The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-03-13

by the RR Brotherhoods and the AFL as "dictatorial, ,"-"delegated too much power into the hands of one man,-would not operate to the best interests of labor,-but rather for the benefit of special interests" The plan proposed salaries that make it 'prohibitive for a labor man to con- scientiously accept public elective office and pay 1t the attention it properly deserves" It is a sideline for the rich" The same is true in the proposed Waterbury plan!
 The Waterbury plan is being pro- posed and promoted by big busi- ness and big business men. There is nothing wrong with that,Cor wouldn't be, if these clements could show that they are fitted to run their own affairs with some show ot social understanding and sympathy for the working class,-the citizens that have given them their economic power. Until such time as they can put their own house in order,-let them keep out of the only thing that we have left,-the right to gov ern, or misgovern ourselves, as we choose.
 If the Editor of the WATERBURY DEMOCRAT will bear with us, some other pertinent thoughts on the plax, should be put forth. Foremost among these are answers to some of the self put questions of the CGG propagandist, MT. Hearne. He has likened our present city charter to banged up "lizzie" witt, us as the owners debating whether we should patch up this decrepit old 'can" or junk 1t. We are told that the wreck isn't worth repair It occurs to us as it does to the owner of any "joloppy" that we know what we've got now. We also know that many a demon" has been hidden under a new and shiny hood!
 No doubt a new charter, like a new car, will develop just as many faults as the old one. Alread.' the proposed charter of 1880 mas been overhauled and streamlined to 1889 This has been done even before il has hit the road or the testing lane We are asked the question, "How would the city manager plan relieve the people of the burden of elect- ing its policy forming and admin istrative officials?" Perhaps 1t might be wise, to first find out from the people if they want this kind "re- lief" or if 1t is a burden" It seems as if that has been one of our worst difficulties. Willy politicians have al- ready relieved" us of too much oi the burden by sneaking in laws gov- rening the party primary system,- laws that take the direct choice oi selecting party candidates out oi our hands and places this burden in the mitts of ward heelers and political bosses.
 Policy forming officials? What policy has the city manager form of government got but the policy ol showing an adequate efficiency tha, will propagate it another term 1T office? If 1t Is necessary for a city manager to recommend the sale oi the city-owned water works in or der to show proper balance for the security of his position-he, and hi; council bent on reelection have been known to sacrifice such pub. lie enterprise to private interests Waterbury hardly wants 8 policy o1 lower taxes at the expense of socia services. We are grabbing about what we paid for, but didn't get That's all
 If we admit that we are a lazy lot, unfitted to choose for ourselve, our government officials-want re. lief from the purely democratic system-we select g council of sever (board of aldermen) under the plar as proposed. Anyone who has seer the present board at work will won. der at q scheme that will put thu whole responsibility of selecting ad. ministrative officials in such hands We are told that only seven coun. cillors are elected 50 that we car watch them better make them re, sponsible. That doesn't work either More stuff goes on in the ante. chamber than in the chamber. WI can't forget that 1t is much easiel for seven men to connive than 1t | for the present fifteen. We alst know that when we put the respon- J sibility of government into the hand