The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-03-01
Singles Out Member Of Board Of Finance
 For Radio Subject
John J. DriscO Attacks Local Symbol of Big Busi- ness"-Clains Time Opportune for Debunking, Not
 Exalting Type-Describes Ads as Propaganda

1 has shown itself unable to cope with even the little problems of society, let alone the big problems.
 We don't know the "Old Man" ex- actly as he was portrayed in that advertisement in the Sunday news paper. The "Old Man" of the ad- vertisement went to work early in the morning, stayed at his desk dur ing the lunch hour munching an apple and drinking his milk, and remained at work until late in the day-all the time working hard to make this a better world for his em- ployes to live in.
 "The Old Man." as we know him, comes to his mahogany desk at 10:30 in the morning, has his two hour lunch at the Waterbury club, and usually leaves his office for the day well in advance of the blowing of the whistle. He spends two months of the winter at Palm Beach and a good part of the summer at Bar Harbor.
 ''The Old Man." as we know him, usually takes quite an interest in local politics. He does this quietly, but effectively. He gets himself ap- pointed to one of the city boards let US say the finance board. He has to be interested in the local government, because he is a big taxpayer, and he likes to have some influence on the rates governing the taxes on his factory.
 Finance Board
 Does the old Man" make a good member of the finance board-that very important board which spends your money and mine? Well, we are getting to know a little more each day what kind of a finance commissioner the "old man" Is.
 We know that the city charter said the "Old Man" was supposed to look carefully at the city bills and make sure they were all right before the city paid them. Did the "Old Man" do it? He admits he didn't. He was too busy, he said. Too busy? Doing what? Going to Florida? Co., ing to Bar Harbor?
 But les not be too hard on the "Old Man," who says he's very much interested in your welfare and mine. One is never too old to learn-not even the "Old Man.. Even the "Old Man" can turn over a new leaf. The "Old Man" is attending all of the finance board meetings now. He is looking very, very carefully at the bills. He makes long speeches, tell ing the mayor and the other finance commissioners how careful and con- scientious they must be. They have their duty to the people.
 This is a fine attitude. Everybody likes to see reform, even if 1t is 20 years in coming. Everybody would be happy to see the "Old Man" re- deem himself.
 Little Trip
 But the same newspaper that told us about the "Old Man" of the ad- vertisement, told us that our Water bury "Old Man" is planning lit tie trip. Does this mean that the finance commission, of which the "Old Man" is member, has every thing cleaned up and that the city financial mix-up is all strengthened out? Does it mean that no more sermons by the "Old Man" on how to run the city are needed?
 The fact of the matter is that the finance board has its most crucial days still ahead of it. There are thousands of unpaid bills, running into thousands of dollars, and the city controller can't pay them until the finance board figures out how it can legally be done. You see the city hasn't any money. It spent half a million dollars more last