The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-01-08

venice OepaTbHleLlJ anu lOAiS POW
er in Democratic ranks in Connect
cut. particularly in the hey-day OF
DR.. wilbur L. Cross. But that prob
ably should not occasion too much
comment, for during the recent re-
giYne Of Thomas j. Spellacy, DEM
ocrat, as mayor of Hartford he made
William j. Mulligan, prominent Re-
publican and fraternal head, as his
Police Board chairman.
More than one Waterburian has
taken occasion TO point with pride
TO the manner in which New York,
CITY manages its financial affairs.
In charge Of all auditing and &C
counting work In the Controllers
office Is Joseph M. Cunningham,
native of this city and for many
years affiliated with this branch
Of municipal finance.
When the Legislature convenes IN
Hartford later this month one OF the
matters 1t will be concerned with Is
extension of voting hours. The idea
Is to make it possible for every man
and woman to vote. Obviously this
can only be done by keeping the
polls open from early morning until
late night. In doing this, though
legislators will be postponing the
final decision on the outcome. II
Is to be hoped that In arriving at q
decision on the hours polls should
be open the senator's and represen-
tatives will call on the experience OF
veteran election officials. They can
tell how the vote volume runs dur
An the hours o fthe day over a long
period Of years. In Waterbury eve
ming voting, tried out In recent
wears. failed to live up to expecta-
lions. That can be taken for what
its worth.
IT'S pretty obvious from what
Mayor John S. MOnagan said
week ago that he is more than
flirting with the idea Of civil serv-
ice requirements for city govern
ment employees. While his re-
marks indicated that he favored
some form of selective service for
members of the uniformed branch
Is, people who claim to know what
they're talking about think even.
tually such a system might be ex-
I tended 10 include all employees,
whose tenure Of office Is not lin
tied by election or appointment.
The late Mayor Vincent A. Scully
also had similar ideas.
! Also Mayor Monagan recognized
the famous Zimmerman report deal
ing with the activities Of the Police
Department when he said, Il believe
also that improvements can be made
IN the plan of organization OF the
Police Department. and l have rec
commended to the Superintendent
that he consider the Capitalization
of records and the streamlining OF
the administrative plan Of the de-
partment. I'm the Zimmerman re-
port furnished to the Waterbur'
Taxpayers Assn. the following rec
concentration was made: "All rec
Ords of the Department and the ex-
ksting communications facilities
SHOULD be consolidated under uni
- command Records CONSOLE
ation implies Capitalization :"
Despite all predictions few
changes have been made In the
appOintive city boards. Most Of
them were due to removals from
6sse Board OF Aldermen, requiring
new aIdermanic members from the
majority side. In his choice of
new appOintees the mayor has
hewed to a course Of ignoring the
political background Of the indiv-
idual and concentrating on abil-
jky and reputation, which, Of
course, aren't arbitrarily missing
~ q person in the former cate
eery.
speculation as to the Democratic
ticket this coming fall continues to
run rife. But there apparently are
definite moves afoot for two guber-
material candidates. Lewis w. Phelps
Of Andover, former Finance Com
missioner, has Tolland Countys
Democratic forces definitely in the
field for him. But up In Hartford
strong front Is likewise being
ulaintaired for former Lieutenant
Governor Odell Shepard. Just how
deeply the Shepard candidacy roots
20 no one seems to know right now.
but les obvious that he has already
secured himself substantial backing
81 been chosen by this same. And
% idea, either, If this support comes
from the Maloney Smith wing Of the
party, which is expected to domin-
ate the scene this fall.
FLY SHARES SPIDERS