Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-12-09
HENDERSON TALKS
For Organizing of Brook
 lyn.TOWn Plot Association.
Waterbury, Dec 9, 1907.

WdleTDuTy, DeC O, iOVss Editor of the Evening Democrat, Dear Sir:-With your kind permis- sion l would like to say word re-
 garding the Brooklyn and Town Plot
 improvement committee. The or
 ganization that is known by that
 name was appointed by mass meet
 ing of citizens January 26, 1906, to do
 certain specified things, the first of
 which was to settle a question with
 the c. R. & L. Co as to when the troll
 ley service would be extended to
 Town Plot. Everything in it's turn
 was taken up, and in the course of
 few months the committees appointed
 work was finished, but some of it's
 members desired that 1t might be kept
 alive till some tangible results of it's labors should be seen, therefore it has
 been kept alive till this time, and it's attention has been given to everything
 in which the welfare of this part of the city is involved.
 . From the very beginning mention was often made of the difference in the rate of taxation in the two taxa tion districts of the city, but not un- til within the past few weeks did the question ever come up for discussion. It is now question that must be dealt with before the committee can go on any further with its work, but the representatives of the Town Plot district are opposed to it's being taken up at all for consideration. At first the committee consisted of eleven members, but it added to it's number from time to time until now it has 24 members. So much has the personnel changed that at the meeting that was held last week there was only one present, besides the chairman, who was of the original number. All who were present at the meeting were strongly in favor of the committee giving way to a new organization. Steps toward that end will be taken at the next meeting.
 If I may encroach on your valuable space little further, I would like to say word regarding the two rates of taxation. When the city was or ganized, the people on the outskirts were relieved of paying any taxes for the use of that portion of the town that the city occupied. And the city has prospered so that it has become co-eXtensive with the town; yet those on the outskirts pay no more than they did before. All the inhabitants pay the 3 6-10 mill town tax, but no part of it is used for making or main- taining the streets of the city. or the high school or the water, sewer, po- lice or fire department. although five- sixths of it is paid by the people of, the inside district. How much less than their proper share of the burden of taxation the outsiders are bearing may be seen by comparison with the rate of taxation in the adjoining towns to which they would be an- nexed if cut off from the town of Yet ever since the act of consolidation went into effect, six years ago. they have been demanding a full share of all the advantages of the city free of cost. The benefits that they would derive from coming into the full taxation district would be beyond comparison with what they would have to pay for them. and it Is fair to assume that they will set themselves right as soon as they see the untenableness of their position The feeling that is implanted fin every human breast which intimates to us loss of self-respect when we let others do for us what we ought to do ,or ourselves will set everything right Il due time.
 Yours truly,
 JOHN HENDERSON, IT.