The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-05-24

portions of the measure were un- constitutional. Nevertheless, he said he felt the question should go be- fore the people of Waterbury and that the courts should decide the issue of constitutionality.
 During his hours-long speech Senator Culhane lashed out at the Citizens Good Government Asso- citation and delivered bitter tirade against Prosecuting Attorney William J. Larkin, Jr., of the Waterbury common pleas court who, he said had been lobbying in the Senate for passage of the referendum bill.
 Culhane Favors Referendum
 Senator Culhane declared several times that he favored a referendum but believed it should be held be- fore the fall. And the question, he said, should be simply whether or not the voters of Waterbury want a city manager form of government not the specific system set up in the proposed charter.
 A charge that the city manager bill had been introduced ito capi- talize and take advantage of an unfortunate situation that prevails in Waterbury" was voiced at one point by Senator Culhane.
 Amendments Beaten
 Seven amendments to the bill were defeated during the long session Five of them were voted down, while the other two were ruled out oi order by Lieutenant Governor James IL. McC Conaughy. Also beaten was a motion, made by Senator Candee to have the bill recommitted to the cities and boroughs committee. Sen ator Culhane did not present 46 other amendments he had been prepared to offer.
 Start of the Senate session scheduled for 1l:15 a. m., was de- layed for several hours while mem- bers of both caucused on the bill which was listed as the first order of business. It turned out to be the only Senate business of the day.
 Fight Is Started
 As the session began, Senator Secor presented a favorable report from the cities and boroughs com- mittee on the bill. Committee senti- ment, he said, was not unanimous ly in favor, and many members were opposed to the city manager form of government but felt that the issue should be presented to the people of Waterbury to decide.
 Taking the floor, Senator Gull hane urged his colleagues to make yourselves comfortable" since, he said, he intended to speak at great length and did not plan to hurry.
 At an executive session of the committee, he said, he asked how many members had read the pro- posed charter and code and found only one who had. "The rest of them took it as a joke" he declared. 'sThey said the thing isn't logical isn't constitutional and shouldn't go out of committee. In Water bury they thought I was holding up the bill, so, at my insistence this bill was brought out"
 Text of Bill Changed
 'The text of the bill was changed in several important respects after the committee held a public hear ing on it in February. But in the house it was passed under suspen- sion of the rules and it came into the senate. I wonder how many ] members of this circle have read and digested this city manager charter. I am prepared to argue ] every single paragraph of the char ter and the code"
 Senator Culhane then read resolu- tons, condemning the bill, which had been voted by the Jewish Dem- ocratic club and the Italian-Repub- lican league of Waterbury.
 Culhane Makes Charges
 Turning to the sponsorship of the bill, Senator Culhane declared that the Citizens Good Government as- sociation had been formed only to find out the state of the city of Wa terbury's finances, not to foster any city manager form of government.
 T know all about the Good Gov ernment association" the senator Ell aA aAm n A-A m-