Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-10-29
APPROPRIATION TALK
What the Board of Public Works May.
 Ask For

Ask For
 Great things are expected of the de- partment of public works this year in the matter of appropriations for 1904, ana no pains are being spared to i'm press upon the minds of the members of that body the urgent need of mak- ing provision to meet every reasonable demand that may be made for public improvements. The board entertained this opinion last fall, but in a modified way to that in which it now strikes some people who opposed such course at that time. They took into consIds@ eration the amount of work on the waiting list and also tried to get line on what would come in during the i, present year and asked for as much as they knew, was absolutely necessary. The aldermen slashed everything right and left and when they got through there was scarcely enough on hand to take care of ordinary repairs and com plete work already ordered, $25, 900 for repairs and maintenance and $16,000 for new work. The aldermen were praised for saving the taxpayers from being oyerburdened unnecessarily, and the department of public works was told to practice economy and that it would have sufficient funds to make an excellent showing. As result of this featuring and i'll advised action in the aldermanic chamber the depart, ment of public works was unable to rake hold of various projects that need- ca attention and in consequence 1t has been a target for citizens who knew that there was something wrong, but d1dnt Know where to place the respon- sibility. 1t was said at the time that the brake applied to the board of pub lie works was done for political req sons, but whether that was so or not Is something nobody connected with the department of public works knows If he does he has kept the secret we'll The more probable reason for the rough usage doled out bo the street. sewer and water departments is that everything was sacrificed in an effort to please the department of public safe ty, who was bound to have new fire house in the Brooklyn district, although most of the large property owners in the district didn't see any pressing need of it.
 It seems that the public mind has experienced quite a change in one short year. This was exemplifed fin no uncertain way at the recent city election, but whether the electors who spoke their minds through the medium of the ballot box intended that the party whose service they desired to dis pense with for the time being had been, making the rate of taxation too high or too low is a question people interpret differently. But If what one hears fire quently be true the latter version Is about right, and if the department of public works wants to harken to the voice of the people it will take the hint and recommend an appropriation of at least $1O0, 900 for streets repairs, and a like sum for new work. This every dollar of it could be used to ad- vantage and then some things would have to wait.
 But do the rate payers want to as. sllme such burden? Some very good citizens who are in position to feel the public pulse tell us that this is ex- actly what a majority of the taxpay ers have been watching and hoping for and that nothing short of that amount will satisfy them. If the statement be genuine the money should be raised; but is 1t? The factories are not willing to pay any more than they have been assessed, neither are the merchants, and it Is extremely doubt ful if the ordinary laborer, who is try ing to maintain a family and at the same time make some provision for the day when he shall cease to be source of revenue to himself or anybody else, is clamoring for an opportunity to come down more handsomely to the collector Looking sat it from this standpoint 1t is hard to sec where the proposed increase in the rate of taxa, tion is coming from. 1t is true that Waterbury has a number of men who would be pleased to see a very gener- ous appropriation for sewers, water mains and the opening of new streets in the sparsely settled district of the first taxation district. It is also true that these men are in positions to make what pertains largely to their own per- sona1 ends appear like great public necessity and In this way force the hand Of the city government and by this means enrich thepselves at the expense of the public. To use vul- gar phrase, Judge Peasley hit the nail on the head before the board of pub- lie works the other night when. he said that citizens who find 1t to- their own advantage to leave the full taxation district and take up permanent resi- dences fn the outskirts of the city should be obliged to provide their own improvements. There is almost no end to the amount of money. which the city could expend in following people into the rural districts of Waterbury. and until we have some more equitable system of taxation than we are now working under the clamor for public improvements in the first taxation dis. trict should be received and acted upon in business way.
 But perhaps, this is digressing. The department of public safety wants the modest sum of $136, ,324.42. Now let Us hear from the board of public works If they cannot beat that by S5O,OO0 or $75,oOO Mayor Elton should see that none of them acts as one of hisN lieutenants.
 Awear ago Superintendent Kelley