The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-10-02
Battle For Manager
Plan Started In 1880
Grifenhagen Firm Recommended Its Adoption
in Connection With Charter Commission
Inquiry, Report

/ an appointive board of education
instead of an elected one, and Their
went up a loud howl of the higl
heavens.
The Good Government grour
realizing the power of the teacher
from the attempt to put through ,
bill providing for an appointiv
school board in Bridgeport, imme
diately called back the charter TO
revision and further study. MI
Smedley went to work again, and {
new version of the charter called TO
an elective board of education ant
a removal of teachers from the gen
eral classified system. ct developed
later that teachers could still b,
classified.)
SecOr Chairman
The revised city manager charter
was then submitted, and referred t.
the cities and boroughs committee
The chairman Of this committe,
was Senator Audubon Secor, Bridge.
port Socialist, who tried with nigh
and main to push through the Parl
City school board bill.
Senator George r. Culhane Of
Waterbury declared opposition II
the Extraordinarily manager bill
AS member of the cities ant
boroughs committee. he succeeded
in blocking any action on the bill
for considerable time.
In the house, Rep. w. Ellery Al
lyn, Waterford Republican ano
house chairman Of the cities ano
boroughs committee, told reporters
he did not think the charter-re-
ferendum bill was satisfactory.
Finally, a hearing on the bill was
held, with members of the Good
Government association conspicuous
by their precense. Senator Culhane
spoke against the bill.
While the bill remained in COM
mittee, the underground political
system was at work. Committee
members were lined up to vote for
a favorable report on 1t. But still
there was no action on the bill.
1t was during this period Of in
activity that Senator Secor told
reporters: IF the people of Water
bury ever accept this charter they
don't need a city manager, they
need conservators over 'em."
In May the bill was reported fav-
orably, and passed through the
house with scarcely any member
knowing what he had voted for. The
text of the proposed charter was
not available.
The next step for thesbill was into
the senate. There Senator Culhane
succeeded in a fight gainst allowing
the bill to be discussed and voted
on without being printed. The print
ing cost, about $1,100, was charged
to the Good Government association,
whose officers protested lengthily
volubly, but in vain.
Bill Amended
Meantime, the referendum pro-
visions Of the charter bill had been
changed again, over the protests of
Mr.. Smedley. The new arrangement
called for the special election to be
held Oct. 3, ordinarily the date of
The regular city election, with the
city election postponed to Nov. IA.
The bill came eventually before
The senate for debate and Senator
at once stepped forward in
opposition. He was joined by sever
Al Republican senators. who agreed
with his contention that several
provisions Of the proposed charter
we're in violation Of the state con-
;titution.
Senator Culhane fllibustered long
md earnestly against the bill, but
ne gave up the battle and the meas
ire was passed.
Then came the signature OF Gov
Raymond E. Baldwin, and Water
,ury's city manager charter referen-
ium was set down for Oct. 3.