The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1940-04-13

Tor the past several years, -
living so well within its budget
appropriation this year that the
city fathers should start knock
ing on wood. With an appropria-
ton Of $457,0 for the year, the
department spent less than $75,-
600 in the first quarter Of 1910
Had expenditures been at the rate
deemed necessary when the budg-
ct was adopted, the department
would have spent approximately
$115,000.
This accomplishment is all the
more remarkable when one real
lies that January, February and
March are three Of the depart
ment's busiest months Of the year,
with the needy requiring coal,
clothing, food and shelter. The
severity of the winter must also
be remembered, since the pro-
longed cold weather resulted in a
need for more coal and oil than
IN previous years, as any house,
holder can testify.
Improved employment condi-
lions over a year ago must, OF
course, be credited for much of
the lowered spending. On the
other hand, employment was low
er in the first three months of
1910 than in the last quarter of
1899, when the brief war boom
was underway.
The immediate picture ahead
for the welfare department Is
clouded by recurring WPA lay
offs, which automatically mean
additional demands for city re-
lief. The WPA reductions in per-
sonnet will continue at least until
July 1, unless more funds are
forthcoming from Congress. But
welfare department heads are
hopeful that private industry will
pick up again and thus absorb
many Of those laid off by the
WPA.
Welfare Superintendent Martin
r. Hayden may pull one of the
neatest tricks in years by report
ing, at the end of 1910, a surplus
in welfare funds. Such a feat
seemed almost impossible a few
months ago but, with five-sixths
of the welfare appropriation still
intact, it may be done, though
about $4,000 must be spent for
local charges in state institutions
Or receiving aid in other towns.
The Republican town commit
tee members are running hither
and yOn these days, wondering
what to do about a new town
chairman. The boys are so used
20 following instructions that
they're humping into one another
trying to find out where they're
going. Everything would be sOlv-
ed IL someone, almost anyone,
would tell them whom to name.
The Craftsmanship was almost
In the hands of Harold Post, but
(and this is an illustration of
politics.: The Young
club authorized Pres
ident Harold K. Hadley to make
committee appointments; when
the appointments we're made,
sDme Of them were criticized be-
cause they went to Republicans
who presumably had not calloused
their fingers ringing doorbells on
behalf of the handpicked COP
ticket last fall; the town COM
reasoned then that
Harold Post, as a friend of Har-
old Hadley, was in some way to
blame; So, Mr.. Posts candidacy
ended right there. Mr.. Post, by
the way, can come right back
into the running If anyone goes
to bat for him with the town
committee.
Vernon Hall could have the
if merely asked for
It, but it hasn't occurred to the
to ask him. Mr.. Hall
would take it, to keep the organ
lzatiOn functioning, but he'd rath-
er see 1t go to someone else and
in his present place as
town committee secretary.
. j. Warren Epson, the retiring
chairman, has declined to recon-
mend successor, which has caus-
ed all the trouble. In fact, it
won't be too surprising If the
town committee mem
oers get highly indignant be-
cause Warren won't make up
their minds for them