The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1944-01-24

SGdOC dIlU AdIIOIldl c1cCU1OIlS. 1Ilcy
tire fighting to preserve the right of
free peoples to direct their own at
fairs. Free people can direct their
own affairs through their ballots.
Let us see to it that those in the
armed forces do mt lost their right
and privilege of voting while they
are away fighting"
Existing ballot laws, said the gov
ernor, "are not sufficiently flexible
to meet wartime conditions"
He also proposed the hours of
opening the closing the polls (now
6 a. m, to 6 p. M, be extended to
meet the odd working hours of those
engaged in war industries and other
employment.
Gov. Baldwin said he exercised his
war powers to suspend laws eight
times-Six original suspensions and
two renewals. He urged that this
authority be renewed and that Gin
stead Of amending all of these laws
and re-amending them after the
war, they be suspended temporarily
and for a limited period, subject to
the supervision TO the general as
Sembly. 1t seems therefore that the
wiSeSt course would be to renew the
emergency powers until the 1945
general assembly can further act
upon them, If then necessary"
Food Production
Governor Baldwin pointed out
that "as the war goes on, the pro-
duction Of food becomes ever more
important" and that while the state
cannot produce all its needs. there
are vital foods which we can produce,
and among these milk is the most
important.
Left to ourselves" he said, 1--WE
could solve this problem even In war
time, as we bid fair to solving 1t In
days OF peace, but the federal au-
thorities have noe yet been willing
to recognize our peculiar situation
and to take sound measures which
would help us to maintain our pro.
duction in the face of these OBJ.
StacleS your state government
has used all its powers to remedy
this situation. The final remedy
must come from a change Of policy
in the national capitol"
Connecticut, he said, would con-
tinue TO cooperate with the federal
government '.in an about war eff
fort" but he asserted the state would
do better job 1T the federal au-
thoritieS would adopt sound meas
ures to help U.s."
He asked the legislators to give
earnest consideration to the milk
supply situation, and said that
what measures can and should be
taken leave to your consideration"
The joint airport operation pro-
posal was regarded by the governor
as a step looking ahead ito a post
war world in which our air trans
portation promises tremendous de-
velopment. There Is q fair pros
pect that as the war progresses, one
or more airports in which the state
has a substantial investment In
land, and which have been de-
veloped and operated by the federal
government may be turned back to
the state. This special emergency
requires that the state, a city or
town, or two or more cities and
towns are empowered to acquire
and maintain airports, thus making
1t necessary to consider legislation
to meet this situation.
Precautions Taken
Through precautions and prepa-
rationS already taken, the governor
said, the state has laid q founda-
ton upon which we can meet the
problems Of reconversion with con-
hdence should victory and pease
bless our land before the next reg
ular session Of the general assem-
bly,"
Revenues attributable to the war,
he said. have made 1t possible to set
aside enough money to retire the
states bonded indebtedness and pro-
vide Every substantial sum to meet
the needs Of the postwar period.
1.-The ultimate cessation Of HOSTILE
ties will work o drastic change. We
must anticipate that revenues
which have gradually gone up, can
suddenly come down. Then too other
revenues Of the state have shown q
noticeable decline so that there has
been an abnormal disarrangement.
The general increase which began
some time ago is now very definitely
leveling on. The income for tho last
six months Of 1913 was substantially
$500. 900 less than for the last six
months in 1872"
He reminded the legislators that
when we met In tnls ulace q year
ago we accented the promise that