The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-03-06
(NEA Telephoto)

| HAVVA esAAN NV bAtS bb9CAASV VI uS0SVD would make certain suits impracti- cal because Judgments obtained therein, at great expense to the city, could not be satisfied. It was felt that suits should be started only where there was reasonable prob- ability of substantial recovery. Al- though did not sign the committee report because I had succeeded to the rnayoralty when 1t was presen- ted, nevertheless, I wish to empha- size that l concur in the conclusion of the committee co.
 "The editorial of Feb. g com- pIetely dlsregarded the reasoning upon which the conclusion of the committee was based. It assumed the very questions which the report found difficult. It stated that Leary received one-half of an amount be. tween 2 and million dollars. It stated that money was in the hands of the conspirators and their friends It presented the situation as # cases against all people in. volved would Do simple to prove, and judgments, If recovered, easy to sat. isfy in full. It gave no consideration to the fact that the expenses of try ing a single case would easily ap- proach $50,000-a vital factor in reaching a decision ....
 "r feel with the committee that 1t Is impractical for the reasons 1t has stated to eXpend the sums which would be necessary to obtain Judgments which could not be liquidated at @ profit to the City of Waterbury"
 To this statement of Mayor Mon- agan the Republican-Ame said, "T'he answer that comes from city hall to editorials in the Repub- lican and the American that had protested the city governments an- nounced purpose to refrain from legal action intended to compe! thieves who had made off with the money of this city to make restora- ton, is done at great length and greater complexity -.
 "What the people of this com- munity who were 50 grossly robted want is such recoveries of their money us may be made. They want action, not talk. The suit against Leary which was later merged with the city suit has been standing dead in It's tracks for five years. The city government has shown no more progress in the Leary suit than 1t has shown in the suits against oth- CT offending members of the con- spiracy, suits that haven't even been filed and which we are now led to understand there is no pur- pose of filing ....
 The city government would have q better face on this whole matter If 1t had vigorously pushed action into these suits in the last few years Of inaction, even though 1t recov- cred nothing. It would at least have shown vigorous straight-going purpose to get the peoples money away from crooks who stole it from
 Let's have done with legal phrases. mealy-mouthed talk about the undesirability and injudicious- ness of what is called punishment of the offenders through legal acc ton to make them disgorge. Sincere action in any form is what the peo. pie want. Even if the recoveries from such action are less than hoped for, the result will be better than what we have so long exper- fenced, standing beside swamp of stagnant, foul-smelling scum-cov- cred water too long, to be finally told there is no road of escape from the smell, but that we must just lie down and endure it."
 Thursday afternoon at a Board of Finance meeting Com. Orton P. Camp in reply to queries from Com. William Gerardi stated that tn: subcommittee had exhausted every possible means to find 6 way of making legal recovery of money Il. legally taken from the city. He pointed out that the committee had not given up hope of later pressing such suits, should 1t be brought to the members attention that assets had become available which would allow proper action to be taken.
 Com. Camp did not seek to ask credit for the committee on its work to date. He expressed disappoint. ment that results of benefit to the city had not been obtained. He further announced that his ideas on recovery had changed greatly in three years and where he had been convinced in i04O that the city would get back money from those involved in the "conspiracy" case. he nov entertained doubts about the same. based on the thorough investigation made by the sub. Cona-