The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-14
Aldermen Rejected
 Merit System Plan
tContinred from Pags D

favor of . merit system for the city But he favored one, he said, which would he workable, which will bene. fit t'aIl citizens of Waterbury and contain some provisions that VII prefer war veterans".
 Board Was Unanimous
 At the mayors request, the al- dernen unanimously authorized him to name a non-partisar1 committed Of % representative citizens to drafl merit system bill that will be legal and workable. The committee VII function similarly to the nor-parti' san redistricting committee, which recently completed its task of req ligning the city's voting districts.
 The subcommittee of the board appointed to study the merit sys- tenn petition presented some time ago reported last night that 1t hao received an opinion from the cor poration counsel that the proposed amendment to the city charter was illegal, since 1t went far beyond the charter provisions and did not follow the state statutes. The sub-com- mittee, headed by Alderman George Guilfolle, recommended that the petition be rejected.
 Republicans Speak
 Alderman William Loeffler, Re- publican, declared that his feeling had been that the question should be given to the voters for decision However, he said, he had the high est regard for the corporation coun- sel and if the latter held the pro- posal illegal then he for one would vote against the petition. There was Q question in his mind, Alderman Loeffler said, as to what would hap pen, if the merit system plan were adopted here, to men over 45 years old, and those without enough for nal education to pass an examina- ton. "If the plan isn't legal l won't vote for it," he declared.
 Alderman Patsy Perriello, Repub- lican, declared that he would also vote against the proposal. The 1tal- ian people, comprising a large per- centage of the population, have not had sufficient time to give thorough study to the plan, he declared.
 Aldermen c. Arthur DuBois and George Kingston said 1t was pos- sible the corporation counsel might be wrong in his opinion, and said the question should go before the people.
 Roll Call Vote
 On e roll call vote, the sub-com- mittees report was accepted. Those voting yes were Aldermen Peter Griffin, George Guilfoile, Edward Fitzgerald, Edward Goldberg, Charles Sciullo, Ernest Belval, John Bender, Frank x. Bergen Demo crats) and William Loeffler and Patsy Perriello (Repubncans). Vot- ing no were Aldermen DuBois Kingston, William Kolbeck and Francis Phillips (Republicans).
 The same voting lines were fol- lowed on e motion by Alderman Guilfoile that the question be re- 1udbQ plhCS Vt tkAC NSVAAb AAA0 chimes in this years election.
 Following this vote Mayor Hayes asked permission to address the meeting.
 Following the mayors promise tt support Q satisfactory merit system plan, the board voted unanimously to empower him to name Q non' partisan committee of 26 to draft suitable amendment.
 Attorney Smedley Protests
 Att orney Frederick Smedley chairman of the legal committee oi the local merit system chapter, then was given the floor. He declared thaG he disagreed with the corpora ton counsel as to the legality of the proposed amendment. The only question the board had to decide he said, was whether or not the pe- tition contained the signatures oi IS per cent of the local voters. Leg.