The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-05-03

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ties of Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable
Compound, and several of her Blood
Purifier, and am completely cured. 1t
is wonder to all that l got we'll"
sense examinations have been laid out
l confidently expect results from this
department with which our citizens will
be thoroughly pleased. Our people,
loving fair play, should not find fault
with civil service laws, if honestly adj
ministered. Heretofore with all but a
few, 1T has been thought the proper
thing to ridicule attempts at civil SER
vice reform. / feel that the work of the
New Haven commission will result in
rapid increase of those who favor the
plan.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Our Fire Department continues thor
oughly efficient. During the past year
two new engine houses have been added
to the property of the department, and
the equipment has been increased by
the purchase of two new steam fire en-
gines, and two new combination hose
and chemical wagons. 1t is probable
| that further large expenditure for
| houses or equipment will not be requir-
| ed for several years.
| The Fire Marshal, in addition to his
| regular duties, is performing the duties
Of the building inspector, as provided
| by the building ordinance adopted in
December last 1t is thouht that the
! duties of building inspector are suffici-
| ent to keep a first class man constantly
employed, and provision should be
made for such an official as soon as
possible.
POLICE COMMISSIONERS.
| The board of police commissioners Is
honestly striving to carry out reforms
in the department which large por-
ton of the public has clamored for for
many years. Their work, while not call
culated to make them popular with
| some people, is being done very care
fully and has my hearty approval.
am confident a great majority of our
citizens commend them for their work
so far as they have gone, and that time
will prove it to be remarkably free
| from errors.
| CHARITIES AND CORRECTION.
| The department of charities and cor
rection deserves especial commenda-
ton. The gentlemen who compose the
! board believe in common with the great
majority of our citizens that no human
| being should be allowed to suffer from
| hunger or cold within our borders
! They agree with me that able bodied
people should not be supported at the
expense of those who are earnestly
striving to support themselves and
families, establish homes and be good
citizens in every way. Beats and loaf
ers are not likely to fatten at public
expense during their administration,
but worthy poor and unfortunate hui
manity will have every consideration at
their hands. I anticipate an account
of the stewardship of these commits
sioners at the end of the year that
ought to be gratifying to all taxpayers.
HEALTH.
The health of our city during the
| past year has been remarkably good,
and the death rate low. Even during
the period in the summer of 1897 when
| for two months our street cleaning was
| at standstill by reason of lack Of
funds the death rate was the lowest
recorded in the corresponding months
during a period of ten years. While
| this does not show that dirty streets
| are conducive to health and longevity,
neither does it show that criticism by
| press and people, largely moved by po-
| litical feeling, is always founded on
| facts.
TAXES.
| Statements are constantly being
/ 10 m, tLa hot ha tay a HI Ia
| this year is the highest levied in years,
| and efforts are made, manifestly for
| political reasons, to induce the public
| to believe that the returns from the
twenty-four mills of tax to be paid this
summer are for the running expenses
| of the city for the current twelve
| months. The facts, which are that this
| levy of twenty-four mills is for funds
| to pay expenses of the schools for sew
| enteen and one-half months, and for
the work formerly done by the town
| government and by the city depart
| ments for thirteen months, have been
frequently stated, and should be re-
| peatedly stated, so that they may be
| generally understood Prior to the
| passage of the consolidation act our
| business had been done by three sep
arate tax-laying, debt-contracting pow
ers, each having different financial
year. The last tax laid by the old
| town government was to raise money
to pay the expenses of that govern
ment for one year ending October 81,
1897. The last regular tax laid by the
school district was to raise funds to
pay for the expenses of the school for
| ending T111I IA 1907 Tho 10 CT
tax laid by the city, prior to that for
1898, was to provide means to defray
the expenses of the city government
for the. year ending November 80, 1897
| With the three consolidated into one
January 1 was fixed upon as the prop
er date for the beginning and ending OF
the financial year. To accomplish this
it became necessary for the school dis
trict to lay tax to provide funds to
pay the expenses of the schools for
| the time Intervening hatxvaan tho ond