The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-04
Treasurer

Expansion of government service imposes additional costs which re- quire additional laws. Prostrate business and industry cannot af- ford to pay the taxes necessary to meet such increased cost nor can men and women working for reduced salaries and wages and on part time pay the taxes to meet these increased costs either. We can stimulate private enter prise by stopping the ever-increas- ing cost of government, by keep ing those costs within limit that the taxpayer can afford and by making definite provision for the payment of our bills.
 Labor
 The great majority of the peo- pie in this state labor for small salaries and for wages. When they are working full time and receive fair pay they create market. The worker is not only a producer. He is also con- sumer. The business men, the manufacturers in this state should realize and many of them do realize that they not only owe & duty to the stockholders in their companies but to the jobholders as well. We can be proud of our legislation in Connecticut protecting the working man and woman but we have by no means reached the limit of fair prog ress. All too often in the past some employers have been unwill- ing to meet the men who work for them halfway. As & result there has been a lack of coopera- ton which is essential to progress. A belligerent attitude on the part of the employer has been met with a corresponding belligerent attitude on the part of the em- ploye. Capitalists, large and small, as stockholders, have a right to organize and poll their in terests. Labor has an equal right to organize and bargain collec- lively through representatives of its own choosing. We will pro- tect and guard the rights of both. We urge cooperation and mutual regard. No government should champion the one as against the other. We can improve our laws with respect to sweat shops and child labor and protect women and children as to hours of work and working conditions. Legis- lation should be provided giving to labor fair anti-injunction bill. The day of unreasonable, unre- stricted use of injunctions in labor disputes is gone forever. Fair dealing requires the protection of the employer against plant con- fiscation and wanton sabotage. Most all of our industries are owned by many small stockhold- CTS whose investment represents a saving made at great sacrifice. Property rights are a part of hu- man rights, for most all of the people in Connecticut own prop- erty of one kind or another. The Workmen's Compensation Act has on the whole been very beneficial. It has been amended and changed from time to time to meet new conditions. The depreciated value of the dollar and the present high cost of living make an increase in the maximum limits payable desirable and necessary at this time. The expansion of the Act as to compensable injuries and diseases has produced a problem which was originally unforeseen. Some industries are unwilling to employ men who have reached the age of 45 years or more because such men are thought to be more susceptible to injury than young CT men. Such practice tends to substitute inexperience for experi- ence and works an injustice in a state where many working men who have spent a large part of their lives developing specialized skill and experience find themselves unemployable. A comprehensive, thorough study of this problem is recommended with action in the present session of the General Assembly. Our laws with respect to contracts let by the state for public works of various kinds should be SO amended that labor costs are at a decent and uniform standard for all bidders so that all bidders may enter the con- test on equal terms. Legislation to protect labor and materialmen from the fraud of irresponsible contractors needs further strengthening. Our Board of Mediation and Arbitration has done good work. With added powers it would function even more effectively to settle and thus prevent labor disputes. Friendly relationship between labor and capital will encourage business to come to Connecticut. With labor and capital, in honest, energetic partnership Connecticut will forge ahead.
 Agriculture
 We have from time 10 time add- ed new boards and commissions to our state government. For the most part these boards and com- missions have grown up in hel- ter-skelter fashion. You should direct your attention to coordin- ating the boards and commits sions concerning agriculture. These could and should be combined in a single department to foster a unified program and to avoid duplication of effort and conse- quent added expense.
 It is therefore recommended that the commissions on agricul- ture, on domestic animals, on dairy and food, and on milk reg ulation be combined under a Board of Agriculture.
 A regional market should be es- tabliShed in a section of the state best calculated to meet the needs of the farmers. Many of our to- bacco farmers will not again un- dertake tobacco growing. Their lands and farming knowledge may