The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-06-22
Politics
 -h Passing


 member of the commission, as his present position is an $8,OOO-a-year one. Six commissioners at $45, 900 are fancy figure, any way you look at 1t. And if you look at it in this guise, it's really fancy. There is a Statute Revision Commissioner drawing $7,500 yearly. He has three assistants and during the busy legis- lative season many office aides. The 1946-47 appropriation for personal services in the Statute Revision Commissioner oftlce is $21, ,240, so it would seem as if the state should secure e most excellent job of re- vising its statutes during the com- ing fiscal period, what with talent and plenty of 1t available for the job.
 The recent announcement In this column that Meriden had sold $100,O0O in bonds for gen. tiOnalIy favorable interest rate to the municipality OccasiOned some comments about bond authOriza- tiOns. Meriden is one of num- ber of Connecticut cities and towns that does not have to go up to the Legislature to ask permiS- sion to float bonds. Its charter specifically provides for such is- suance by the municipality after certain requirements have been complied with by the fiscal au- thOrities. The same Is true in Stamford and also in New Bri- tain. Waterbury, though, must get legislative approval. Back in the 3Os this city would have had to get such approval, even if 1t had Q charter provision allowing issu- ance, because the city was exceed- ing its bonded debt limit most of the time and in no instance can any city or town in Connecticut continue to do this without. per- mission of the Legislature.
 A number of interested Demo- crats and Republicans have been checking into the voting laws of recent weeks to determine If per- sons who fail to vote in successive elections can be dropped from the lists. That subject was brought up at Hartford during the numerous changes made in Connecticut vot- ing laws in the last five or six years. In 1851 a law will become effective in this state, unless the Legislature defers its effective date, which will allow registrars to remove auto- matically the names of persons who have not voted in the four prior elections. That means starting with the elections in 1948 registrars will start to take notes in the chronic non-voters. If they don't show up in 1049, 1850 and 1851 their names will be removed, unless they give cause for retention.
 Mention Oe the name Of Chf nEcHale in this column week ago as 8 potential Democratic senatorial candidate in the 18th district proved one thing to the writer. MT. McEale is as popular as his packers claim him to be. While the North End boy Is not making too determined a bid for the nomination, in that he prob ably would not seek to enter a primary contest with any candi- date who might have the blessing of administration forces, still he kk quietly gathering his forces so Hat at the proper time he can SlOw local leaders that there is merit in his candidacy and that he might be a good man to throw in the fight against ex-Senator Frank Summa, who certainly looms right now as sure bet on the Republican side of the 18th district ticket.
 The claim has long been advanced by local political observers that ex- Alderman Martin J. Sullivan, Dem- ocrat, was acting as stalking horse for ex-Senator John K. Tobin in the 18th senatorial district. This the latter has denied on several occasions and recent events have brought to light the possibility that the former local legislator might have stronger backing in this dis trict fight than has heretofore been imagined. In fact it has been claim ed that 6 good share of his support for the nomination might be com ing from the opposite side of the political picture-an individual, not the party, of course. At any rate down around Districts 5-1 and 5-2 Democratic committeeman and wo- men are getting instructions these Jays to do thorough job on their Alafivas this summer.
 Az the fate of MT. OPA trembles and shakes In the balance held ID In the pudgy hands of Con- Rress, so does the political career, for 1946 at any rate, of Chester BOwIes of Essex and Washington. if MT. BOwIes and the OPA van- ish from the Washington scene, then likewise out the window will probably go his intentions or ann bitions for entering Connecticut politics this fall. Not that he's a sure bet for either the senatorial or gubernatOrial nomination, Dut certainly if he could leave Wash ingt0n with prices properly begged and controls still main tained to prevent widespread in- fiation he might be able to sell himself to the Connecticut popu- lace this fall even if he hasn't succeeded in doing this same thing to Democratic leaders. But comes a bad reversal for MT. BOwies and he won't be able to hold delegate even from Union CT B0zrah.
 Tn like vein 1t might be said that the protected candidates of Special War Prosecutor Thomas Dodd and Labor Dept. Aide Joseph Tone are suffering from distance. MT. Dodd is
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