The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-09
"Sordid Politics" Says
Mayor Jasper McLevy
Scores General Assembly for Taking Advantage OF
Communities Preoccupied With War Efforts

"Sordid politics" Is the expression
used by Mayor Jasper McLeYy Of
Bridgeport to typify activities Of the
General Assembly with respect tC
passage OF bills affecting that city
during the recent legislative seq
sion.
In his annual message to the
Board Of Aldermen delivered Mon
day night Mayor McLcYy said nc
regretted that IN q period when
We are spending our lives and for
tunes TO preserve democratic pro-
ccSSes and 10 defeat the threat OF
political dictatorship, members Of
our General Assembly Still found
the leisure and inclination 10 play
Sordid politics at the expense Of a
community prc-ocCupied with the
effort Of winning the war"
Mayor McLcYy'S blast NJ the
Legislature was quite similar TO that
voiced by Mayor John $, Monagan
Of this city when he recently spoke
to the citizens OF waterbury via
the radio on bills which he had OPP
posed at public hearings, but which
had been passed and which then
were being cngrosSed prior TO go
ing before the governor for his Sig
nature.
Since that time Mayor Monaga
other city officials, rs well as Re-
publican businessmen, have Visited
Gov. Raymond II. Baldwin TO urge
him TO veto the Waterbury bills
which have been cited as infringe
mentS on home rule. Likewise, 1t
has been reported that petitions
urging the governor TO sign the bills
we're recently circulated throughout
the city and have been placed be-
fore him or Will be later this week.
Mayor McLGVy In no uncertain
words termed the Bridgeport bills
ag harmful TO the city's interests
lie also claimed that one
bill was given ~ public hearing
at an unusual time and without
prior notice 10 uS,'
lie said In part
II deem II proper 10 report that
several local bills prepared and
endorsed by our administration
we're introd iced IN the session OF
the General Assembly just ad-
journed. In the public Interest
these measures should have been
enacted into law. They we're non
controversial and non-politiCal In
character and were designed TO
promote the public welfare. with
one minor exception, they all fail.
cd Of passage, although thcT
merits had been carefully explain
ed at public hearings, On the
other hand, certain bills vitality
eifecting Bridgeport we're In
trOduccd without the knowledge
OF our administrator or previous
consultation with IL. SO far as we
have been able 10 ascertain, these
bills we're either 8upcriluouS or
typilicd ripper-lcgislation distinct
" harmful 10 tho city's interests.
Whenever VIC could learn about
them, our opposition and the FACTS
upon which II rested, were made
known. In at least one case, Dill
Of which We had no prior know
lcgde was siyen q public hearing
At an unusual time and without
prior notice 10 Us. Unfortunately
Tor the men and women OF our
CITY. / understand that most Of
these bills were passed, II Is TO be
regretted THAT IN period when
We are spending our llScS and Tor
tunes TO preserve democratic pro.
ceases and 10 defeat the threat OF
political dictatorship, members OF
our General Assembly SIN found
the leisure and inclination TO play
Sordid politics at the expense OF
community preoccupied with the
effort Of winning the war;