loose on Mayor Hayes and Comptroller Leary better than most Of my listeners. Both Judge Thoms and myself have been through the same experience, and both or us survived 1t. There is nothing new in 1t except It's increased violence and its obvious venom. The cam paign now waged by the man who has made himself the repub- lican party in a last despairing effort to realize his greatest am bition. He is conducting 1t with