The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-05
Politics
  
ny RAx1EoND ,. FITZPATRICK


 Vsfy unfortunate for . city in Wntefbury's position is the apparent Hack of interest in such an import mnt matter as Che charter revision nili Spons0red by Mayor Scully and his administration. At the original hearing two and a half weeks ago, on but two of those appearing be- Fore the cities and borough commit tce were on the public payroll; at the re-tearing last Wednesday there was only one witness not a city or state employe.
 Despite the import of one of the changes in the city bill, affecting every taxpayer in Waterbury, wire tually no general interest was shown. The minority party is con- ceded the right to lead any opposi- ton, yet the Republican town com Enitteo couldn't even be bothered to Che extent of being represented at either hearing. It will be rather hard Tor the G. O. P. to campaign this kali against the charter changes when 1t wasn't interested enough It. self to have representation at the Capitol when they were being dis- cussed.
 The success of democratic govern ,nent depends on vigllant minority and there is real danger, even in @ political units as small as Water bury, when the minority party can't even concern itself about something as important as the very charter which the city functions as city.
 COmplacency on the part of any
 governmental administration Is Q
 reason for worry on the part of
 the people, yet lt is largely the
 lack of interest in public questions which leads to such self-satisfac-
 ton as has begun to be apparent yi in some quarters at the City Hall.
 It is no exaggeration to say that such . state of mind exists, but
 it 10 unfortunate both for the
 party in power and for the city
 that 1t does. Paradoxlcally enough
 . more militant Republican party
 would mean better Democratic party, for 1t would be . challenge
 to the dominant party to accom-
 plishment, and force an end to
 the present policy of action only
 when necessary and then action
 only ns mild as possible.
 It is tcO bad that the solid
 achievements of the present ad-
 minlstrati0n among them
 sound fiscal policy for the city,
 elimination of some of the politics
 in police and fire departments, ex-
 celIent tax collection and build
 ing up of surpluscs that allow tax rate cduction-sh0uId be jeOpar-
 dlxed by smugness on the part of
 s0nis of It's members. Granted
 that the Democrats should have q
 wGIs. lover In the election this fall.
 there gre still many things that
 can be done and should be done.
 With the lesson of past adminis- trations in mind one would think that the present city government would not walt for suggestions but would seek them. The last thing to be eX- pccted would be an indication that any members of the administration felt themselves above criticism. Whether intended or not such an Impression has been given both at Waterbury and Hartford. Naturally, it has aroused comment.
 j. The present admlnlstra tion has
 done . great deal for Waterbury,
 but many tasks remain that
 should have been done or that
 can yet be done. Housing, for in-
 stance, has not been touched by
 the City Hall (aside from meet
 ings with government men sent
 here to outline the governments own prOgram) despite the acute
 shortage of rents; the problem of
 rubbish removal has not been
 solved! Property assessments are
 still protested; federal aid through
 the WPA and other gcncies for
 needed projects has not been
 sought.
 Was there e hint of break be- tween Attorney Johnny Tobin and the city administration when John ny this week charged that Corpora ton Counsel Greg Lynch wasn't authorized to appear at legislative hearings? John delivered good part of the Independent Democratic vote two years ago. Major Pete Fox, appointed to high Selectiye Service post this week, was Q war time buddy of Democratic State Chairman John T. Mccarthy Brother Mccarthy, by the way, de- iiycred an excellent speech Tuesday night at the Prospect town commit tee dinner at Sullivan's in Nauga- tuck. ---
 Mayor scuiIy offered another ! instance of his wariness of the : newspapers lat least Waterbury newspapers) before the cities and boroughs committee of the legis- Iature the other day. After hear : ings on some private Waterbury bills had been completed, the mayor said: "T understand from the Waterbury newspapers, MT. Chairman, that there's also sup- posed to be what they call Q re- z hearing of the charter bill this afternOOn?" The tone indicated that he didn't believe any such :. hearing was scheduled but the committee chairman, Senator John L. Sullivan, quickly said yes, that the newspapers were correct. Republicans continue their do nothing policy in the legislature but some of them are starting to worry that the strategy may back fire Legislative reporters have begun balloting on their choices for the "best" legislators in various 1ields. winners will be anonunced at the biennial gridiron dinner of the Laurel Club April 30 Governor Hurley's speech at the Jackson Day dinner in New Haven last Saturday uinht was in this writer's Opinion.