Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1884-02-18
Chats with Citizens


On the Consolidation QusatIOn-Many
CityPeoPle FavOrins IL OnGeneral PrHn-
ciPlOs-Faver1ng low Taxation Of the
County Sectf0ms-Farm Land VS.. CITY
Pavements and Electric Lights-A Pic
mic for POlfcemen-Fafr HaVen's Rapid
Growth I'm One Hundred Years-Gas and
Water.
The proposed consolidation of the town
and city government of New Haven is
topic discussed somewhat by the public. 1t
meets with considerable favor from citizens
within the city limits and the views of citi-
zen expressed below represent in a "consoli-
dated" form the views of many other citizens
with whom conversation was had on the sub
ject by CoURME representative. In reply
to the query proposed what is your opinion
On the consolidation question, he said: ann
in favor Of consolidation of the town and the
city governments though never in public
affairs nor ever having run for public Office. I
have as a private citizen thought it singular
that we had q dual form of government and
didn't see why it was necessary to have two
sets of officers, one for the city and one for
the town. One item in favor of consolida-
ton is a reduction of expenses and as q tax
payer I am in favor of the reduction. IF We
consolidate we do away with the Office of
selectmsn. Probably under consolidation it
would be necessary to appoint or elect some
one to do the work which now devolves upon
the position of town agent. that is one addi-
tional town Office that would have to filled by
some one.
Well what do you think Of the taxation
question: Should that portion of the An
mex residents, for instance, who live between
Tomlinson's bridge and the light honse pay
city taxes?
There is point that think should be
taken into consideration. I do not think
that the people in that portion Of the town
should be taxed equally with those in the
city. There is good deal of farm land in
that section, the owners Of which could not
afford to pay eighteen or twenty mills on the
dollar for taxation. The real property of
these persons should be assessed at a low
rate. 1t is not likely that the people residing
in Morris Cove and that section would get
city gas and water privileges very soon. And
the city bylaws about cleaning off spow;
would it work well out in the country where
some people might have half mile Of
sidewalk to clear off? Then out in the country
the police privileges Wouldn't be of very
great present advantage. It will be some
time guess before the city would want to
erect police precinct down in the Cove and
how happy would that policeman be who
would be assigned a beat, all the way from
Tomlinson's bridge to the lighthouse
and back, especially in cold,
cav winters night when the breeze"
from the harbor would blew through him
But joking aside, the people of this section
ought not to pay full city taxes the same
those who can step out of their houses upon
flag or brick pavements; and under the glare
of gaslights or perhaps the electric lights
with a policeman pacing within call and the
fire steamers ready to roll to the door at a
minutes notice. OF course with WestviIle it
is little different. There it is quite thickly
settled and if they haven't got gas
and water they can readily get
them, and they want fire and
police protection out there. And so over in
Fair Haven East there is large section there
which is thickly settled and they have the
city already there, and although they seldom
have fires over there and have wide awake
fire department, still in case a fire should get
the upper hand there how necessary it would
be to get help from the New Haven steam
ers.
1n6f6 IL O90 LuluR ALSO 10 % COubkO0E6O
In the event of consolidation the tax asses
sors' Office would remain the same
as now. That Office would not
be abolished, but would remain as now,
as there is not double set of tax assessors,
one set covering all the work. And the city
clerk could not do the town clerks work, as
each of those Offices require a separate
official, there being plenty of work for two
men. In this case at the election We could
for instance, vote for city clerk and for an
assistant city clerk, the latter of whom would
serve as town clerk.
On the whole think a dual form Of gov
eminent is clumsy, cumbersome and should
be abolished. The old system of town and
city government, legacy of the old colo
NAL days, worked we'll, but has had its day,
and Boston shook off the double system
years and years ego.
In conversation with one Of our most
prominent citizens he said: 1 am heartily in
favor of consolidation. Why, look at how
it has benefited Fair Haven. mean, of
course, Fair Haven between the two rivers.
Why that part of the town has grown with
wonderful rspidity since It became part of
the city. That was about eight years ago.
think. Why my dear sir, it strikes me that
that part of the city has doubled and think
has trebled its population since its consolids-
ton with the city and gained gas and police
and other valuable privileges, accruipg upon
the consolidation. You can write me down
as consolidationist, if there Is such a word
in the dictionary. L take the liberty to invent
it, to coin it, and wont take patent out on
it either.