The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-09-27
SMITH, UPSON
HIT CULHANE
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discussion of the provisions of the
charter has been obscured by q
series of personal attacks and
counter-attacks.
The principal offender in this
respect is Mr.. Culhane. He appar-
emily believes that he has a lien
on the mayoralty of his adopted
city and that any interference
with his ambitions is necessarily
a foul plot.
His statements concerning the
referendum bill being squeezed"
through by the Democratic lead
ership, are utter nonsense. Three
fourths Of the votes cast In the
Senate for the bill were cast by
Republican and Socialist senators.
The only persuasion exerted on
these senators by any nominal
Democrat was by Sen. Culhane.
A comprehensive revision of the
charter was actually squeezed"
through by Sen. Culhane with
support solicited from Republican
and Socialist sources. The chang
es were given inadequate consid-
Grafton and then only after SIREN
uous efforts by Culhane to pre-
vent any consideration except by
his omnipotent self.
I agree with the senator when
he states that he has made mis-
takes. I disagree that these mis-
takes were intended to benefit
Waterbury.
They were intended to benefit
the senator, but being mistakes
they benefited none.
I make no secret Of the fact
that I favored letting Waterbury
decide for itself its form OF gov
eminent. I hope that a sensible
and considered decision will be
made. If the proposed charter Is
adopted, 1t should be adopted on
its merits, and not because of re-
sentiment at the glaring trans
parency of Culhane's opposition.
Mr.. Upson's statement follows:
read with interest a quotation
in the morning Republican OF
what Senator Culhane had to say
about the leaders Of the political
parties in Waterbury, and their
silence upon the City Manager
referendum.
His claim that If the city man
ager form Of government would be
adopted, there would be no fur
Their use for either political party
in Waterbury, is, of course, incor-
rect. As long as there are political
parties making nominations IN
state and national elections, there
will be political parties in Water
bury. The only effect of the adop-
tAon of the city manager charter
Is to minimize the role Of political
parties in their relation to the city
government.
1t is my personal conviction that
the action of the citizens of Water
bury In relation to the adoption or
rejection of the city manager form
of government should not be die
tated by party prejudices. I am
firmly convinced that in voting
upon the city manager charter cit
liens of Waterbury should be con-
cerned primarily with the effect OF
the charter upon the city govern
ment rather than the effect Of the
charter upon any political party in
Waterbury. It seems to me clear
that the vote on this question
should be a non-partisan one. /
have no doubt that some Republic
cans will vote against the adop-
ton of the city manager form of
government, and others will vote
in favor Of it.
The action of the legislature
during the last legislative session
in amending the existing charter,
/ am satisfied resulted in improv-
ing the existing city charter. There
were some changes In the existing
charter made by the legislature
which I did not favor. However, it
seemed to me that there were other
improvements that were of such
great value to the city that the
proper course was to promote the
adoption of the amendments as a
whole. Looking at them broadly.
they seemed to point toward an
improved city government.
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