The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-02-22
tpv Democrat Legislative Reporter)

(By Democrat LeglSlat1Ve hepOTteEy
 State Capitol. Hartford, Feb. 22- A strong possibility exists that the cities and boroughs committee of the legislature, which now has un- der consideration the city manager charter proposed for Waterbury by the Citizens Good Government as- sociation, will eliminate from. the charter the provisions calling for a proportional representation P.R) system of balloting. Several meIn- bers of the committee are known to be opposed to the P. R. system, which they claim does not work according to Democratic principles.
 The committee, If 1t reports fav- orably on the bill calling for a referendum by the voters of Water. bury on the proposed charter, VIII change the bill's provisions regard- ing the date of the referendum. Under the bill as 1t now stands, the referendum would be held the third Tuesday after signing of the Dill by the governor. The committee will probably order the referendum held at a later date, perhaps in the fail'
 May Change Wording
 Wording of the referendum pro- visions is expected to be changed, since discovery yesterday of Q "sleeper" provision that brought up the possibility that Waterbury might have a city manager char ter forced on 1t if a referendum, for some reason, should not be held The charter bill now states that the charter shall become effective "un- less reflected" at a referendum. Some take this to mean that the charter might become operative If no spec ial election should be held, and favor a change stipulating that the charter would be effective only I'll approved" by a majority or the people of Waterbury.
 The P. R. system of balloting Is not now used in Connecticut, and members of the cities and boroughs are inclined to look askance at It. The statement last week by Harold Y, White, president of the Citizens Good Government association, dur. ing q hearing on the bill, that from 4,500 to 5000 voters could unite to elect one of the seven councilmen provided for In the charter, did not rest well with the committee. The statement gave rise to a fear that the P. R. system would allow a minority to control city elections if the city manager charter should be adopted.
 Mahaney Elected
 Rep. Daniel Mahaney of Water bury, was reelected county auditor at . meeting of New Haven county legislatcrs here late yesterday aft- ernoon. The other auditor named was Rep. Warren A. Field. of MIL ford.
 under the statutes. one Republi- can and one Democrat are selected as county auditors. Each party picked It's own nominee at caucuses prior to the meeting.
 Rep. Mahaney is a member Of the important appropriations commit tee, and is serving his third term as president of the Veterans asso- ClAtlOtl VI tktG ovov0 ACBsSaoe0ACs Claims of doctors, nurses, druggists and hospitals against the estates oi persons who had been receiving old age assistance should be given pref erence, Senator Edward P. Egan oi Waterbury told the judiciary com mittee here yesterday afternoon. His bill would also grant e larger fu- neral allowance for recipients of old agen pensions. A bill providing that free medical care be given those receiving old age assistance, introduced by Sefla- tor George T. Culhane. was also heard.
 Explains Purpose
 Senator Egan, speaking in support of his bill said:
 "A case has been called to my at- tention where . woman died with about $500. She owed the hospital