Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-22
TAXPAYERS
 NOT THERE The Meeting Called By Mayor Thoms Was Only Slimly Al.
 tended This Morning ONLY TWO TAXPAYERS Others Present We're Members of inc Various Boards and Several
 Principals oi the Public
 Schools.
ONLY TWO TAXPAYERS

 In case the taxation rate Is raisei
 to fifteen mills as is threatened oni,
 two taxpayers have entitled them
 selves to enter protest for only tha
 number appeared at the public meet
 ing called by Mayor Thoms in ths
 city court room this forenoon at Il
 o'clock to consider the matter of ap.
 pr0priations. The two citizens were
 Judge George H. Cowell, and Charles
 Stage of g West Porter street. All
 the others were officials of the va. rious boards and school principals There were Principals Madigan of the Webster school; Curley of the Walsh, Platt of the Driggs, Mahler of the Bishop, and Cowan of the Lin coin. Commissioners Griffin, Minor, Spain represented the board of safe ty, Dr John D. Freney of the board of health. Commissioners Phelan and Mcdonald of the board of education. and Commissioners Finn and Nell of the board of works.
 Mayor Thoms stated that under section 2l of the city charter the board of aldermen is empowered to lay the tax rate with the approvai of the. mayor. The tax rate is larger than ever and under the changes made by the board of aldermen 1t would be still larger and he thought he was Justified in calling this meet ing to have the matter fully cOnsid- cred by the public and the various municipal boards.
 Superintendent of Streets Edward G. Kilduff stated that in his opinion the appropriation recommended by the board of works, $30,000 was bare- ly sufficient to carry on the work for streets. Still the board of aldermen cut that appropriation down to S25.- 600. There are 125 miles of road Tn the first taxation district. He said that many of the roads leading from the city cannot accommodate two teams abreast. Furthermore, ne thought those who have paid assess ment for opening and developing new streets are entitled to great deal of He named several in the suburbs that needed attention. The $lO,OU for new work was cut down sG,5O0 and he thought this very poor economy.
 Commissioner Finn endorsed the street inspectors sentiments and Nell added few 
 The mayor thought that SS2.O0O for new construction work in the depart ment of education was too mucl. Commissioner Mcdonald replied that Dut for the parochial schools the city If Waterbury would be in a bad fix Tor public schools. The city is paid s7. .OOO a year for education for 3,oVO ,hildrcu who are educated In the pa .ochiaI schools. He favored the pol ~ of adding to the public schools cv- .ry year. He did not think the sit Iation fin the high school are very erious for the next year at all vents.
 All of the school principals present were questioned regarding the sit- inys n their schools and the number fl puDIIs and 1t was shown that one bout eoualled the other. except in be Drigrs, and Lincoln school there were about twenty sittings unoccu- Jed. .. .
 The mayor thought that If the cbool lines were changed in some ,s,ricts the situation would be im- roved. Commissioner Phelan said be cost to build a schoolroom nowa- avs is about s3.ooo. In the Driggs rhooI there are five rooms to finish. Ie said 1t was a shame for the city , be so handicapped in school room s it is. He expects to see high rhool annex like that old shack round the corner. referring to the lty hall annex. He said teachers fter one years experience, here can n to New York and start in at ss0o
 year. while in Waterbury they ave to begin at s3so or s4oo ear. All the vacant rooms In the ,hools will be more than filled next gar he said. We have the best ,achrrs in the state" he went on. and the best discipline. and the req ,n our teachers do not care to ave town is because their homes re here. In New York teachers re paid the tewlve months of the ear.
 At this point Mayor Thoms asked
 there were citireus present who Ished to be heard and up got harIes Stage. who said the high .hooI was all right and the schools rs all right and so far as he could Is~eru the board of education does othinr but build and build and uird and fz forever building and it as all wrong. entirely wrong and len Nr Stage sat down
 Nr Kfldus had smother say then e said that bv shifting the school nes . good deal Of expense could be rpt down ia the srhooisL He knew | ore occasion when there were 'ur or Eve roo1-s vacant ia the B. ,op street school saf yet the pupils the D~irxx school were crowded. e ssid there vas a feeling smong |, scpie against sen<ise their children the Biekcp street an1 Lincoln \, hoo3a- rf . man In park p1nce hsd \ ly fnounnee win the hmrd sf e1n- ll 'ffoa hs sssIk hase the s<1ssl nno \ |nngpo . tnne h11 e7-1 e.u11 c oD