The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-22
J. Francis Smith Praises Administrations Record

applying the saving to debt or taxes. Of course you know that this was not done. On the con- trary, the welfare department was provided with two million dollars above it's normal appropriations. Very substantial amounts were ex- pended in order to cooperate with the Mutual Aid program and with the federal agencies which pro- vided funds for unemployment re- lief.
 ITO me, the claims that huge sums should have been available for the reduction of the city debt simply do not make sense. I conclude, and I hope that you agree with me, that the record of this administration in maintain ing the city's financial condition is actually far better even than would appear on the surface.
 T know that you are not satis- lied, any more than I am, that this is the whole story. The ques- tion still remains as to the jus- tice of claims that this record may have been accomplished in spite of inefficiency and extrava- gance and that another ad- ministration might have done a great deal better.
 Again I rely on observations which are available to every citi- zen in Waterbury. Individual de- partments of our city government provide the services that we re- quire and spend the money that we provide. You will agree with me that 1t would be nonsense to say that each department in the city is efficient but that the city government aS a whole is in- efficient.
 Inefficiency
 "If a charge of inefficiency and extravaganza by the city adminis- tration does not mean inefficient cy and extravaganza on the part of its departments, it doesn't mean anything.
 "If such charges can be proven against individuals entrusted with the management of municipal de- partmentS, those individuals should be removed for cause, re- gardless of the nature of their positions. If they cannot be prov- en, the general charge against the administration necessarily falls flat.
 "On that basis, let us consider the departments that spent most of the money we provide, and the persons who head these de- partments.
 "First, let me state that the city has at present about $4,800,0 per year of tax income to spend- exclusive of interest payments on borrowed money.
 'Dr. Thomas Condon heads the school department, which spends almost two million dollars of this sum. Should he and his admin istrative and teaching personnel provide better educational facili- ties for the money spent or could the same facilities be obtained for less money? How? Who should be fired2 Whose salary reduced?
 Apply the same test to the po- lice and fire departments, spend- ing over one million dollars of your money.
 T think that 1t Is generally agreed that the fire department under Chief Cavanaugh is un- excelled in cities of this size.
 Police Department
 Tt is my impression, and believe that 1t may be yours, that the police department is efficient, well-disciplined and well-man- nered. Arguments have been of- fered pro and con as to how much of the credit for reduced insur- ance rates on automobiles should be given to the increased ef- ficiency of the police department, but I have heard no argument that the police department is not efficient or that Supt. William J. Roach is not doing a first class job.
 "In a department which is as difficult to administer without criticism or claims of favoritism as in the welfare department, 1t is truly remarkable that we have been so free from complaint. This department under Mrs. Margaret Verdon is now forced to spend the substantial sum of 800 thous- and dollars year.
 T am convinced that we have capable management of the street and sewer department which spends about $750,000 per year, under the direction of Mir. Thomas J. Fleming. In this department, as in the water department, whose finances are segregated, most of the work is carried on under the supervision of the city engineer ing department, whose reputation is unexcelled. .'
 "I do not wish to comment