The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-08-07

primary time rolls around, there
will be some arrangements OF
party lines from within. In
other words all present Office
holders aren't assured of re-
nomination. And the house,
cleaning may extend even fur
ther than elective offices and in
clude what Is generally referred
to as the party organization.
Appointment OF Carl A. Lundgren
of Ansonia as executive assistant to
Gov. Raymond E. Baldwin opens
new vistas TO the down-the-valley
judge, lawyer, grand jury foreman.
To begin with he Is succeeding
James B. Lowell, who has advanced
to the Office of state fnrance COM
missioner. In September Mr.. Lund-
gren will become executive secre-
tary to the governor, succeeding
Howard Acorn, who goes on the
superior court bench then. And thus
It has been always for the secretary
to the governor In Connecticut.
You'll find our higher court benches
well populated with men who at
some time or another in their pub
lie careers were close confidantes
and aides of governors. Take Chief
Justice william M. Malthie, for ex-
ample. He was Gov. Marcus H. Hol-
combs wartime secretary. Now he
heads state supreme court. Also
graduated from the governors Office
to the superior court are Judges
Kenneth Wynn and James E. Muir
ply, the former an assistant TO DR..
Wilbur L. Cross and the latter to
Robert A. Hurley. John F. Robin
son, also a Hurley aide, now heads
the State Selective Service Board.
The name of Col. John @. Til
SOIL Of New Haven still finds
plenty Of backing in the Elm
City. Although the one-time
Republican parliamentary au-
thority and leader in the house
Of representatives has been out
of politics for more than ten
years his name is now mention
ed in connection with the COP
mayoralty nomination. However,
It isn't the only one and New
Haven Republicans, as well as
those Of the entire third dis
trict, have a habit of making an
obeisance in Col TiIsOn's direc-
ton every now and then, but
that's generally the end of 1t.
On the basis of the military tax
repeal, which means the city Of New
Haven won't have to contribute
AZ, 900 to the state and an antici-
pated 81 per cent tax collection, Of
ficials down there have just voted
city employees a 7 per cent wage
! increase for the last five months
! Of the year. The bonus amounts
=. to about $l34,000 and Is in addition
to 10 per cent increase allowed
at the beginning Of the year. Like
the Waterbury wage adjustment,
now In effect, tenure is for one year
only. However, here 1t already has
been indicated that the existing SAL
airy adjustments will be continued
through 1914, If not increased. That
depends to considerable extent on
what the budget-makers have to
play around with next fall.
A lot has been said about
awarding contracts on the basis
Of competitive bids. There are
those who think this Is the only
way q governmental body should
operate when the cost Of the
contract runs beyond $1,000.
But too often IL has been
proved that had the contract
gone to some one other than the
successful bidder the final cost
would have been approximately
what the second or third high
est bidder offered. Waterbury
ran into this ON the Pitch Res
crvoir, where costs are going far
beyond the original $69l 900 bid,
because of many cOntributOry
I factors. At the recent Works
Board meeting Il was also shown
that the new Warner street sani-
|, tary sewer would 20 considerably
/. over the contract price, because
. the contractor struck q ledge OF
i rock requiring six times the
! amount Of rock excavation esti-
mated IN the original specified
!, ti0ns,
Republican anxiety TO make
political issue OF the local Asses
sors' office Is running riot when
there Is q suggestion that q refer
endum be held on the subject OF
As makeup. There have been
few public referendums held IN
waterbury or elsewhere through
out Connecticut, where the num-
Der OF people voting on the queA-
ton was any considerable proper
ton OF tho total number voting,
No matter how pertinent the ques'
ton Va Just impossible 70 inter.
eat the voting public IN anything
other than voting n straight party
ticket. And n tho vote last fall "
any criterion even organized ei-
forts 10 get out the vote IN No.
vcmber will be severely taxed TO
make . allowing
mere seems 30 be an undereur.
earvent AZ feeling In Waterbury
that sehsai Commissioner John
Mccartney viii he the cor mayor.
atty candidate this fall. Hell
make . Esed candidate and should
b able " conduct q lively cam.
paisn. n he h opposed by May~
lohn b. Menagan he will lind The
: rolnx considerably harder than u