The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-15
Politics
  
Dy RAYnFoND ,. FITZPATRICK

By RAYMOND J. FITZPATRICK
 Latest headache for the legisla- lure is Mayor Jasper McLevy's regular biennial bill asking au- thority for the City of Bridgeport to issue refunding bonds. It ap- pears, however, that this year Jas per will not be able to have all other business Sidetracked while his bond bill is being taken care of but that he will be left to cool his heels for a while.
 This year, as in the past, the cry is that BridgepOrt's tax rate can't be fixed until the legislature acts on the refunding plan and that if it is turned down, 1t will make necessary a fOur-mtll jump in the tax rate. Governor Hurley, for one, refuses to be disturbed over Jasper's heart-rending pleas for rush" action; in fact he has said he is willing to back bill de- ferring the budget-making rate in Bridgeport to allow full Scru- tiny of the city's financial situa- ton and the reason why bonds are needed again.
 Many critics believe that tax rate reductions in Bridgeport have been made possible only by the issuance of refunding bonds, argu- ing that Mayor McLevy'S system of municipal financing consists mainly of hocus-pocus that sim ply postpones payment of obliga- tions. They believe that addition al bonding authority should be re- fused the Bridgeport Socialist ad- ministration this year, and that the resulting big. boost in the tax rate should be laid right at Mayor McLevy's door and charged against his fiscal policy.
 McLevy opponents claim that this would bring the long-delayed showdown and that Bridgeport voters would see the McLevy myth diSsipate before their eyes. Others among the critics are fear full of this course, believing that it would allow Jasper to go before the electorate this fall as a mar tyr who could cry with holy in- digatiOn against the political machinatiOns at Hartford that had sent up the Bridgeport tax rate.
 In 1887 and again in 1889, Jas- Der was able to get approval for refunding bonds through political deals made possible by the fact that Socialist senators held the balance of power in the upper
 house. But there are no Socialists in either house this year, as re- suit of the Democratic sweep last November, and Jasper has had to cast about for new method. His tactics this year will probably consist mainly of charges that de- lay or refusal of further bond au- thorization is politics" though anyone knowing Jasper's own ability as a politician will have to smile at that one.
 Respite the feeling in many circles that this is the year in which the assembly should turn thumbs down on more refunding for Bridgeport, the chances are that in the end authority for at least some bonds will have to be given. Signs now point to a strategy of delaying action long enough to get Mayor McLevy into g sweat, give time for publicizing chinks in his financial armor and then authorizing bonds issues of far less than the S1,60O,OOO being asked.
 Meantime Waterbury's bond is- sue plan, though involving a larger sum than that requested for Bridgeport, is receiving much less attention at the Capitol. Au- tnorization sought by Waterbury has been cut from $3,050,00 to $2.- 100000 but there are still many wr1rkles to be ironed out before tl,e plan is ready for formal pres entation. Mayor Scully and Con- troller Conlon were in Hartford twice this week to confer on the proposed issue for this city and found, for one thing, that the capital budget plan which the controller favored has little chance of winning legislative ap- proval, at least unless its form is greatly changed.
 The way the legislature is rum ming behind schedule led Cover nor Hurley this week to ask party leaders and committee chairmen to start speeding things up. He is particularly anxious that early hearings be set down on import ant administration bills which make up his legislative program. The governor was at his desk all this week despite a heavy cold.
 Representative John Thornhill of Brookfield, who gave the Re- publican leadership many head ache while a member of the sen- ate two years ago, left the reser- vation in the house this week to vote against the bipartisan merit system probe. Using his favorite phrase, Uncle John labelled it a vicious bill," though he himself voted against the establishment of the merit system in 1897. lieutenant Governor Odell Shep- hard will entertain members of he senate at dinner next week. It's en old custom for the lieutenant AOvernor of the state to give such ! party The senate has yet q be called to order Sn time any Ay though the legislative session
 six weeks old. The scheduled tour is 11:15 a. m. The house, however, has been opening at or Gear its regular time with sur- 1rising regularity.
 Senator Mike BIansfield is due eack in the senate Tuesday after m absence of two weeks in Flor da. Texts of the city ad- za1r.fakra kf0u,r hille frarIruI1pas kha