The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-01-13
Politics
 -M- Passing

FQSSIng II
 The question of how Waterbury Legislators fared in regard to com tnittee assignments may not be ans wered until this 1945 session of the General Assembly is over, but off, hand 1t might be predicted that Senator Patrick J. Wallace and Representative John A. Membrino may breathe sighs of relief next June that they weren't members of the Cities and BoroughS Committee. On the other hand the converse could easily be true. Right now. though, it would seem as if the Brass City request for representa- tion on this all-important committee evidently turned down by the new Democratic high command at Hart ford, would react favorably. Getting down to facts the local legislators certainly got good assignments and Senator Wallace will have chance to prove himself as chairman of the committee on penal institutions, in which field he is vitally interested, particularly so right now what with plans afoot for reorganization at nearby Cheshire Reformatory.
 State Chairman Adrian Maher
 is proving his ability in more than
 one way these days. His activities
 didn't cease when the election was
 over and 1t was determined that
 the Democrats had gained again a
 fOOthOld on Capitol Hill. He is gO-
 ing to be very much in evidence
 throughout the legislative session,
 directing Democratic efforts and
 plotting Democratic strategy. The
 first few days of the session prov
 cd, too, that whatever happens in
 Hartford won't bc unforeseen or
 unplanned. A definite pattern has
 been plotted and will he followed
 with Chairman Maher'S strong
 right hand definitely at the helm.
 While the state press tried to give indications that Waterbury might have been given the wrong end of the stick in committee assignments and early-SeSsion patronage, the truth of the matter was that Waterbury fared marvelously in comparison to Bridgeport, where Democratic Chairman and State Senator Con nie" Mulvihill has been unable to contain himself, so wrought up was he over the disposition of the com mittee places. Connie received the chairmanShip of the Forfeited Rights Committee, while his fellow Park City senators were named to the following chairmanshipS: Al Coles, contingent expenses and pub lie information; Ben Leipner, claims. Senator Mulvihill's dissec- tion of appointments delivered this week at Hartford was said to have been masterpiece.
 A drop of $3,0OO,OOO In Bridge
 ports grand list, which will be
 used as the basis for the 1945-46
 tax levy, is anticipated by Tax
 Assessor William F. Connolly.
 Factory inventories will account
 for the drop. This is the second
 large city in Connecticut to anti
 cipate such decrease in it's
 grand list, Hartford having all
 ready bemOaned the fact that the good old days were starting to
 wane. BridgepOrtS new grand list
 is expected to total S281 ,OOO, 900 met. Last years list was the larg- est in the city's history.
 Acquisition of Fishers Island by the state of Connecticut might re- vive interest in a lot of boundary strengthening, involving New York, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut. Time was when The Democrat was right in the midst of a hot campaign advocating that cer- tain JutS in the state lines be wiped out. There Is one notorious example of boundary line inequality along the~line separating Connecticut and Massachusetts. It's where Lake Congamond juts into Connecticut but for the most part lies in Massa- chusetts. Then down in Fairfield county that section in which lies Greenwich pushes right into New York state. So-o-o, if Connecticut started to straighten out it's lines 1t would have to give as well as receive. Disposition of the Fishers Island residents request, however, will be interesting to all.
 New Britain hopes to continue its current tax rate of 283i mills for another year. Such a rate will be recommended to the common council next week. New Britain's grand list on which this tax will be levied totals SIP 2,965,9 ,942.. Budget expenditures during the new year would amount to S3,772,O35.83. In Hartford Mayor MOrtensen and the finance board started their budget hearings with the report current that an effort would be made to retain the present tax rate of 30.5 mills. Early this week, though, ex-Ma00r Thomas J. Spellacy was quoted by the Hartford COurant as saying that reduction to 30 mills was "possi- ble but not feasible. Despite all this the finance board yesterday approved a 30 mill rate and a balanced budget of S13,34O,8OO
 New Ravens board of aldermen have been debating a proposal to give city employees in the armed service a $100 bonus ever since last September. The issue was decided this week on a 14-13 vote Therell be no bonus In Bridgeport, where the civil service requirements apply to all city employees, the third call for examinations for aspiring flremen in six months has just been issued. There are 12 to 40 vacancies existing in the department. So diff 1icult is it to get replacements that an oOo limit nf QE ie ,,om iy, foroo