Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-20
MAYOR KILouFF's VIEWS.

why he FAvors Consolidation OF the
Town. city aud school Governments!
A travelling man who makes frequsnt
visits 10 Waterbury. once told n repfe-
sentative of the DEMocRAr that the citi-
z-ns of this town are the most carsful
readers of the newspapers of any people
he had ever known. "The simplest
thing" he said. appearing in one of the
daily papers. Is read and discussed all over
the town in a short time after the paper
appears on the street" The truth OF
these remarks was never made more
manifest TO the reporter than on last
evening when the following notice, signed
ny Mayor kilduf. appeared in the DEMO
Graf:
Notice is hereby given that applet
ton will be made to the general assembly
of Connecticut at its January session.
1895, to consolidate the governments of
the town and city of Waterbury and the
center school district"
The question asked on all sides was:
''what does this mean?" Win 1t reduce
our taxes and how many boards and offices
will It abolish if il should become law ?"
A representative of the DEMoCRAr inter
viewed Mayor Kilduff in reference 10 the
matter this morning. There is nothing
new for me to discuss on that subject at
present." said Mr. Kilduff. The matter
was explained to the people in my annu~l
message in January. In presenting to
| the public proposition to reorganize the
town, city and school said:
| The consolidation of the town, school
| and city corporations into one, managed
| aud governed by one Set of officers, would
be n step in the line of progress and ad-
| vaucement. There is no good reason for
the existence of three separate govern
ments or municipal corporations within
the territorial Limits of the town of Water
bury. This condition of affairs is a relic
of n bygone generation.
The people desire an up to date man
/ agement of their affairs The great in-
crease in the running expenses OF our
three headed system. which is out of pro-
| portion to increase in population and
| sources from which revenue is derived,
would seem TO be worthy of good deal Of
thought and consideration on the part of
the taxpayers.
| Saving in sal ,ries. centralizing aud To-
eating responsibilities, unity of admins
tration. and equalization of taxation
| would be but few of the benefits result
| ing from consolidation.
The results attending consolidation in
the neighboring city of BridgeI ort have
been very satisfactory during the four
years il has been In operation there.
For purposes of taxation. IN case OF
| consolidation, the city would be divided
into two districts: the first di strict would
correspond with the present town limits
the second district with the present city
limits This would prevent unjust taxa
ton on property IN the first district out
side Of the second. for large and costly
improvements made within the second dis
trict."
The mayor cited several instance,
where one corporation had been borrow
ing money and paying quite a large sun
for interest when some of the othei
corporations had money idle. This. Ia
considered about the same as n man with
three pockets filled with money. wheI
the POCKET containing the money which b.
had been using for one particular thin
was empty. instead of putting his hanC
down into one of the others and drawing
from that source he leaves that there anC
goes and pays interest for money TO re
plenish the empty pocket. the interes
coming out of the pocket from which IA
could have secured the amount requires
without any extra expense. lie said l
was just about as silly as n man maintain
ing three separate. permanent homes 70
his family. when the same fuel, furnish
ings and servants could be made to me.
| the requirements of all
And then" he added. think of tn
town and the city engaged in lawsuit
II does not make any difference which sid
wins the burden of the expense is saddle,
on tho taxpayers" In purchasing sup
plies he thought a large sum could b
saved by having all the supplies bough
through the medium of one PURCHASING
agent. The coal used by the town. cit
and school could be secured at much NOR
favorable rates il the whole of il was con
tracted for at one time. Ii was so i
every other instance and he thought if tn
taxpayers would give the subject littl
consideration they would at once conclud
that the proposed change was one whic
was sure TO result in the saving of an in
} mense sum of money yearly to the taN
, payers of the town and city.