The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-03-17
Politics
 -M- Passing

l 1QSStUX
 2 waterbury ofncials expect to bring . varied assortment of tables and charts to Hartford next week when che legislative finance committee holds hearings on c series of local measures. Included among them are 4aaose concerning future finances of the city, such as requests for bonds to pay for various public improve ments. It was indicated this week, though, that the city isn't going to place complete reliance on bond issues to finance its postwar pro- 1ects. That will be good news to the local taxpayers, for it's one step nearer the pay-as-you-go policy that the administration of Mayor John S. Monagan is working to- wards. The longer the postwar per- tod stays away the better able Wa terbury is going to be to finance It. self through 1t without recourse to borrowing.
 Use of the law to compel tax
 payers to meet obligations has
 been reeOrted to before in Wa
 terbury, but probably never with s such startling force as 1t was this
 week when several warrants were
 served on delinquent old age tax
 payers. This Is but one more in-
 dicatiOn that current city officials
 are determined to wipe out all
 indebtedness during the period
 the law now allows such accounts
 t0 remain open. There has been
 much material success in the
 back-tax drive to date. In fact if
 conditions remain as they are and
 Officials' efforts continue unabted
 1t is possible that Waterbury can
 clear up its entire back tax de-
 Mnquencies, at least that part of
 At which is eollectible.
 The state of the Legislature is still uncertain at this distance from the Capitol. Democrats still remain . thorn in the side of Republicans, but within their own ranks 1t can't be said that all is harmony. If there were, why the continual need of caucuses? Rarely day passes but what the Senate Democrats aren't called into caucus couple of times to determine what policy they'll follow on a point at issue. Is it lead- ership or just that the session Is so beset with perlexing issues that definite stand can't be taken to meet all of them? It's unfortunate, of course, that the Connecticut Legislature Is constituted as 1t is, but even the legislators themselves won't do anything about that, so the strain of inconsistency Is carried to the bitter end.
 Frequent comments are heard
 0n the fact that Waterbury has
 consistently shown a large Sur-
 plus at the end of fiscal budgetary
 operations during the past four
 0r five years. Tho explanation of
 that Is really simple one. If you
 notice the tax collection figures
 from Humbert Mangini's office,
 you have the solution. Of recent
 years the percentage collected
 from the total levy has been high
 -cnOse to 99 per cent. Amy time
 the city collects more than 92
 per cent of the levy it's almost
 bound to show . surplus. At least
 there will be Over-collections of
 taxes, because the city's charter
 specifically forbids estimating
 any more than 92 per cent of the
 grand list az current tax revenue.
 A seven per cent over collection
 ls assurance of . surplus.
 It could happen. of course, that ehere would be over-appropriations by one or more departments. But In these flush years it would have to be pretty heavy to offset the over collections. Before this would hap pen, the finance officers would have stepped in and shut off expenditures, unless they deliberately allowed the over-expenditure for legitimate purposes. The 92 per cent stipula- ton, thus, becomes a guarantee oi . blldgetary surplus and Waterbury has had some sizleable ones in re- cent years with the expectation that the 1914 figure will top that of a year ago by a substantial amount Naturally current good times aid any revenue-collecting agencies ir attaining high percentages. The late Mayor Vincent Scully was alway, quick to mention the taxpayer when people started talking about high tax-collectionS records. Don't over- look the taxpayer" he would say. Democratic Corporation Counse Vincent P. Dooley of New Hayer looms as one off the candidates fol the od1ce of Judge of Probate in the June 19 special election. Clifford B 9tllrgeS, present clerk in the Pro. bate Court, may be the COP nomi. nee, according to word from tht Elm City. Right now the severa towns comprising the probate dis. trict gre busy selecting delegates tt the local conventions. The office ha. been vacant since the death O Judge John L. Gilson last fall. Ht held the ofIlce for many years, thu subject of endorsement by botE Democrats and Republicans. It re UaAens to be seen whether his suc' oessor win achieve the non-partisar position that Judge Gilson held fol % long.
 Danbury lS witnessing one of thu Qaietegt lnayoralty campaigns it Ina! ever had. Mayor William J. Han nan, Democrat, up to early this weel hadn't even made speech and sait he would content himself with onl, . few just before election day. I'm COP candidate, Charles M. Hatch hAsn't been able to get peep" ou ae his opponent who believes in re lying on the record Senate Thomas Hart, who succeeded th'