The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-06-10

Calling for more attention to re- lief, less to measures related to poli- tics. Commissioner John H. Goss re- buffed Republican Registrar Albert O. Taller at the board of finance meeting yesterday and recommend ed that the aldermen rescind the ordinance providing for redistrict- ing of the city into g voting dis tricts instead of the former 20. At the same time, Commissioner Goss apparently stepped into a com plex Republican feud which finds Town Chairman J. Warren. Upson criticizing the finance boards action in the matter of redistricting; finds Controller Sherwood L. Rowland crying out of the wilderness for at tention to the potential relief deficit: finds the Republican-controlled board of aldermen shooting at the administration resolutions calling for suspension, for Investigating, for canvass of voters, myriad motions devised on the superficial basis of grandstand appeal without basic thought that the improvidentally-de- yied measures have hope of maturity in their original hurly -burly of words without meaning.
 Voting Machines
 Commissioner Goss offered mo- ton that the matter of purchase of 10 new voting machines at about $ll ,O00, to serve the added districts under the plan passed by the board of aldermen December 30, last year, be sent back to the aldermen with the question, freely interpreted: By what right did the board of alder men pass the ordinance creating 12 additional districts after the budget for 1888 had been approved, thereby | involving added expense to the city without provision for this payment? The veteran of the finance board expressed belief that the aldermen should rescind their vote creating the 32 districts, remarking that the board may have made an inno- cent mistake, but they made an er- TOT in passing something involving expenditure of money after they had adopted a budget which didn't pro- vide for such expenditure. And they should be made to correct their err TOT"
 When news of the finance boards action circulated last night, Chair man Upson issued a statement at tacking the board for (shoWing) "the worst kind of interest in better gov- ernment." (Ihe Republican town committee, in part, has been work ing for months on a new lineup of district organization. generally con- sidered the plan of Chairman Upson and Registrar Taller. FactionaliSm has developed over the inisistence of the chairman and his immediate CO., terie over creation of & town com mittee representation from IS dis tricts" with the four officers voting. Whether this plan has been put into effect is not known but the fact of Chairman Upsons protest on the finance boards rebuff of the alder men and the Republican registrar indicates that this is the easel. G0ss Criticized
 Chairman Upson made the point that Republicans and "Independ- ents" had been working for two years for redistricting because smaller districts will make illegal voting harder |. :" He criticized the move of Commissioner Goss by in- cluding the finance board in the statement:
 This action shows the worst kind of interest in better govern ment. It indicates it (the finance boarO wants to continue the same type of government we have had just for the sake of few dollars"
 Which is not putting the proposi- tion in the light intended by Com missioner Goss, 1t appeared. Because Commissioner Goss only pointed out that the board of aldermen (then Democratic controlleO had approv- ed the redistricting measure two weeks after the budget was set up. He advocated that the board of al- dermen "correct It's mistake"
 The board of finance had sanc- toned the purchase of the machines on note plan by which the city would pay for the tabulators over a period of years. Mayor Frank Hayes explained to the board, when the matter first was returned for action by the request of the registrars, that machines had been purchased that way in the past. The cost, he pointed out, would be distributed after an initial payment next year out of a budget item.
 GOss vs Taller
 The Republican registrar later al- legged that the purchase of the machines was In the original re- quest of the registrars but that the appropriation was "cut out of the budget by the finance board before 1t was sent to the aldermen"
 MT. Taller engaged in argumen. with Commissioner Goss. saying:
 We've got to have the machines. We've already mapped out the ad- ditional districts"
 If we keep the districts at 20 we won't need the machines" MT. Goss pointed out.
 Mir. Taller then attempted to read the vote of the aldermen creating the new districts and MT. Goss in formed the registrar that the board had considered this vote.
 We are familiar with that" he said. T think 1t is necessary to make the canvass. (The registrars have asked that $2,l00 be transferred from other appropriations in the office to provide for & canvass of voters be- fore the lists go to press the last of next month). But I'm for cutting out all additional expenses. The city Is in dire distress" Commissioner Goss declared" And 1t is better to spend the money for relief than for addi- tional machines"
 Request Tabled
 The request for this transfer. how ever, was tabled until the next meet