The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-01-29


 Controller Sherwood L. Row. land marks an anniversary" today completion of his first month of work for the city, and the man on the street suggested that now would be "as good a time as any" to start bit of reviewing of the record. He suggested a little call endar form and wrote 1t out as follows:
 January 3 - Sherwood L. Row. land sworn in, after announce ment in the Waterbury Republi- can that MT. Rowland would be accompanied into office by Will liam J. Armstrong, Griffenhagen and Associates accountant, as aide, advisor, auditor, MT. Arm strong goes to work.
 January 4 Controller finds" records missing, demands audit.
 January 5 - Controller finds" records missing, demands audit.
 And, so on throughout the next three weeks.
 Back in the days of December, when the plans engaged upon by William J. Pape, publisher of the Waterbury, American, as early as six years ago, seemed on the verge of finding fulfillment,, MT. Rowland demanded $6,000 from the board of finance ito conduct an audit of the controllers office"
 Private File
 Why? Was it because James F. Purcell, incumbent accountant since 1880 in the controllers office had kept private file", as it has been suggested since the recent expose" a certain local commen- tator of G. O. P. sympathizes. (Note: It happens that we can not quote the man on the street" in full regarding this aspect of the "expose")
 January 6-17 - Controller Row land finds" records missing. Complains to board of finance, to board of directors of the Repub- lican-A American, to Mayor Frank Hayes, to Corporation Counsel Charles s. O'Connor, to staff of five reporters from Republican American, especially assigned to cover" his office.
 January 3-28 - Controller Row. land has mo statement" to make to reporter from The Democrat. Issues one printed statement favoring his enterprise in office, and, denying that there is any further development, fails to men, ton statement issued to Repub- lican- American regarding pen sions of three firemen.
 Remember MT. Rowland?
 What about one of these fire men, John OLeary? Does MT. Rowland know the circumstances of that day in 1927 when Fire man OLeary's legs were crushed by the fire truck which rolled back down the hill, with Fireman OLeary sticking to his post as others jumped? Does MT. Row. land know that numerous opera tions were necessary for Fireman OLeary who lost his legs while on duty for the city?
 Does MT. Rowland care that the pension pay would be, and is, inadequate to pay for the treat ment required by Fireman OLeary? Does MT. Rowland know that when Mayor Hayes took office, three years after Fireman OLeary's accident, the mayor Salo he hadn't the heart to cut the pav" just at a time when Fire man OLeary was struggling to live, handicapped for life, a crip- ole in more than the usual sense of the word?
 Does MT. Rowland know that fireman in New Haven, name on request), has been kept on full pay for 40 years although the Flaw" says that pension should be his payment throughout his similarly afflicted life?
 No Pay
 Does MT. Rowland know that the OLeary family has had no pay, pension pay, even, since he took office and that times are very hard in that home? And that other pensions, created" by his actions, have not been paid. that many persons are practically starving because MT. Rowland is making his office the center of 8 publicity plot instead of the of- flee of servant of these persons now "pensioned"?
 Still, MT. Rowland entertains the staff of the Republican American at "conferences" in the private office, Is quoted as saying (yesterday,s Republican newspa- perl that vouchers are missing" " Does MT. Rowland understand that he is allowed to "comment" by the interpretation" of the