The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-09-07

only in certain specific cases which are set out In Section 67. The pertinent provision author iEes this drastic action only ito provide for pensions and pension funds" The alteration proposed by your board clearly does not come within this proviso. Its et- feet would be to take away pen- sions and pension funds rather than to provide for them. The Board of Aldermen does not have the power to change the charter in the manner proposed,
 2. The effect of the above res- olution is discriminatory and by It's terms hundreds of city eH1- ployes are excluded from It's op- eration.
 3. The proposed charter change will leave policemen and firemerl Act expressly repeals all existing without any pensions. The l946 pension laws. If the groups in question were exempted from the provisions of the l045 law, pre- vious Acts would no longer be in existence and the result would be that no law for the payment of retirement allowances would be in effect. The city would, therefore, have no authority to pay pensions of any sort and such condition would obviously be unfair to the men in these departments.
 4. Although the aforesaid req. sons are sufficient, I should still be opposed to this resolution be- cause It's inception and passage have been partisan and political In the worst and most opportun- istic sense of the words. The Re- publican party leaders are reSpofls sible for the commission which fathered this legislation and i1leIli- bers of that party were Q major- ity of the same commission which requested the passage Of c pen. sion bill similar to the one now in effect.
 Change of Tactics
 When the Republican leader. ship saw that this administra. ton would not Oppose the passage of Q reasonable bill, however, It was decided to create political embarrassment by changing from sponsorship of the bill to oppo- sition.
 At first the opposition was based on the lofty claim that the set was not "actuarially sound"
 Now, however, the position of the Republican leadership has been revealed for what it really is-a low grabbing for votes by playing on the emotions of . group of city employees. The at- tempt to create this disaffection Is 50 painfully clear, however. that I find 1t dlfflcuit to believe that any fair.minded employees will be influenced by 1t.
 The fact Is that I am interested in the welfare of city workers. That is why l have taken and maintained the position I am sup- porting. It has not been easy for me. It will not be easy for the city to raise the immediate funds which will be necessary to finance the new system. With. out 6 system, however, I can look ahead and see charges mounting well over the half-fnillion marx and resulting taxpayer opposi. ton. My solution is to meet tho problem here and now. The leg. iSlation which the General As. sembly passed and which Gov. ernor Baldwin refused to vetc does just that. I believe, there fore, that the charter as changed by the regular process should re- main in effect.
 "The proposed amendment woult absolutely nullify all attempts a improvement and in addition would throw the police and fir, pension arrangements into com. plete chaos. This administra tor cannot permit such c reactionar! move"
 A joint Red Cross- -USO IibraI