The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-05-23

tackled the "strong mayor ( now agrees that we need a ney
 Criticism of the administration and appeal to his members to "take every opportunity of spreading the gospel of honest and efficient gov- ernment" are stressed in the con- munication which is printed, in full, Ns follows:
 I am urging every citizen of Waterbury, especially those who are members of the Citizens Good Government Association, to care- fully read the report of the grand jury as it was printed in the newspapers Friday. Take an eve ming off and go through the re- port from beginning to end. It wall be an evening well spent, even though the report is too exciting to be 8 good bedtime story.
 Then I urge every citizen to carefully put aside for future ref erence his copy of the newspaper containing this grand jury report. It will be good reading from time to time during the months to come. It should especially be read by every man and woman the day before the next party primaries and then again before the election that will follow. If this is done the people of Waterbury will elect one of the best set of public oftl- cials they have ever elected.
 This grand jury reports shows what can happen under the 'strong mayor" charter in the hands of group of men who have not the public interests at heart. Those who had felt for a long time that there were many irreg- ularities in the conduct of our city business are now amazed at the corruptness disclosed. Thousands of other citizens are aroused and angry at the way they have been duped, while being lulled by hon. eyed words of assurance as to the ability and efficiency of their off, cials. Now they know the things in which the administration has been efficient.
 Everyone now agrees that we need new charter. The one adopted in 1881 has miserably failed. The people of Waterbury will have to decide what they want to take its place. It is the hope of the c. C.. G. A. that over the months to come it can be use sful in informing the citizens about various phases of good govern ment. We hope that our nearly S'ten thousand members will take ', every opportunity of spreading ,,the gospel of honest and efficient -government.
 The citizens of Waterbury did not have much to say about the adoption of the strong mayor" charter. It was all arranged for them by the politicians. We now know why they were SO strong for it. But the people are going to have lot to say about what they are going to have next time. They are going to consider whether or not they want charter as they for merly had, with various checks 7, and balances, in order to keep the /. municipal ship on reasonably @ efficient course. They will consider : whether or not the interests Of the city as a whole can best be served 2 by the more modern form of mu- nicipal government known as the :. council manager government, un- der which the council plans the general course of action, but hires !, a trained non-political manager to administer the city business, with the aid of assistants picked 1, for ability, who work under merit system so they do not have !. to fear the loss of their jobs at z every election.
 = Yes, MT. Citizen, save your copy Z. of the grand jury report. You will Z. need to read it more than once, 7 especially when the next election starts and the old po- Z litical machines begin lulling us all to sleep in their usual manner.
 Those who are now members of z the Citizens Good Government as- 2. sociation are proud to belong to the organization. Those who have not yet taken their stand for good government still have chance to become associated with the thou sands of public spirited men and
 women who have already joined
 in the fight against greed and
 corruption in high places.
 If you want to avail yourself of
 the privilege of joining the fight
 to clean up our city and make 1t
 8 better place in which to live, - telephone the Citizens Good Gov-
 ernment association (4-8576) or