Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-29
CONSOLIDATION.

The question now agitating the popular | mind relative to union of the city and town governments is one that for vary ing reasons 1 finds advocates on both sides.
 Those who favor the project feel that un- der one administration the varied and often | complex interests of the public would be better served and at a largely diminished ex- rense; the main objection coming from those | who from their location fear the burdens of taxation may bear more heavily. Ihls would not be unjust unless shown to be
 unequal and disproportionate. It IS poor argument to claim release from future re responsibilities because of past unfair exemp- tions.
 It has always seemed to me that the best interests of the city and town would be found in united government under one manage ment and control. The question is not a novel one, as in June, 1870, in the first address I ever made to the Court of Common Council I used these words:
 q cannot, as far as my judgment is con cerued, refrain from urging, with all the force that language gives, the necessity of having our two governments, upon some equitable basis, merged into one."
 This recommendation was made for many reasons, but mainly (there being balance in the town treasury at the time of $153, ,911 54) in consequence of the unfairness shown the city, as com pared with the requirements of the town, ID fixing the rate of taxation, which exclusive of the school tax, was made equal, or at six mills each while the needs of the city were more than double these of the town. The city at the time had the exclusive care Of more than 90 miles of streets-the cost or constructing sewers and street pavements- the heavy expense of the Fire and Police de- partments and the gas and water supply, for all of which the town had nothing to pay, the town at it's annual meeting, with no carefully prepared estimate of public expen- diture with but dozen men present. voting to lay such tax might best suit the notions of the individuals present In our two governments with separate officers there are divided interests and respons1bill- ties which sometimes prove antagonistlc and from natural and honest differences of op1n ion clash with each other, to the detriment of the public good
 There is no mistake that our want is one government that will examine into the wants of every department and every possible ln- terest and SO make them harmonize in the interest of economy that both city and town will receive the benefit. Great savings ought to be made, Improvements more equltabiy carried out, labor better utilized and placed where most needed together with other changesfo lessening the burd ems of the people Among the many reasons for consolidation is the gross injustice done our citizens in the matter Of taxation and labor outside the city limits, as will be found by an examina tion of the grand list and town accounts, tabulated statement from which I presented to this honorable body in my address on urg>I ing this same question in January. 1876
 In this statement it will appear that for six years-1S70 to 1875 inclusive-the total amount of tax paid by Westville for all pur- poses vas but $35. 340 83, while the amount expended on her roads and bridges was S123.- 534 54 or more than three times the en- tire tax. This is, however, not the worst faeture aa it will also appear that after de- ducting Wsstville's proportion of the ordina ry and general expenses of the town it only paid S3 4S8 towards it's own roads and bridges, the balance $120, ,046. 54 being paid by the city, having already been taxed for it's own like Improvements, for which Vest vile paid nothing.
 By order of the Court of Common Council application was made to the Legislature in 1873 for the annexation of Westville, but at their request was continued in order to give them fair opportunity to consider the ques- tion and make such opposition as they might deem best. They cer- tainly have now had ample time The increase in the rate of taxation for the past year has at last called the attention of many to what they deem a wasteful method Tn which the powers of raising and spending money for public are now exercised, wasteful because they glide into many chan nels which could more economically be com mitted to one They refer to the continued maintenance of our town government claim ing 1t has absolutely no functions which could not be better performed by the city authorities. This custom of things is cer- tainly an anomaly in American governments No city outside of Connecticut which an breaches the size of ours is still the seat of authority for town officers. The plan of laying taxes and making appropriations iu a mass meeting of citizens like our town meet. jpgs has never since the dark ages been tried