The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-26
National Democrat Committeeman Here
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(COnttuueo this has not been 50. He was elected chairman of the board, when the seven Democrats voted for him, and he voted for himself. to defeat O. Arthur DuBois, the Republican se- lection.
 Most Important Vote
 The most important vote by the board, in which he voted with the Republicans, was in the bill calling Tor tho investigation of all local municipal departments. The bill was subsequently, vetoed by Mayor Hayes.
 At the conclusion of this morn sng's session. MT. Alcorn said he did not know how long he would be questioning Perriello. He said there would be several new witnesses this afternoon.
 Arrives In State
 FitzGerald, former Mayor of New Haven, arrived in his limousine at D:50. A nveried chauffeur was at the wheel.
 F1tzGerald appeared as lobbyist for several small loan companies during the 1887 general assembly. He was publicly upbraided for his activities in this connection, by former Representative William Ly- ons of Norwalk, at a hearing before the banks committee April 6. 1937, in connection with the small loans bin. FitzGerald was in opposition to the bill which called for a reduction in small loan interest rates to two per cent per month.
 Many Taken To Task
 Former Rep. Lyons, in the same tone used against FitzGerald, also took Governor Cross, Mayor Thomas .. Spellacy of Hartford, and Major John Buckley of Union to task. The latter two have been witnesses be- fore the jury, and there is new basis for belief that this small loans interest bill is the principal question before the jury.
 Sen. Culhane Presided
 Senator George T. Culhane of this city was senate chairman of the bank committee, and presided at that fiery hearing. Senator Culhane, a democrat, split from that party during the last election and sought the mayoralty against Mayor Hayes. He lost by a margin of 55 votes.
 When FitzGerald arrived to ap- pear before the jury today he was dressed in the acme of perfection. He wore chesterfield coat, white shirt. white lined vest, blue tie, with white pearl stickpin, and a derby hat. He stopped for while and talked with reporters and Arthur H. Doolittle of Bethany, member of the jury, before taking the elevator to the top floor.
 Moriarty Story Quoted
 The complete story, of the hearing ing, as told by The Democrat April 2, 1887, written by the late William J. Noriarty, was as follows:
 Telesca Started It
 "eenator Anthony Telesca of Tor rington started something when he introduced his bill reducing the in- terest rate on small loans to two per cent per month. At hearing before the banks committee of the legisla- turo yesterday afternoon, some of the bitterest personalities heard so far this session were injected into the arguments for and against the measure. Attorney David E. Fitz- Gerald of New Haven, democratic national committeeman, who is ap- bearing for the small loan com- panies in opposition to the bill came in for several caustic remarks from former Representative William Ly- ons of Norwalk. So did Governor Wilbur L. Cross, Mayor Thomas J. Spcllacy of Hartford, and Attorney John Buckley, state COP leader and chairman of the liquor control con- mission.
 Similar Bill Two years ago similar bill in- Atroduced by Senator Telesco was based by both houses and senate Bafter the 1885 session of the legis- Ilature was over. The legislators had no opportunity to repass the bill lover the governors veto.
 After telling FitzGerald that he Ashould be ashamed to be represent ling such companies, and reminding |him when he ran around with patches on his clothes when he was youngster, ex-Representative Lyons asserted that a strange situa- ton exists. He called attention to the fact that Attorney FitzGerald and Mayor Spellacy are lined up on one side of the political fence aid- ing the small loan companies. At tcrney Buckley is right hand man of J. Henry Roraback. Spellacy and Buckley were both absent from the hearing.
 "Lyons also declared that clause should be tackled on the Tel esca bill making 1t effective at once so "our dear old governor won't be able to pull 8 veto out of his pocket when 1t is too late to do anything About 1t.
 Senator Telesca criticized the amount of lobbying that has been Rciug on against the bill and said that considerable money Is being spent to beat the measure. FitzGerald Not Disturbed
 AAttorney FitzGerald was not dis turbed by the attack from Lyons. He stated that he was using his prerog- stives as a practicing lawyer to ap- pear for his clients, the small joan companies. He said that the con- cerns could not operate on a two per cent basis.
 "yormer Senator Alber E. Eccles of Bridgeport. socialist, stated that if the bank committee fails to re- port favorably on the Telesca bill he hopes the members of the group will suffer from disturbed sleep the rest of their lives.
 "senator George T. Culhane of Waterbury is senate chairman of the bank committee"
 Lobbying Activities
 Yesterdays session brought to light the fact that the jury is still deeply interested in lobbying activi-