The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-01

Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin cried politics" today as the State Sem ate, in an amazing overturn full of political notifications, handed him two startling defeats-one on the dual-job holding bill, and the other on the appointment of two more superior court judges.
 The Senate revolt grew to such dimensions that when the motion to adjourn was made last night, it was not offered by the Republican Joseph B. Downes, D., Norwich, whose party then controlled the chamber.
 First, the dual-job holding bill was amended twice and sent back to the house under disagreeing ac- tion. Then, in swift reversal, the Senate reconSidered its passage Of the bill authorizing two additional judges, and voted to table the bill.
 High On Gov. List
 Both measures were high on the governors list of must" adminis- tration measures. Their Side-track- ing in the Senate was @ rebuff of the highest importance at this time, and may have widespread ramifica- tions when the minor court reform bill comes before the General As sembly soon.
 Already there were cries of "deal" on the court reform bill.
 Gov. Baldwin issued this state- ment:
 "It's a political maneuver on the part of the Democrats to prevent the Republicans carrying out thelr program, program which the peo- ple have indicated, certainly insofar as the dual-job bill as passed by the House is concerned, they want and should have"
 A possibility existed the governor might take his fight direct to the people.
 What. Senate Did
 Here is what the Senate did to the job-holding bill:
 1, It amended the measure to irl- clude jobs "in any town, city, bor- ough, traffic, juvenile, district. com mon pleas or superior court" in ad- dition to the original provision which barred the General Assembly from appointing its own members to paid state, executive or judicial positions. :.
 3. It exempted present legislative double -job-holders from the bill during their 1889 terms.
 The bill was returned to the House, where Republican strategists. in control there by four to one, sought to determine the best policy to follow. They could refuse to re- consider their vote on the original bill, and thus automatically kill the measure; or they could name a committee of conference to confer with the Senate. The house, in ad- dition, simply could approve the bill as it came up from the Senate.
 G. o. F. Senators Two Republican senators deserted the governor at this critical june ture. and voted with the Democrats on the amendments. The Socialists as predicted, stuck with the Repub- licans despite charges of 'payoft" for promised support on the Bridge port refunding bond bill.
 Votes on the amendments were IS to 15, and passage of the Jop bill was accomplished by 28 to 9 vote.
 The deserting Republicans were Gen 1ohn q Thornhill, BrOokfield, whose Fairfield County commission ership was placed in jeopardy by the bill, and Sen. Nehemiah Can dee, Norwalk, a town court Juoge there.
 Sen. Anthony J. Rich, Bristol, Re- publican leader, charged the amend ments were maneuvers to kill the bill. while Democrats retorted they simply were going one step further than the Republican by making the measure 'All-inclusive."
 The Senate chamber was Jam- packed for the seven-hour session and the tension was electric throughout. The debate ranged to personalities and, once or twice, the chair commanded senators to quit addressing each other and talk to the chair.
 Democrats regarded the days events of such great importance they caucused steadily from 10 a. m., until nearly 1 p. m. political leaders from throughout the state were present, and Democrats were aided by instruction from State Chairman J. Francis Smith.
 Bridgeport Escapes Tax
 Hartford, Conn, March 1-(UP) A threatened increase in the Bridgeport tax rate of 3.3 mills was ayerted today by the last-minute passage in the State Senate of a refunding bond issue totaling $2,- 449,000.
 The bond issue went through the Senate last night under suspension of the rules, after bitter attack on Socialist Mayor Jasper McLevy's H. nancial policies was made by Demo- crats. They did not oppose the bond issue. however, regarding 1t as poli- tical dynamite to be blamed for the threatened tax rate jump.
 Gov. Raymond E. baloWul SlBHeo the bill in its original form shortly after it was passed by the Senate, and Mayor McLevy, certain then of its legality, travelled hurriedly to Bridgeport in a police car to have the board of apportionment and taxation there set tax rate of 28.3 mills, slightly under last years rate.
 Set By Midnight
 The 1889 rate had to be set by midnight last night. The bill pas sed the House under suspension last Friday.
 State Sen. John L. Sullivan, D., New Britain, sought to amend the bill to make the total issue only $1,0O0,O00 in the next two years, but the amendment was lost over whelmingly. -
 The Democratic strategy was to criticize, but r9, to defeat.
 State Sen. Joseph B. Downes, Norwich, Democratic leader, charg- ed the state has been "mesrnerized" by the Bridgeport financial situa- 4{o~ ndJiv,n.