The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-07-27
Personal Knowledge

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 In other years when extra work CTS were taken on to do city jobs both the Republican and the American have yelped that they were not needed, that they were being put on the city payroll to loaf, and that in return for their jobs they were expected to vote the administration ticket. Mem bership in the Democratic party was requisite for employment and none but Democrats need ap- ply. For two reasons never paid attention to the yelps. The first was because the accusations came from the Republican and the American and were, therefore and of necessity, ungrounded. The second was because knew per- sonally that the inferences, in- situations, innuendoes, and as. sertions were without vestige of truth. I was present, unwitting- ly, and unhappily, on numberlesS occasions when applicants for work were being questioned. (Un- willingly and unhappily because in bygone years I had plenty of experience in employment agen- cieS and to me they were, and re. main, a horror.) And I have yet to hear any member of the ads ministration make any enquiry of 8 political nature of any applicant I have heard only two questions repeated again and again: "Do you live in Waterbury? Are you Q voter?" When and if both were answered no further examination of any sort or kind was made. So that long before the present re-paving work was allotted the administration was committed Co giving work to Waterbury resi- rents and Waterbury voters in preference to others. It Is . pol- icy of which I believe every de- cent minded citizen approves.
 More to Come
 But the Republican sees noth- ing even honest in the care which the administration is taking to see that the local resident section of the re-paving contracts is being observed by the contractors. That discoverer of mare's-nests has found out that the investigation Is another Democratic trick to pad the pay-rolls" and to insure that none but Democratic voters get hired by the contractors. The Re- publican practically accuses the contractors and the administra- ton of entering into a conspiracy to defraud the taxpayers; the for- mer by including in their bids a larger estimate for labor because 1t has to be local; and the latter by accepting the bids knowing them to be excessive but willing to wink at the excess provided is can hire the workers for the con- tractor. With an editorial mind capable Of creating such moil- strous myth there is no arguing. We have seen them created in the past and exploded. We will see them in larger number and great CT monstrosity from now until October. It Is not @ pleasant prospect but like the heat and the hives we'll have to put up with them. Worse luckl
 
 Suggestion
 However, so long as the Repub- lican does not like the idea of the mayors office being turned into an employment bureau, something over which I have my doubts His Honor is throwing back-fiips of joy, l have a suggestion to make. Let all the applicants for jobs go over to the Republican and have their local residence okayed. The only trouble with the suggestion appears at once. I doubt if the Republican, root and branch, would know local resident if one appeared in the office. How coult