Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-01-07

additional dam can be completed, ana in my judgment it is necessary to go ahead with this work at once.
 The compromise between the rail- way company and the city concerning Improvements around the new station having received the approval of the voters of the city at the last election, in which it was one of the principal issues, the work will proceed as rapid ly as possible. It has been delayed somewhat owing to the fact that it was difficult for the city to borrow money on reasonable terms and to the fur ther fact that good deal of prellm- mary surveys had to be made. It can not be fully completed for several years, but l am persuaded that when 1t is finally done the people of Wa terbury will have no reason to regret their decision in the matter.
 Sooner or later the question of new city hall and new police sta ton must be taken up. although l think perhaps 1t would be well to wait fov | short time Ionge~ until other matters are disr )sed of. Records of the city, however. are not now kept in safety. and cannot be until some provision is made for vault space. l think that q definite plan should be drawn for new city hall, and that the west wing of it, occupy Ing the space where the old Bronson library now stands. should be built first. This would contain the vault room for the city records. and the re- mainder of the city building could be erected at our leisure This plan is worth thinking over, although with so many other expenses in view. it may not be wise to take it Up at present
 Another question which must be settled before long is that of the diff ferent taxation districts of the city. The present system is not fair to any one, and is unsatisfactory to all It is certain that the outlying districts, If they expect large share of the money appropriated for streets, sew CTS and sidewalks to be spent within their boundaries, must be prepared to pay a somewhat larger share of the taxes. It seems to me that a commit tee should be appointed to consider this matter fairly, and present plan at the next session of the as-. sembly for some re-adjustment of the taxation districts of the city of Wa terbury, which, though of course it cannot be satisfactory to every one, will be approximately fair.
 For the first time since the city re- ceived its present charter, the legisla- tive and administrative departments are both of the political faith to which l believe a majority of the electors of Waterbury belong. The re- sponsibility of efficient government cannot be divided this time, but rests squarely upon our shoulders. It is necessary for us to be conservative. careful and economical, and allow no personal interests nor friendships to sway our judgment. It is quite like ly that the next two years will not be years of such universal prosperity as the last two, and the people will look to us to restrict our expenses as far as possible, and to keep the tax rate down. This can only be done by scrutinizing carefully the way which the city money Is spent. and making every dollar yield a fair re- turn. believe that there is no doubt but that perfect harmony will exist between the different departments of the city, and that we shall all work together for the common good.
 I wish to thank the electors of the city for their emphatic declaration of confidence in re-electing me tO the position I now occupy.
 It is my earnest desire and will be my constant endeavor to give to the city of Waterbury the best admins tration possible during the next two years, and to this end I ask and feel sure that I will have your co-opera- tion and assistance.
 Very respectfully.
 WILLIAM E. THOMS,
 Maunr