Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-03

 Outside poor account. .-.-...--..... 18,00t Surveyors services. ...........-........... 27s Town Agents office e-....---...-...... 5Ot Feglslrar once M a0t Almshouse account in salaries and labor. so0e
 Total. s5o,57l For fifteen years, ending in 1884 the aver- age rate of town taxation was 4.3 mills. rate was 6.7 mills increase of over 30 per cent. For the 17 years ending 1887, the average tax was 10.3 mills, and is SO for this year, 11.5 mills an increase of three and seven-tenths of a mill or little over 6 per cent.
 In 1880 the gross debt of the town was $sO3, ,295.O6. Now it is $995, ,961 09, and the interest charged $53, ,6sS 92, an increase of $9, ,652.1S. The net town debt is now $995, 901.09, of which $241, ,564. 09 is floating debt.
 In 1880 the gross debt of the city was $836, 900, and the annual interest charged $71 ,0O0.55. At present the gross debt of the city is $975, 5000 and the interest charged S54, ,5S0.S3, decrease of SIG, ,419.72. The net debt of the city in 1880 was $744, IT'S. 38. At present it is $550, ,000, a decrease of $194,- 745. 3S. Thus the town has increased con- siderably it's debt and it's rate ot taxation and it's interest charges. The city has materially reduced both it's net debt and interest charges. The city has materially reduced both it's net debt and interest charge, partly one to the Derby road sale.
 The city has had nearly all the prominent public Improvements to make which are the only proper excuse for municipal debt, and has accumulated a large sinking fund to meet it's debt at maturity, while the town has just arranged to refund $500, ,000 in bonds. no provision for the payment of any part of them having yet been provided. The school district, lacking the methods of city government and retaining it's mass meeting, is also increasing both it's debt and it's rate of taxation. The town government is not justified by it's results, as is shown by first it's outside poor administration; second, !, the Doherty case; third, the actions of some town meetings. The consolidation princi- pie has work we'll. First in experience in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecti- cut second, in large cities outside of New England; third, has been favored in Hart ford, Bridgeport and South Norwalk. The real objection to the present system is that it is cumbersome and unbusinesslike, ir- responsible and inefficient; that it contains nons of the securities of good government provided by well drawn city charters and ex- poses the community to the chances of seri- ous financial loss.
 The arguments for the opposition are: The people on the outskirts fear an increase in their taxes. This point is to be met by pro- visions to be incorporated in the bill. The Westville grand list is $622, ,430. That of the Fourteenth and Fifteenth wards is $1, ,624, ,431, together less than $2, 5OO, ,OOO Deducting the State and school tax they pay less than three and half mills for town pur- poses, or less than $8, ,750. When the annex was joined to the town the interest on their debt which New Haven assumed was $9, ,600 In 1888 the money spent in roads and bridges nearly if not all in the outlying districts was $42, ,275. .87.
 The very conservative class object to con- solidation because they oppose all change Taey have tried to prevent the introduction of sewers, city water and other improvements.
 Some distrust the people. They do not believe in local self government and wish the legislature to serve as the conservators of the city. They think municipal government 8 failure. They refer to New York as an ex- ample. This city has had greater difficulties to contend with than any other city, the 80 per cent. foreign population and it's polit- ical corruption. In the ten years ending 1886 New York had its bonded debt out down $30, ,000, ,0O0. During the twelve years end 41@ mills on the dollar. The different de- partmeuts of New York under single head are we'll and economically administered. Bos- ton, Chicago, Baltimore, Providence and Cincinnati show the same results"
 A RAIN OF ARGUMENTS.
 After Attorney White had made his re- marks Eli Whitney and MT. Butler made short speeches upon the subject. strongly favoring consolidation.
 Attorney John W. filling made a strong speech. He said the change was c great ne- cessity and the town meeting had outgrown its influence.
 Hon. Lynde Harrison then spoke for con- solidation. He gave 8 powerful argument, bristling with facts and figures. He said he didn't think the inhabitants of Westville and the town should receive all the benefit of living near the city and get off with less taxes than any poor little town in the State. "As things are now," said he, ''the people of New Haven pay 95 per cent. toward keeping the roads of Westville and the Annex in re- pair, while the residents of these outlying The city furnishes the whole system of jus- tice for the town, and don't get a cent for it." He outlined an admirable system of consolidation, with many provisos and the like to save excessive and undue taxation. The representatives of the outside districts began to cross-1uestion him rather briskly, but his answers came rapid and pungent, and the quick -wisted attorneys sharp sallies caused much laughter.
 MT. Charles L. Baldwin was then called upon and made few remarks.
 Mir. John s. Fowler presented strong argu- ments in favor of consolidation.
 Alderman Kieiner stated that the city and town were consolidated in many things and the rural residents didn't know it. He men, toned many jurisdictions common to both.
 Mir. Burton Mansfield said it had been feared conclusively that the bar of the city were in favor of consolidation.
 Chairman Easterbrook stated, before the meeting adjourued, that the last hearing would be next Wednesday evening for the opposition.