The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-02-08
Politics
 '-in- Passing
By RAY FITZPATRICK

By RAY FITZPATRICK
 The week ending today can be arked down in the political his- tory book as one in which Coy. Robert A. Hurley got through two difncult situations in fine style. It was the week in which the Legislature confirmed his nom- ination of Republican Judge Walter Pickett for another term on the New Haven common pleas court bench; it was the week in which the governor delivered message advocating the highest budget in Connecticut history, yet managed to escape severe parti- san criticism.
 In the Judge Pickett case, Gov. Hurley for a time found himself in a political tangle because he had made a nOn-pOlitical nOmi- nation. Judge Pickett, before be- ing RenOminated by the governor, had assured him that his home was in New Haven, not in New Preston, part of the Litchfield county town of Washington, and had declined an offer of nOmina- ton for the common pleas court bench in LitchfieId county. But when he appeared before the ju- dietary committee on Tuesday, Judge Pickett proved a poor wit ness in his own behalf and left a good many committee members i'm doubt as to the legality of his claimed residence in New Haven. The governor, after making the nomination, washed his hands of the whole case but it is no secret that there was worry in admin istratiOn circles over possible re- lection of the nomination. The lOOphoIe was found Wednesday, when & provision in the state constitution was dug up which al- lows any resident of the state to hold any state job. This quieted the sincere fears of many legisla- tors, mostly Democrats, as to whether Judge Pickett could legally serve, and confirmation of his nomination was then voted speedily.
 The Pickett situation was one that might have turned out i'll such way as to place the Hur- ley administration under a heavy handicap in its early weeks. Even though the governor had noml- mated him, the Democratic party would have been blamed for re- jecting the reappointment of a Several-term judge, and despite the past record of the Republi- cans at Hartford the cry against politics in the courts" always finds an audience.
 As for f''e budget, Gov. Hurley was preI d for the most bitter of criticism because he had sug- gested increases in many apprO- priatiOnS. As it turned out, the ObjectiOns in the editorial col umns of COnnecticut'S dominant ly Republican press was quite mild. Credit for this belongs largely to the governors simple, straightforward budget message, in which he proposed a common sense system of state financing and explained that he has asked larger appropriations for social services because the people have como to realize the responsibility of the state government in this respect.
 The weeks highlight from a purely local point of view was the governors statement to The Democrat that he favors state trade school for Waterbury and will aid any plans in that regard. The news was certainly welcome in Waterbury, where credit should be paid to Senator Ed Egan, who vent to the governor immediate ly on finding that the budget message contained TO reference to trade school here and was assured that the omission result ed only from the fact that the message had been prepared in ad- vance and there had been no op- portunity to insert mention of the new school. MT. Hurley's an- nouncement that he was backing a trade school for Waterbury con- drned a statement given in an interview with this correspondent in December.
 One of the most popular pas times at the Capitol these days Is guessing about Gov. Hurley's appOintents. Some of the boys are even backing their lunches by putting coin of the realm right down on the wood in bets. It may ke a long time, by the way, before those bets are settled, for the governor is determined to withhold major appointments un- sil he sees what the legislature (meaning the Republican house. does with his legislative program.
 Tn connection with appoint enents by MT. Hurley, here are smme purely personal forecasts:
 J. Francis Smith (believe it or not) will be offered an important nlace in the state government. Present odds are that he will re- fuse.
 J. Walter Darley, secretary of the Democratic state central com- mittee, will get a state post.
 Rep. Dan Mahaney has better chance for New Haven county commissioner than most people realize and is good short-end bet for the job.
 John L. Gaffney will remain as one of the judges of the Water bury city court.
 Judge Thomas Wall of the Tdfrhfieid. county common pleas