The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-06-23
Mayor Opposed To
 Merit System, PLar,
CContinned from cage D

expresses the wish that continued effort will result in the worElng out of feasible and practical plan.
 Letter of Mayor
 Mayor Hayes letter to Mfr. Goss and his comments on the proposed amendment follow:
 June 8, 1887. John B. Goss,
 Care Scovill Mfg. Co.,,
 City.
 Dear MT. GoSS:-
 Since our conversation some time ago, have given as much thought as possible to the proposal to eS- tablisll a Civil Service System Ill the city of Waterbury.
 In accordance with our under standing at that time, present to your committee my own views upon the proposal and the accom- panying amendments to the City Charter, which, upon approval of majority of the Board of Alder men, are subject to a referendum before adoption.
 In the first place, let me Say frankly that am in favor of the establishment Of 8 Civil Service, System if the administration of it can be conducted fairly, legally, and without undue expense to the city.
 am also heartily in favor of the procedure which would make the adoption of such plan subject to the will of a majority of the voters of the city.
 am sure, however, that if the persons who are now benlg asked to record themselves in favor of the proposed amendments were given the time and opportunity for care- full study of the proposed plan, they would be extremely reluctant to subscribe to a scheme which, in de- tail, is utterly at variance with the purpose which it is designed to ac- complish.
 I think it is most unfair to ask people to sign' 8 petition without first furnishing them with a copy of the proposed law. I, as you well know, have been confronted with the difficulty of two different pro- pcsals. I think, before the people of Waterbury are asked to sign a petition, at least 40,0OO copies of any proposed drastic change in our whole method of government should be distributed to every voter on our list.
 We are all quite willing to admit that the present system of obtain ing and holding positions under the city government is far from perfect, so I welcome any change which will increase the efficiency and lessen the expense of this perplexing prob- lem. However, does the proposed plan better it to any extent? Has it taken into consideration the dras- tic rules made by industrial plants which exclude most men after the age of 40? What is to become ot this great number of citizens If they are to be excluded from muni- cipal employment also? Is there any one of the proposed amend ments that requires the personnel director to place anything such as mentioned above before efficiency? Does the proposed plan il. any way take into consideration the thou sands of ex-service men, whose av- craze age today is forty-four years, who are ineligible in most cases for industrial work? cannot find that either of the above necessary cond!- tions are even mentioned, although this class served the country not long ago for $50 month.
 yvlI.z oc ctl mitted to me, will not, in my opinion, accomplish any. of the desired re- suits. On the contrary, these amendments infringe upon duties and powers imposed by law on cer- tain officials and boards, and can- not fail to result in hopeless con- fusion, compete destruction of the morale of any and all city employees, and will, beyond question, open the door to endless litigation and ex- pense.
 The amendments set up a new commission and give 1t dictatorial bowers which, regardless of the good intent of those proposing 1t, could in time assume all the functions of city administration. They give to this commission. however admir- ably selected, authority without re- straint which could easily be made to take over policy making func- tions which, under the present law are restricted to those who are now compelled to render an account of their stewardship to the people every two years. They set up regulations which call for the expenditure by this commission of unlimited funds solely upon their own decision and without regard to budget require ments.
 That this communication may not be too long, am attaching 8 mem orandum which contains my per- sonal view of the details of the proposed amendments, am sure that have mt enumerated a1l