The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-09

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 steps to remedy the water Situa-
 tion long complained of by Crom-
 well residents, and has secured agreements from electric com .panies for extension of electric service to remote rural areas. This is 8 dizzy pace for a state
 body that had been so inert for
 years that many citizens wOn- ', dered If it actually existed. It Is
 . pace that the new commission
 CTS indicate will be continued. 1 It has been said by many observ- i CTS tllat the Public Utilities Com { mission may serve as an important issue in the state election next year. If the new commission continues 1, the way it has started it cannot help but make votes for Gov. Hur- Hey.
 Long dominated by the late J. Henry Roraback, political and util- ities boss, the commission failed to change its obviously pro-utility stand despite new appointments made by Gov. Wilbur L. Cross. Is The work of the new commis- Sioners brings a fresh breeze into } Connecticut politics.
 ' That Waterbury's city election
 campaign is already underway
 SannOt be doubted, thanks to ' 1he controversy over wage in- ,9reases for city employees. The q cti0n of the Democrats in enter
 ng the controversy would seem 2 b be poor politics for it is plain
 hat this was just what the Re-
 AubHcanS wanted.
 The Republicans proposed 8 4sEagc increase of 10 per cent for
 eu city workers, effective this
 keaR. Democratic aldermen, in-
 ktead of tabling it or referring it
 Co committee, voted against the proposal, which was offered in the
 form of resolution, baSing their argument that similar Repub- : 6can proposal made 8 month ago was under study by the finance
 board.
 Through the maneuver, the Re- lpublicans jockeyed the Democratic Aldermen into going on record as A apparently against wage boosts for pity workers, though as a matter of xact the Democrats favor the in- crease if funds can be found. Mayor Scully entered the fray to state that no money is available to make wage increases effective dur
 +NA rest of 1941 and that 10 Eg rt year would re-
 4iss E sTogl 2ooS in the tax
 8lg&r p4a.sCsEl aldermen
 E 1a Saep the con- kroversy a.-.-. 7 yor gave an even more detailed explanation of his stand at the finance board meeting Thursday.
 The mayors views will be Sup- ; ported by many but nevertheless, \ like that of the Democratic al- {. dermen, his stand can be used by the G. O. F. as basis for cam paign arguments to win support < from city employees. For several months the Repub- ' lican strategy has been plain. It has been to woo city workers from the administration fold by
 causing diScontent and to stir up
 as much dissension as possible X. K within the Democratic ranks. As N the political situation has looked ssince the Republican debacle of s1939, when the G. O. P. threw
 away an almost assured victory, < the only way the Democrats can
 be unseated, for at least several 2 years, is by a major split among a themselves.
 x Though the election is three &1onths off, the Republicans are preparing to use as campaign am- ,munition the question of raises for policemen, firemen and other city Forkers, the city's refusal to pay 4or private nurses for the care of :R badly injured fireman after the Aire surgeon had dismissed them, Elae defeat of the resolution provid-
 g for city purchase and care of
 iEcemen's and firemen'S uniforms,
 Md several other issues of the same ,@pe.
 z The votes and the. campaign work uf city employees and their families Aas been perhaps the backbone of
 Democratic power in this city over the years. It will be interesting to note whether the Republicans will Succeed in their attempted strategy of driving 8 wedge between this Powerful group and the city admin 1Etration. In view of the influence khat the administration can bring &O bear, it seems doubtful, but A.nAIaS..e. A. l.o..kn L.. I.. .aoiiLI..