The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-08-28
henchmen will continue in office. This might be a matter of weeks,

l VISIONS there can DC no certainty of the outcome of such proceed ings, because all of tbe officials involved have taken appeals to the supreme court of errors, and therefore the trial court might de- cline to hold these offices vacant pending the outcome of the ap- peals. This point is hotly con- tested, and there can be no defi- mite action until the court finally acts. (Even in the event of an immediate injunction, there could be no final decision until one or the other of the proceedings has been finally decided). In any event, your excellency, such pro- ceedings would, of necessity, have to be brought by private citizens, who would be compelled to bear the expense thereof, in spite of the fact that the fault is not that of the citizens, but of the general assembly which has given Water bury piece-meal this obsolete, cumbersome and boss-promoting present city chartery 8 charter which has given to Waterbury a virtual dictator who defies the people to remove him.
 It will be noted that the pro- posed amendment protects both the public and the officials in- volved. We recognize that every person accused of crime is pre- sumed innocent until found guilty, but upon such a finding the pre- sumption of innocence no longer exists. The proposed amendment would recognize the termination of such presumption, and would Sus- pend from office the officials in- volved. The public is thereby pro- tected. The proposed amendment would also recognize the right of the parties concerned to their ap- peal, and would provide for their reinstatement in the event of final acquittal. The officials are there- by protected.
 Your excellency, the present conditions in Waterbury have given our city,-perhaps our whole State,-a bad name before the country. The fault lies not with the people, for they never intended to vote into office untrustworthy officials; but the people have not had chance to do other than vote for one of two or more hand picked candidates of political ma chimes, who have in effect said to to the people each election day Here are the people from whom you must select your officials take them and like them!" That is the system of elections which is provided in the present charter of the city, and the only escape therefrom is to adopt the city manager plan. Under the present charter we can have nothing but machine rule, with all of its per- nicious spells and patronage, high CT and higher taxes, mounting debt, and little or no public im- provements.
 We propose the foregoing char ter amendment merely as stop gap. It is suggested merely as something to give the people of Waterbury immediate relief from situation made intolerable by an obsolete city charter that must and will be rejected. We say to you quite frankly that this amend ment would not be productive of any permanent good, nor would 1t solve the many difficult problems of our city. Fortunately for the people of Waterbury, however, the last session of the general assem- ply was far-sighted and courag- eous enough to pass a city man. ager charter for Waterbury, and your excellency is to be congrat- ulated for having approved 1t. This city manager charter will be voted upon and accepted by the people of Waterbury on October 3. It will then become effective on January 1 of next year, thus completely abolishing the present charter which has brought our city into its present plight.
 The adoption of the city man. ager plan will assure good govern ment to Waterbury in the future, because CD it takes the election machinery out of the hands of the political machines and places it in the hands of the people,-who can be trusted to use 1t wisely; (2) it places the powers and author ity of government in the hands of a small council elected by, and responsible to, the people; (3) it enables this elected council to choose as city manager a con- petent person rather than 8 mere vote-getter, and it gives the coun- Gil the right to remove an unsat- isfactory city manager at any time: (D it replaces the spells sys- tenn with the merit system, and provides a Hatch Act" for the city of Waterbury; and (5) it re- duces the number of elected offi- cials to 6 point where the vot- CTS may easily know and keep track of all of them at all times, -this being the principle known as the "short ballot"
 Your excellency, we say in con- clusion that your serious consid- eratlon of these matters is urged. After January 1, under the city manager plan which will be adopt. cd by the voters on October 3, the people of Waterbury will be in full control of their city government, and our city will forge ahead to become known as the "best goy- erned city ip New Eneland". Un. til that time, however. it now ap. pears that conditions will remain in c deplorable state. ft ls fer