The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-11-01

PAoSC aAAS Al9AlCo WAASAA hAA6AAe AA0VS been removed by mistake after October 17th. We sponsored ra- dio program urging that all per- sons, regardless of party, protect their voting rights in view of this new law. This is the only basis for the statement that There Is a sub-surface fight on now about these names with the City Hall Gang" The "Sub-surface fight" was conducted on Mir. Pape's own radio station. The further con- ments were about an unnamed policeman speaking to an un- named landlord and about "Volun- tary" campaign contributions. don't intend to discuss such nor- sense at length. Let me say that any attempts at coercion for votes or contributions will be promptly referred to the proper boards for punishment and I don't think that MT. Pape will question the integri- ty of the Republican members of those boards or the Democratic members either for that matter, Tn fact, he can submit his evidence direct to them. Mir. Pape says ''More political votes if requested"
 I suggest that you tell the pulp lie whether or not your reporters have had free access concerning all matters pertaining to the city government, financial and other wise. I suggest that you tell them If your photographers have found any evidence of prediction hir-. ing. suggest that you state whether or not our purchases are made on the basis of the lowest bids. I suggest that you say whether or not you question the accuracy of the figures prepared by Thomas Conlon and Thorvald Olsen and Barrow Wade & Guth- rie, or issued by the Board of Fi- nance.
 MT. Perriello in his most recent statements has raised two new is- sues. He says that we should have obtained a WPA grant in order to build the Anderson School Gym. He says that this is what he would have done. Of course this is llon- sense. Application was made to the WPA for a grant and 1t was absolutely refused on the basis that there was not sufficient skilled labor available on the WPA rolls to do this work. If MT. Per- riello had inquired either of the WPA or of our own Engineering Department he would have discov- cred these facts.
 Second Pipe Line
 Secondly Mir. Perriello said that we should have applied for a grant from the Federal Government be- fore asking the Legislature to is- sue bonds for the pipe line and dam projects. MT. Perrieilo should know that the law on which these grants are made had not even been proposed in Washington at the time we had obtained permis- sion to Issue bonds. Yet MT. Per- riello suggests that he would have applied to an agency that not only did not exist but that had not been proposed. Our water supply project has been kicked around considerable fin this campaign and I think that our citizens should be reminded of certain facts. When my administration took of- flee, the inadequacy and insecurity of our water supply system had been the subject of discussion for many years. I investigated the matter thoroughly and obtained the opinion of our Engineering De- partment, of individual citizens and of representatives of our manufacturing concerns. It was apparent that the situation was unsatisfactory and dangerous. A break in the pipe line would cause serious inconvenience and would interfere with our industrial out- put. Such 6 break is not inpos. sible as was shown a few months ago here and was shown again in New York City only two days ago when a 42 year old main burst, flooding subways and causing great inconvenience and expense. Furthermore the higher sections of our city unquestionably needed increased pressure. The over- whelning majority of thot,e con- suited, Republicans as well as Democrats, agreed that we should proceed immediately with Hhs work. Tn the meantime Comp. troller, Thomas M. Conlon, with the approval of the Board of Fi- nance, offered & carefully planned program for financing this pro- ject. This program calls for the full payment of the bonds to be issued in 10 years. By acting promptly we were able to take ad- vantage Of the most favorable iii- terest rates in history. The actual rate obtained was 1 1-2 per cent or 2S per cent less than the es- tiinate. The Legislature approved the program and the preliminary work was done promptly. Plans for the pipe line were prepared and submitted foE bids and wIe 70.