The Waterbury Democrat., 1940-01-27

 in Passing
By RAYMOND J. F1TzPATRICK


 The praise given Mayor Vincent 8cully Q few days ago by the Citi- zsns 0ood Government association, guarded though 1t was in it's phraseology, can well be taken as one of those straws in the wind that those who make politics a vocation or an avocation spend so mitch time chasing.
 When, with his administration less than three weeks old, Mayor Scully can win the cOmmendatiOn oe an organization which is non- partisan, there can be no doubt but that similar feelings are held in many other circles. Carefully worded though 1t was, Mayor ScuIly can justifiably take pride in the resolution of the Good Gov. ernment association "encOurag- ing the present mayor and other conscientious officials to continue their effort to give our city honest and business like government" The association, in It's public state- ment, went on with great precau- ton to urge even greater efforts on behalf of honest administration, but even the qualifications with which the praise was tempered were not enough to hide It's impOr- tance.
 Mayor scully's feeling, since he took office, has obviously been that whatever benefits the city most will eventually benefit the Demo- cratic party most. The specific political problems in this regard is whether eventually" will come soon enough.
 Any fair observer must admit that the administrative and board appointments made or recom- mended by the mayor have won him wide respect and many new supporters. The same observer would also have to admit that these same appointments have not been received at all well by many who were among MT. Scully's strongest supporters in the election.
 MT. Scully feels sincerely that the choices made by him were the very best possible. Nor is he lack ing in political courage, for he has stated time and again that he will give 100 per cent backing to those appointed or recommended by him. He made similar statements about his running mates for elec- tive odice, in whose nomination he had the most important voice. No one could reasonably ask for more than his pledge that he will stand or fall with those designated by him.
 The Good Government associa- ton, despite It's resolution of lnodi- fled acclaim for the first few weeks oe the new administration, has not hy any means given up its dream Ng . Waterbury governed under . council manager charter. Even If Che Scully administration in the next year gives Waterbury the best government 1t has ever had, the association will nevertheless be hack before the 1941 state legisla- ture with another city manager charter bill. The Organizatlon feeling that an ultra ideal admin istratiOn could be improved under . city manager.
 On the other hand, the next legislature, whatever It's political complexion, will not be as disposed to pass on @ charter which scarce- ly any of its members had even read as was the assembly of last year. For one thing, the heat of the conspiracy trial will be gone and with 1t the general decision that any measure even limiting of reform" should be passed. (There have been a mere half-dozen or so municipal scandals of varying degree since the legislature ad- journed last June). For another thing, the Scully administration will probably have proved by then that Waterbury can manage its own affairs very satisfactorily un- der the mayor-aldermen form of government, even though the pres- ent charter has 6 number of obvi vious flaws. And most important of all, the extremely vote-minded gentlemen who are given credit for making Connecticut's laws will not be forgetful of the decisive majority by which the city man. ager plan was rejected here last October.
 That devOut disciple of the the- Ory "NO changeS-the old way was the best" the Saturday Evening Post, must have sent shivers down the spines of c. C. c. A. members, the city manager plan adherents, this week with its lead editorial, which bore the title "P. R.-Mean- ing Power Racket" The "P. R." referred to 50 disrespectfully is the Proportional Representation Sys. tenn of balloting, which was an integral part of the charter re- jected by the local voters last fall.
 The Post declares its dislike of P. R. in very positive terms, stat ing that 1t was a Poll Reform which backhred into a Power Racket" and labelling 1t "a sheep in wolf's clothing" Instead of ful- filling it's supposed purpose of giv- ing adequate representation to minorities, P. R., says the angered Post, allows political machines to keep a strong balance of power.
 The system of Proportional Rep resentation, says the Post, was never investigated thoroughly enough, It's packers deciding that it was fine for cities and towns in tlsA limited States without even