The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-23
Senate Begins Debate Upon City Referendum
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TOl1 rage U
 ton of most of the powers it has under the present charter. Provision was also made for removal of teach CTS from the merit system set up under the charter.
 AS first filed at Hartford, the bill provided that referendum be held on the third Tuesday after passage and signing by the governor. This section was changed to provide for the holding of the referendum on Oct. 3, normally the date of the regular city election. The bill, in its altered form, set back the city elec- tion to Nov. IA, with the proviso that If the charter should be adopted by the voters there would be. seven councilmen and seven members of the board of education elected on that day. If the charter were re- jected by the voters, the voting Nov. IA would be for mayor and other officials provided in the present city charter. A
 Tn bill was delayed in the cities and boroughs committee for weeks. Finally, at the insistence of the Good Government association, it was brought out of committee, with 8 favorable report. 9.- In the house of representatives, Rep. w. Ellery Allyn of Waterford, house chairman of the cities and boroughs committee, secured early action. Securing suspension of the rules, he urged adoption of the bill. Without even glance at the 184- page charter, the legislators in the house perfunctorily approved the bill, and it went on to the senate.
 Study Needed
 Senator Audubon Secor, of Bridge port, asked for suspension of rules in the senate also, but this move was defeated by Senator Culhane, who declared that the proposed charter was so important that it needed ex- tremely careful study by every member of the senate. As result of non-suspension of the rules, the bill had to pursue its regular course, which included printing of the en- tire text. The printing took more than two weeks, and resulted in a cost of about $1,200 to the Good Government association.
 Officers of the association charged that Senator Culhane was trying to block the referendum bill. Pub lie statements were issued to the newspapers roundly denouncing him.
 In its complete printed form, the bill came into the senate last week, and on motion of Senator Culhane, was set down as the order of the day at today's session. Senator John L. Sullivan charged that portions of the proposed charter were in vio- lation of the constitution and in- dicated that he would oppose the referendum bill.
 The charter covers 184 pages in the senate journal, while the ad- ministrative code takes up 80 pages. The code would comprise the first chapter of the municipal code if the charter should be accepted by the people.
 The charter gives tremendous powers to the city manager, who would be chosen by the seven coun- cilmen elected by the voters. The only other city officials elected would be the members of the board of education.
 200 Names
 The party system would be elim- mated by the charter, since nomi- nees could run for office merely by securing 200 names on a petition. Elections would be conducted under the Proportional Representation system, whereby voters name their choices in numerical order of pref erence.
 The charter provides for a mayor, but he would be a nonentity, his principal duty being to sign city doc- uments. The mayor would be elected by the city council from among its own membership.
 City boards as now set up would be eliminated, with the exception of the board of education. Boards would be all simply advisory in na- ture and subject to the city manager. City departments and bureaus would be in many cases consolidated, or eliminated.
 City employees would be placed under a merit system, except for teachers. who would continue on their present basis. Present city em- ployes would keep their jobs, but only lon probation"
 House on Injunctions
 Hartford. Conn.,. May g - (UP) The House today unanimously approved bill prohibiting this is- sliance of injunctions in labor dis putes until a hearing has been held on the issues involved.
 The restriction concerned both temporary and permanent re- strainilig orders and the bill went into the House with the unanimous approval of the Judiciary commit