The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-07

Conflict with state statutes re- lating to compensation was pro- vided in an ordinance approved by the Republican majority on the board of aldermen, it was remarked by Mayor Frank Hayes last night when he expressed disapproval and vetoed the February 9th action of the Republicans anent the law com- mittee's functioning and payment of claims against the city.
 The Republicans, although hold ing place on the law committee, had opposed the board of finance in its erstwhile controversy with Control Ter Sherwood L. Rowland over right of the corporation counsel to settle claims against the city before they reached the expensive court status. Controller Rowland spent the ear- Her portion of the evening at the aldermanic session before attending a political meeting which Republi- can Town Chairman J. Warren Up- son had been scheduled to address0
 The mayors vetoes, as read by City Clerk John P. Fitzmaurice, re- marked the menace of increased lit igation and resultant cost to the city by the Republican attempt to have that partys representatives on the board of aldermen, none of them lawyers, undertake settlement of claims against the city.
 An accompanying resolution yaxv flnn DnyNvyhtiNonc vided that the law committee of the board must meet monthly and, un- less given special dispensation by the Republicans on the board, should report on claims at those intervals. The veto included com- ment to the effect that shortening of time after claims were made against the city would mean refusal of claimants to settle outside court and, necessarily, added costs to the city by ensuing litigation. One req son for this was explained as po- tential inability of claimants to at- tend the required hearings on claims within the month provided by the Republican resolution.
 Sen. Edward P. Egan, Democrat, of Waterbury, submitted text of a bill he introduced in blank form in the General Assembly which would provide for city planning commits sion of five members, to be named by the aldermen, and appointment of city auditor by the board of finance. Senator Egan explained that Lewis s. Reed, now president of the Citizens & Manufacturers National bank, and former member of the board of finance, had advo- cated the auditor proposal some time ago. The bill was referred to the charter revision committee.
 Republican Aldermanic Leader George L. Kingston, moved that the city engineer be directed to prepare a list of WPA projects for 1889, dates on which they would start, and their cost to the city, as well as the sources from which funds would be allocated.
 Democratic Aldermanic Leader Thomas P. Kelly, remarking that he had no objection to some por- tions of the motion, recalled to the board that the city engineer is not the financial agent of the city and would not be able to state the sources from which such funds might derive.
 Further, he pointed out, the fed eral government, not the city engi- neer, would be the agency which must dictate the dates of starting any projects in which the govern ment provided WPA employment. The board of finance handles finan- cial matters for the city and not the engineer, it was remarked.
 Alderman Kingston commented that the city engineer had asked money flor these projects when the budget was being made up and the board turned him down." The Re- publican leader accused the city engineer of lacking courtesy" to tell the aldermen what the projects were and added, "If we are going to have a nfonev hIldpet and a rhOrev