The Waterbury Democrat., 1939-01-13

Morrissey, president of the Wa terbury Newspaper Guild. MT. Driscoll telegraphs: 1889 Water bury budget cannot cope with larger direct relief load than cur rent; many local factories have cut hours and laid of since Christmas; homogeneous offer lit tie encouragement on rehiring those still laid off since 1897; no new hiring at all" MT. Morrissey telegraphs: Observation of local factory condition tending toward further layoffs makes larger WPA appropriation imperative. Water bury private industry unable to absorb those laid of over year ago."
 Naugatuck
 Honorable John J. Sheridan, Warden of the Borough of Naug- atuck, writes: T urge you to do everything in your power to the end that WPA be continued at least at its present level. Naug- atuck, which has an indebtedness at the present time of nearly a million dollars, will be unable to carry on the relief program prop erly without substantially increas- ing our tax rate.f Of those who were recently dismissed by WPA, between 85 and 90 per cent are now receiving either direct relief or other assistance from private relief agencies. Beyond the num- Der dropped, which I believe to- tailed some 50 or 60, we have registered in our Welfare Depart ment and qualified for WPA en- ployment, about 55 making total of about 115 now unemployed and in need of WPA employment"
 TorringtOn -
 Hon. William A. Patten, mayor of Torrington, writes me: Any drastic cut in appropriations for WPA would indeed be a hardship on the city of Torrington. We have over 2,000 people receiving relief, and have been under a heavy burden of expense the past year. The recent lay-off of '37 WPA workers, together with over 150 more in the various factories in the city, has not helped mat ters.
 AnsOnia
 we have only one means of se- curing money for relief purposes. That is taxation of small home owners, who are now taxed about as much as they can t, stand. Projects which are completed or are still in operation under WPA have been @ great help, not only in keeping relief costs down but also by providing much-neeoed benefits to the city of Torrlngton. As far as private industry is con- cerned, I am sure that very few, if any, of those who were let go by WPA in the past, or who might be let go in the future, will be absorbed. Anything you can do to prevent a cut in appropriations for WPA will be greatly appre- ciated."
 Hon. Andrew F. Nolan, mayor of Ansonia, writes: T can truthfully state that the city of Ansonia will not be able to cope with any sub stantial increase in relief rolls oc- casioned by curtailment of WPA. Some few weeks ago the city of Ansonia suffered 10 per cent re- duction, and none of the men then laid off WPA has been able to find work in private industry. All are now or will shortly be on di- rect relief.
 "The city of Ansonia, at the present time, has BIO cases on di- rect relief. There are approxi- mately 800 obtaining partial re- lief, people who are partially em- ployed but not earning sufficient to maintain themselves and u cir families, and the city must assist with rent, fuel and food.
 '"I believe the taxpayers and rent payers should not be made to sacrifice on account of economic causes beyond their control. None of the men on WPA or on relief are there because they like 1t, and all, I am certain, would welcome return to private industry.
 "There is no likelihood that pri- vate industry will at the present time absorb any of the men now on WPA or on direct reliet This fact can be established by a check on the payrolls of the American Brass company and the Farrell Birminghom company.
 Derby
 Hon. John J. O'Connell, cor.- poration counsel of the city of Derby, states: Derby definitely cannot stand any decrease in gov- ernment aid or make any sub stantial increase in its appropria- tions for direct relief. We are overburdened as 1t is now. Hard ships would result, and already the UvvUluvVuVVvNiV VvvvvvvVvVUvATvvN