The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-21

of the comptroller's office under
 threat that someone had some
 thing on him Ca telegraph was
 found in his office and there was
 talk of evidence carefully stored
 away on records). MT. Pape threw
 down the gauntlet and sent his re-
 porters boring through the records,
 that is what was left of them, and
 printed the story of extravagances
 that startled even those who were
 the staunchest supporters of the
 administration.
 Legal payments took the spot
 light. According to the papers,
 Francis P. Guilfoile, whom MT.
 Hayes succeeded as mayor, re-
 ceived various large checks over
 a period of years, $13,870 in 1882
 being the largest, payment of
 $6,OOO on December 10, 1897, being
 the latest. Carmody and Thoms
 received $29,O0O in 1887. Water
 bury has a legal department
 manned by four attorneys who
 are on the payroll, but apparently
 much extra advice was needed.
 Edward G. Levy, New Haven attor-
 ney, is said to have received nearly
 $100,000 extending over a period of
 seven years to negotiate lower
 street lighting rates, but officials
 of the Connecticut Light & Power
 don't seem to recall ever having
 met the man. Much auditing was
 done and fat fees were paid for it.
 The auditing budget was exceeded
 by $29,000, yet as far as MT. John
 Citizen can see the net result was
 to hide the true financial picture
 more completely than ever.
 It has not been denied that Lieutenant Governor Hayes enter tained 36 state senators at the Hart ford club in April, 1886. The bill amounting to $31723 was paid by the city of Waterbury. The city also paid $92555 for two dinner parties given legislative committees at Way erly inn in Cheshire. One of these was at the rate of $23.O0 per head Seventeen fountain pen and pencil sets at $15.OO a set were purchased in December, 1887, and given as Christmas presents. The city paid the bill amounting to $255.00. Christ mas checks were also passed out tC many city hall employees for "extra services" although the employees were on salary at stipulated rates Budget eXcesseS meant nothing The powers that were made them- selves good fellows at the taxpayers expense.
 The administration in Waterbury during the past eight years was Democratic in name only. In real ity it was in cahoots with powerful Republican leaders to form spells ring and build machine second tc none in the state in power and in- fuence. Citizens long suspected this When 1t appeared that George Gull hane might beat Frank Hayes last October, a letter was sent to Repub- lican voters urging them to vote for MT. Hayes and it was signed by an influential group of local Republican leaders. One of the signers was John F. McGrath, judge of the city court Later, when what were left of the financial records of the city came under the scrutiny of Controller Rowland and MT. Pape's newshaWks, Judge McGrath was reported to have received in addition to his reg ular salary, legal fees from the city amounting to $4,500 in 1882; $9,000 in 1883; $6,68O in 1884; 1885 and 1886 missing, and $7,500 in 1887, the latter charged to interest" Her man J. Weisman, another Republi- can leader, received $10,000. c. A. Williamson, well known Republican leader from Darien, and reputed to wield powerful influence over the house in the general as- sembly, received $22,000 in 1885 and $34,000 in 1887.
 There are plenty of Democrats and Republicans in Waterbury who are thoroughly disgusted with the whole spells regime. The best thing that could happen would be to get all the spollsmen in one camp, and all those who want good government in another, throw aside national party labels, and then let the citi- zens decide which group they want to run the city. If this were done, the forces of good government would win an overwhelming victory We always knew that the citizens of Waterbury wanted the merit sys- tenn. But if present interest in pub lie affairs keeps up we may find Wa terbury going much further and adopting a proportional represen- tation, a city council, and a city manager.
 Mere exposes of extravaganza mismanagement, and other irregu- larities aside from their news value are negative, destructive. and in themselves serve no useful purpose They are justified only if they spur the people to realize their obliga- tions of citizenship, and to give sup port to governmental systems that are positive and constructive. Ex- perience in Cincinnati, Toledo and elsewhere abundantly proves that citizen movements can be effective Whether Waterbury will join the ranks of well governed cities re- mains to be seen.