The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-05-06
Politics
In


0OOSbS0
According to reports the Jefferson
Day dinner to be sponsored IN wa
terbury next Saturday night by the
Democrats Of the Fifth Congress
gional Dinner may find all sorts OF
candidates. being floated. Charles
Harrington Of Kent Is being accord
"a the support Litchfield County
Democrats for the Lieutenant GOV.
ernor nomination. There are stu
runlors that j. Francis Smith OF
this city will be the gubernatorial
candidate. Italian Democrats OF the
Naugatuck Valley are said to DC
planning q drive to secure a repre-
tentative on the ticket with the pos
sibility Of an as-yet unnamed wa
terburian being the lucky one. Con-
xressional flurries in the past few
weeks have included the names OF
Atty. Michael v. Blansfield OF Wa
terbury and w. Harry Byrnes OF
WATERFOWL. At this rate the Demo-
cratic dinner O week hence should
be well attended and much political
talk INDUCED in throughout the cor
ridors Of the Hotel Elton.
The city's doubtful period has
ended. January to May Is al
ways a time when city fathers
tread lightly hoping that by the
time the new taxes start to flow
in they'll still be operating on last
years receipts and borrowed
.:seney. However, collections were
good in 1913; there was siZeable
sur,:Ssls. SO City Controller Cor
nelius r. MalOney only borrowed
$500, ta)O to tide the city over
through the spring. Last week
1874 taxes really started to How.
From April 30th to May 4th, as
City treasurer Serge Belangers
bank balances showed this week,
the city collected more than ST.
900 1000. On the 30th the city had
over $500 900. On the 4th the to-
tai had reached $l,S0O,O0O.
Bridgeport officials aren't above
doing considerable Boosting about
the new reservoir built a few years
ago In the Saugatuck River valley.
At the time 1t was hotly contested
project and dragged through the
courts for years, as residents pro.
tested the loss Of their homes ana
property. However, the municipal
lty prevailed and now Bridgeport
points out that If 1t hadn't been
built the city, with Its tremendous
ly-expanded war plants, would be
facing a water shortage. The Sau-
gatuck Reservoir has enabled
Bridgeport to supply 35.2 million
gallons of water daily to its Gus
toners, which is more than was
ever available at any time before
the Saugatuck dam was constructed.
All sorts Of queries are heard
about the status of membership
on the Retirement Pension Sur
vey Committee, named by the Leg
iSlature year ago and now get
ting plans ready for presentation
to the 1945 General Assembly.
The lawmakers named a commits
sion Of seven members, six Of them
by name, one by office-the Con-
troller Of the City Of Waterbury.
OF the other six three are legis-
lators, one Of whom, Senator
john F. Tobin, was recently de-
feated for the Democratic nom"
ina4iOn In his district. This,
however, does not affect his sta
tus as a member. But 1t Is un-
derstoOd that at least two men,
bers of the commission face mill
tary service. How will their plac-
es be filled is the query? The
legislative act does not make pro.
visions for the same.
Local Democrats probably won't
hold any more conventions until
after the spring session at New Ha-
ven Is over. Early June. however,
may find delegates gathering Tor
two senatorial conventions to name
Edward P. Egan in the 18th and
Patrick j. Wallace in the 10th. The
district Probate convention rests
with Maurice F. Tangney, Elizabeth
Smith, and Walter Jarvis, the COM
mittee named in 1912 to arrange for
the 1914 convention. Similarly At
ty. Frank Healey and Bernard j.
REILLY of this city will do most of
the arranging of the time and place
for the congressional convention
which Of recent years has gone to
Torrington, but which may be kept
here in Waterbury If there isn't a
demand from Torrington or some
other town for the honor of having
it.
Today was the last date for the
filing by Town Clerk with the Sec
Rotary Of State of the list Of Of
fices to be filled at the NOven-
Der ballOting. The special legis-
Iative session of 1914 put this pro-
vision In the election laws along
with Q number of others. On Au-
gust 18th all Town Clerks Will
start mailing with absentee bal
lots the list Of then-knOwn can
didates for public office in the
November election. November
22nd will be the last date for the
filing Of reports by all candidates
for public office.
Mayor John S. Monagan is APP
parently bent on bringing city pro-
perty up to condition. On several
occasions during the course OF va
rious board meetings he has ex.
pressed himself strongly on the SUBJ
ject Of maintenance of city proper
~. And judging by the awarding Of
contracts at times during the past
year he has counseled department
heads and others to make use OF
such funds as are available and "a
set what work can be done attend.
ed TO promptly. This has been true
~ the School and Fire Departments
No doubt II more work could be
done contracts would be awarded
However, a backlog Of worthwhile
maintenance projects, as well AZ
pubic improvements, Is rapidly pil.
ing ain II the eifv can finanns