The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-02-24

lotys pension bill at Hartford
seems to be this. The well-known
former school physical instructor
resigned his post In the local
schools, which he had held con-
tinuously from 1909, save for q
couple of short sick leaves, just
before the Legislature amended
the Waterbury charter which
would have allowed him to be-
come eligible for a pension by
virtue of 30 years service. Had
he held up his resignation a
couple of months, thered be no
need now for him to ask the Leg
islature to pass a Special Act In
hts behalf.
Isn't it always so? All the
"squawks" about the snow re-
mOval activities Of the Street De-
partment are quite a contrast to
what used to be voiced O few
years back, when barbs were be-
ing directed at Frank Hayes for
allegedly making the City Yards
q haven for jOb:seekers. Supt.
Scott Smith hasn't the reputation
for spending city money lavishly,
yet his budgetary appropriations
for snow removal are pretty well
used up and two months Of 1913
aren't yet past.
Inuocently, inadvertently or
however you may wish to describe
It, the local OPA Rent Control
office may have ali influence on
the fortunes OF both the Demo-
cratic and. Republican Parties this
fall when they square of In the
biennial city election. Rent Adj
ministrator George McDuff Is not
expected to seek denomination as
q member Of the Board Of Alder
men due to his federal job. There
was talk that the Job might cause
his resignation In 1912, but EVIL
IDENTIFY the popular executive was
instructed that he might finish
out his term with impunity. The
other side Of 1t Is Major ]. Peter
Costigan, popular member OF the
COP, who can't be counted on to
carry the ball for the party some
where near the top Of the ticket
without cutting himself loose
from the federal agency.
Political circles are seethlng
with all sorts Of reports about
the attitude the city administra-
ton will take on the pension bills
that come up for hearings in the
Legislature March 81. As q mat
ter Of fact these bills should con-
Germ not only Democrats, but Re-
publlcans and people who don't
claim allegiance with any pOliti-
cal party. The real obstacle to be
surmounted is the fact that all
pensions increase budgetary ap.
prOprlatiOns and increased apprO-
priati0nS raise taxes. Some day
there'lI be an attempt to make
uniform governmental employe,
both state and local, laws. Right
now it's usually q case Of ignOr-
ing established pension ideas and
hotfootlng 1t to Hartford for spe-
cial acts.
Usually about this time Of the
odd-numbered years Jasper Nc
Levy can be counted on to make
the welkin ring with his cries of
persecution byAthe Hartford leg
islators. Maybe, it's a bit early,
but advance notice Of hearings
on Bridgeport refunding bond
bills has been published. The
outlook for Jasper's pet financial
theory this year is just about as
dismal as 1t was for Mudville that
day when the mighty Casey was
to become one of basebalrs i'm
mortal goats.
Even here in Waterbury most
people had forgotten that Paul
Frank. who now holds the re.
spOnsible Office of Civilian De-
Tense Property Custodian for the
New England region, with juris-
dictiOn in Waterbury, was Judge
j. Joseph Smiths first congress
siOnaI secretary when he went
down to Washington in 1885, Mr..
Frank was a local newspaperman
at the time covering the TOrring-
ton outpost beat.
This is only guess, but it looks
as if there'd be at least $500, If
not more, voters absent from Wa
terbury next November. If 10 per
cent of these absentees vote, it'll