The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-26
RIPPER BILL IS
 STILL NAMELESS
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under no circumstances have any thing to do with it.
 "It violates the basic principles of justice and is diametrically opposed to my conception of fair play. have always believed that the courts have the duty of deciding guilt or innocence; 1t is not for any legislators or dictatorial commis- sioners to decide"
 Believes in Home Rule
 Beyond that, such 6 bill meets mS disapproval because believe strongly in home rule. The state government has its place and so has the city. There Is no need for the legislature to step in to take over control of affairs that are purely local. Waterbury has the right to govern itself"
 T will strongly oppose any such bill, and believe that such vicious attempts cannot be too strongly condemned"
 Italians Aroused
 These developments gave body to the spreading report among many of the more than 11,000 Italian American voters to the effect that the local Republican organization is attempting use of the grand jury proceedings to provide for elimin- ation of Aldermanic President Pa trick M. Perriello as the potential Republican mayoralty candidate next october.
 The racial groups saw in the 'rip- per" bill an effort to capitalize the charges against some members of the Democratic administration for Republican organization blowing under" of the Italian Republican leader.
 The bill, as 1t has been described by anonymous informants, provides for a commission of three Water burians, to be appointed by the leg islature, who would take over all power of government in Waterbury. The excuse given for this proposal is "a state of emergency" which the ripper" bill will claim exists in Waterbury. The commission, under the proviso, would undertake rule of the city until January. l940, when the city officers elected In October presumably would be al- lowed to take office. After sever- al-months' rule of the city by the legislatures appointees.
 Protest over such proposal spread over the city yesterday and various groups, including members of the Citizens Good Government association and of the Merit Sys- tenn chapter here, volunteered stur- dy opposition to such removal of the rights of the Waterbury elec- torate.
 Mayor Jasper McLevy, of Bridge port, and his two Socialist senators, are opposed to the bill, the senators agreeing to fight against a pro- posal for the elimination of home rule.
 Await Name Of Author
 Meanwhile, the author of the bill preferred to remain anonymous un- til some time next week when he has announced plan to present the ripper" measure in the Cities and Borouehs committee.
 Senator Culhane is the only Wa terbury member of the committee and Senator Audubon Secor, Bridge port Socialist. Is chairman. Sen- ator William 0. Hungerford, of Wa tertown, close to Senator Roberts, is a member.
 Inasmuch as the numerous Re- publican measures affecting Water bury, charter changes and the like have been submitted by represent tatives and senators from Water town, Thomaston and adjacent towns, a possible tie-up between the local Republican organization and the Watertown member on the com- mittee was indicated.
 Senator Secor has agreed that the bill as well as the bill calling for the referendum on charter change to provide 6 city er-council government in Waterbury, will be given no preference.