The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-04-12
Politics
 -in- Passing
ny RAYMOND ,. FITZPATRICK

n NGK1GCG 41uSbKdblUIl VI bilC EbG- publican party's policy during the 1Dli session of the General Assembly was given this week when 0 ranking c. Q. ?. senator held up action on the governors defense council bill while he argued at length against the inclusion of the word "immedl- ntely" in that section of the bill which stated that 1t would become effective on passage.
 Even the oldest of the old-timers on the sidelines shook their heads ct the spectacle of Q senator finding Rs his most important objection to Q defense bill the fact that It's effective clause contained a word not usually used therein. The business of the senate waited while the senator expounded at length on the tre- lnendous difference between a bill whose text says 1t is effective on passage" and one whose text says t is effective immediately on pas- page." When the Democrats, to save eiIne. agreed to drop the word "im- Mediately" he was satisfied.
 It was another instance of pick
 ing on minor points and evading the principal issues, as well as
 another instance of the "stalling"
 strategy decided on by the Re- publican high command for this session.
 A half-dozen important pieces of legislation are being held up
 in the House as result of the Republican tactics of delay, and
 1t Is becoming more and more ap-
 parent that the c. o. P. state lead
 ership will have to be willing to
 take the risk of being labelled
 Obstructlonist if action isn't forth.
 coming soon. Virtually every im-
 pOrtant bill that has come from the Senate has been pigeonholed In the House.
 The Republicans have hoped since January to keep marking time long enough until Gov. Hurley or thu Democratic senate pulled a boner' that would leave the field almost clear for the c. o. P. They have been @aiting impatiently for thu governors nominations and appoint. ments, ready to bounce on any DO. litical mistake; they have held III Senate-approval legislation to gt over 1t with Q fine-tooth comb ir search of evidence to help theil cause.
 A negative political policy such as the Republicans have been foI- lowing has one great fault--it can be successful only when the other side makes grave mistakes or
 whc5 there Is an unstOppablc gen-
 eral trend away from the party In power. It k . policy that has the further danger of giving voters
 the impression that those follow ing it have nothing of their own to offer, that they are limited to destructive criticism.
 It is . policy that can easily hacl,flrc, as the Republican House leaders may find if they follow their present plan of offering
 many amendments to Gov. Hur- iey'D defense council bill. The de- fense label is being pinned on many national and state measures with which it has no connect ton, but the council bill passed in the Senate this week is really an im- p0rtant defense bill. It would end the cumbersome, unwieldIy defense set-up created by Gov. Baldwin and replace 1t with Q compact, workable group headed by the governor and a paid defense ad- ministrator.
 The present Republican plan is to fight the bill in It's present form 0n several grounds. despite the need for speedy action. It is pro- p0oed to amend the bill by re- strictlpg the powers of the defense administrator. by requiring Gen craI Assembly confirmation of his appointment, and by other meth- 0cs.
 If the House should amend the the bill In any important respects. Gov. Hurley may go before the people on the issue, charging the Republicans with being more in- terestcd in politics than defense. High sources say he plans to go on the radio if the Republicans Sabotage" the defense bill.
 Both Republicans and Democrats will have their ears cooked next week, when Gov. Hurley will send in the first of the numerous majo he must make before May 1. The suspense is getting ter- rife for some of the candidates and for their sponsors. The governor hasn't a single hint as to the names he will offer but that hasn't stopped the gossip from buzzIng or the CapI- tol grapevine from working. over- time.
 The governor this week received the No. 1 ticket for the Laurel Club gridiron dinner at the Hart ford club April 90 Waterbury is still the states only major city without Housing Authority, much less a regular housing pro- ject The General Assembly will probably have to begin M0n- day sessions within Q few weeks. The "ightless Friday" agreement has ended and beginning next week the boys can battle to their hearts content on that day as well as any other day.
 One of the biggest Republican splits of the session may develop in the House over savings bank life insurance legislation, already passed by the Senate New Haven County legislators are wondering why only one county meeting has been called since the General As- sembly convened e. Gov. Hurley was very blunt and direct the other day at his press conference in put 4f,xr. 4t,,,x,,l.c T nxx,t1 nx. IT Tava Oole