The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-09-21

A&hC ~ AAuObHAA0 HoAAA6 AAAo WAOp What did you do with the money did not give you to run the house?" am surprised that MT Culhane did not realize the stu pidity of his question. If he had taken the trouble to look at the city appropriations for the year 1886 he would never have asked his question. For his elementary education in city affairs let me call his attention, and the atten- tion of all the people, to the ex.. penditureS. These are matter of public record. The 1886 approp- riations in round numbers were $6,400,000. Of that amount there was expended:
 Education
 For education about two million dollars. 90 per cent of that amount was paid for salaries. Mir Culhane promises that if elected he will give Waterbury better government for less money than the administration has given it. In the department of education will MT. Culhane cut teachers salaries or discharge a large num- Der of teachers? Will he cut out the item of building maintenance so that children wilL be obliged to attend school in buildings which are unsafe and unsanitary?
 For police and fire protection the 1886 appropriation was $1,- 100,00000. 80 per cent of which was paid for salaries. Will MT. Culhane cut the wages of police men and flremen? Will he destroy the morale of the police and fire department and in so doing jeop- ardize the lives and property of the people?
 The 1936 appropriation for the Health Department was $60,000 Will he cut the salaries of health department workers who have done magnificent job? Will he for the sake of a cew dollars ex- pose Waterbury to the dangers of epidemicS and expose our school children to the ravages of con- tagious diseases?
 The 1886 appropriation for the Welfare Department was $503,000. What will MT. Culhane in his imaginary economy do with the Welfare Department? Will he cut wages here also? Will he diminish the service the administration has given to our needy? Will he. let the hungry go hungry? Will he let the naked go unclothed? Will he let the homeless go unhoused or the unfortunate go without fuel?
 Percentages
 Bond redemption and interest payments on bonds cost the City of Waterbury over a million dol- lars year. The street and sewer departments need 3-4 of million year. Thus you see that the items of education, police and fire protection, redemption and payment of interest on bonded oebt, Bureau of Public Works, public welfare and public health require 85 per cent of the city's income per year, leaving IS per cent to take care of state, military and county tax, general adminis- tration, old age assistance tax to state, recreation which includes parks and playgrounds, engin- eering, tax commissioners and collectors offices, courts and legal departments, building and elec- trical inspection, employees com pensation, registrars of voters, and the Bronson Library.
 MT. Culhane wanted to know where the city'S money has gone in the eight years this adminis- tration has been in office. have told him. This is our record and we stand upon it. There is no de- ceit in that record. MT. Culhane may consider that all the things have mentioned come under the head of waste and extravaganza. Well, if seeing that our children are we'll taught in safe school buildings by competent teachers who are decently paid is waste, let him make the most of 1t. The people of Waterbury know whe- ther that is waste or whether it is sound economy and real eff ciency.
 Beyond Criticism
 If seeing to it that our city is protected in its life and in its property and in it's health is waste and looking after the needy, the sick and the helpless is waste let him make the most of it. The work done by our welfare department is beyond criticism. It is approved by all fair-minded members of this community. It has been conducted not only with the utmost efficiency and with scrupulous honesty but also in the spirit of genuine charity. If all this true record of achievement made by the administration is waste then permit me to tell MT. Culhane the administration is proud of it.
 What do our opponents offer? The answer is nothing. What they really are pleading for is jobs.
 In conclusion I say this-with assessed valuations reduced $6,- o00,000 since 1929, with a tax rate of 31 Ia mills (which is the low est since 1922), with the necessity of spending over $200o,000 to match federal grants during the depression, with $3500,000 ex- pended by the city for welfare work during the depression and with reduction of $1,700,000 in the city's indebtedness since we took office AND with the city,s CREDIT RATING the HIGHEST it has ever been-THEN-I say with justif1able pride that this, as every fair-minded citizen will