The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-19

ystern' form of government"
 Further, the release includes the tatement:
 "The new budget has brought nome to the people of Waterbury Ihat they now must pay for the ex- and inefficient govern lnent that system has given them LW years ..
 The complete statement of the Good Government group follows:
 'sThe Citizens Good Government AA ociatiot1 believes that the re- cent struggles of our Board of Fi- nance. and Aldermen with OUT city budget for 1889 are an excellent Illustration of the working of the traditional or 'spoils system form of government. The new budget has brought home to the people of Waterbury that they now must pay for the extravagant and in. efficient government that system has given the nifor years. They see an already high tax rate go higher to help pay for the fancy trapplngs of the 'spoils system Many people think that our city officials still fail to catch the new spirit abroad in Waterbury--the kind that de- niands the end of unnecessary ex~ sravagance in an effort to keep the old system going.
 Present Charter
 'Under our present charter, each department submits to the mayor an estimate of its expenses for the following year. The mayor submits these to the Board of Finance, and it is the duty of the Board of Ff- nance to estimate the expenses, liabilities and resources of the city, recommend tax and submit a budget to the Aldermen. The AL dermen may change this budget to a certain extent. The mayor of Waterbury is 8 political official. The Board of Finance and the AL dermen can devote only a com- paratively sinall part of their time to city affairs. It is simply impos- sible for them to have either the detailed knowledge or the time to do really efflcienctly 50 complicated and technical job. There exists no full time adequately paid ad- mmistrative official whose duty it is to survey and examine the en- tire financial structure of the city and to assemble complete figures of probable income and expenses.
 "Under a city manager charter, it is specifically the duty of the manager, who is hired by the coun- ell for his administrative ability, to make up such a statement in de- tail so that anyone can understand 1t. In this he is assisted by a corn- missioner of Finance who has full charge of all financial affairs of the city (nOw divided among at least six Independent officers) who can produce from his own office all records and information as to past transactions. The commissioner of finance has in his office a director of the budget and personnel and there is an Advisory Board of Fi- nance. The responsibility is clearly and directly on the manager to make up such a statement, which, in the form of budget, is pre- scented to the city council. The council, the body which dictates policies, not administrative details, then considers this budget as a whole, and under certain restric- tions may alter 1t if they see fit. If they do alter it, they do so with full and complete Knowledge of just what they are doing and why.
 Which System?
 Which system will result in a better job, and a more cfficient and economical operation of our city? The answer is easy.
 "ro the Citizens Good Govern Ment Association the new budget is one more strong argument for a change in our system of city gov- ernrnent. We need modern city manager charter that will provide men Of executive ability to admin ister the affairs of our city. The people of Waterbury are entitled to a system of government that will operate in their interests and that will give them one hundred cents of value for every tax dollar that is spent. The loyal employees of the city need the protection of { merit system to free them from the political pressure of the 'Spoils systern.' All citizens need an ef1i- cient government that can give them the necessary things and still operate on tax rate that will at- tract new industries to our city. New industries mean more jobs to everyone. and more jobs mean more customers for our merchants.
 Voters Choice
 'The voters of Waterbury should have a chance to choose between the 'spoils system and a modern system of government. The c. c. c. A. Is bringing up to date the charter econ1mended by the able men on the 1880 Waterbury char tee commission. This charter will be presented to the next General Assembly. They will be asked to pass it, subject to a referendum at special election in the spring. Then the voters will have q chance to kill the 'spoils system Then they can make sure that on Jan- tlary 1st. l94O, there will be in- stalled 8 new council l-manager government that will start making Waterbury the best governed city ftt Nauy Es1 wla IA tSyatrA ,,.. Vxya k..,