The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-04-04
THE CITY'S COAST DEFENSES
Continued from First Page.)


works to remove from Harriet and
Brewster streets before May obstruc-
tons placed there by the railroad COM
pany We're passed in concurrence with
the councllmen.
A petition from S. z. Poll for permits
sion to build a theater was referred to
the building committee.
A communication was received from
the mayor announcing his veto of the
resolution for the establishment Of a
public market place on Union street.
The reason assigned for the veto was
that Union street was too narrow for a
market place. In the communication
the mayor states that he thinks the
movement for public market place is
good one, but that other places be-
sides, Union street should be designated.
The matter was tabled until the next
meeting.
An opinion was received from the
corporation counsel stating that the
clerk of the committee on abatement of
taxes comes under the civil service rules
and must pass an examination. The
opinion was referred to the tax abate-
ment committee.
lie UOdIu IGCGuSu lLOIll us plCN lOd5
action in passing the Doolittle claim,
and concurred with the councilmen in
referring it to the corporation counsel
for an opinion as to it's legality
A communication from Edward M.
Clark withdrawing his appeal from the
order of the fire marshal for the re-
moval of the wooden structures on the
site of the old Central house, at the cor
ner of Church and Crown street, was
referred to the fire commissioners.
A resolution was passed ordering the
corporation counsel to oppose the grant
ing by the general assembly of the pc
tition of the Winchester Avenue Rail-
road company for permission to lay
tracks through Orange street.
The special legislative committee APP
pointed to look out for the city's inter-
ests in Hartford was directed to inform
the corporation counsel of the action
taken. In connection with this matter
Aldermen Dewell and Chillingworth
called attention to the fact that several
instructions passed concerning bills be-
fore the general assembly had not been
transmitted to the corporation counsel,
Notwithstanding the fact that the board
had directed that he be notified.
On motion of Alderman Chillingworth
the following communication from May
or Farnsworth was referred to the spe-
cial legislative committee:
MAYORS COMMUNICATIONS.
To the Honorable Court of Common
Council of the City of New Haven:
At the regular meetings of your hon
orable body in July, 1898, the following
communication was read and referred
to the committee on legislation
'To the Honorable Court of Common
Council of the City of New Haven:
Section 1928 of the general statutes
of Connecticut provides that express
companies shall pay to the state tax,
which shall be in lieu of all other taxes,
upon the estate of said company used
in it's express business. Sections 1919
and 1920 of the general statutes provide
for the taxation Of street railroad COM
panies, and provides that the sum paid
under those provisions shall be in lieu
of all other taxes on it's franchises and
railroad property.
II would recommend that an effort
be made to induce the legislature at its
next session to so amend these laws as
to allow towns to have the results of
local taxation on all property belonging
to express companies and street railway
companies to the same extent and for
the same purpose that the property of
all other corporations and individuals
is so taxed.
"A public hearing before the joint
standing committee on legislation of
your honorable body would probably |
assist materially in getting together in
formation on this subject and bringing
about such a seemingly fair and equit- |
able condition.
"Respectfully submitted,
''F. B. FARNSWORTH, Mayor"
AS no action was taken by your hon
orable body on these suggestions during !
the seven months which elapsed be-
tween the receipt of the communication
by you and the limit of time for receiv-
Ing new business by the legislature, l
caused to be presented bill or petition
for the payment to the towns
Of the whole or part of the sums now
paid to the state by the corporations
referred to.
have been Informed that the street
railway companies would not only be
perfectly willing to pay the towns, but
would prefer so to do. There being no
contest with the companies, and the
question being of such great import
ance I had hoped that your honorable
body would adopt means to bring very
vigorously to the attention of the gener-
II assembly the great injustice of the
present system.
In the year 1897 the taxes paid to the
state by the street railway companies
operating in New Haven amounted to
;36, PSI. IA in 1898, 39,992.73, and the
are thereby exempted from
paying one dollar to the city of New
Haven.
If the law could be amended, as sug-
rested in my communication of last
July, SO that the city could have the re-
ults of taxation on the property of the
land buildings, power
,lants, ETC., to the same extent that
owned by private corporations
nd individuals is taxed, the balance of
resent payments would make quite
handsome revenue for the state, and a
mall part of the injustice of the system
re done away with.
In some states the tax on street rail-
way companies IS collected by the state,
nd by the state paid over to the towns
ccording to length of track in each
own. ] doubt if there is any other state
,hich deprives the towns wholly of the
epefits of such taxation