The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-06
Sends Special Message to Assembly Showing In- adequate Tax Upon
 Leased Oyster
 Grounds.
Compares Revenues of This State and Rhode Island From that SOurce-Urges Appointment of Commis- sion to Study Conditions and Devise Remedy.
Especial from United Press. )

I
 Hartford, Jan. 6-WOodruff today
 sent definite and specific special
 message to the General Assembly as
 his last act as Chief Executive of Con-
 necticut, in which he strongly recom-
 mended that the Assembly consider
 Rhode Islands example in netting a
 large income from the natural oyster
 beds. It was as follows:
 To the Honorable General Assembly:
 It is not my purpose to trespass on
 the province of my successor in the executive office nor do I wish even to seem to anticipate the matter that he
 may lay before you in his inaugural
 message. One matter has come to my attention within a very few days,
 however, upon which I feel it to be my duty to call your attention direct ly and specifically. I believe this honorable General Assembly, anxious to conserve the interests of the state, will heed a call to prevent loss of a large sum of money rfghtfully due to the state. Our sister state, Rhode 15.000 acres of oyster grounds, derives an income estimated for the year 1908 at about $101,105 in rental.
 Connecticut with about 65,000 acres, four and half times as large, de- rived during the last fiscal year the totally disproportionate sum of only s9 3226 61 from taxes and franchise pay mentS.
 In other words, Connecticut's taxes from an acreage four hundred and fifty per cent. as great derives less than 10 per cent. of Rhode Islands in come. Why? And is it fair to the people of the state? Is it just to tax payers, who own small parcels of real ty; is it fair to those who are in oth- ny of p6Irc frxy inf ond on what appears to me to be trust worthy assurances, that outside the towns of Clinton, Guilford and Mad ison are large tracts of oyster grounds listed for taxation at only $1 per acre, the result of which is that the tracts are kept out of cultivation by others and the expense of the tax is merely Rhode Island derives an an- nual rental of from s5 to $1O per acre for her oyster grounds. If it be worth that sum of money to hold leased lands, leased for only a term of 10 years, is it not a proper suggestion that very small sum indeed is paid by those who are given a perpetual franchise on one payment of $1 per acre and an annual tax of only 1 and 1-2 per cent? The shell fish record will demonstrate if it is true for in stance, that large acreas of oyster grounds in Connecticut waters pay an average tax of less than IA cents per acre. It is said that no land is leas- ed in Rhode Island for less than $5 per acre rental annually and much of it for $10 per acre, rental annually.
 It seems to me furthermore that an into the record is made necessary by the assertion made that some oyster beds in Connecticut wa -ers have been mortgaged for many times the assessed valuation as listed for taxation.
 Grant for sake of argument that some grounds may be better than oth- ers and grant also for sake of argu- 1 nent that there is benefit acruing to he state by aiding an industry, I neT- submit that:
 First-the State of Connecticut ap- l has neglected to it's own loss l Ter oyster grounds. |
 SecOndly-That to impose a just tax l would be no hardship on the consum- 1 1T of oysters in Connecticut for the l oulk of the product goes to other | markets. |
 In order that this subject may be | thoroughly considered by your honor l eble body, I suggest that the General | Assembly authorize the governor to l lppoint a special commission to inves-. igate, and to report to this General l Assembly what action if any, the state l ,ught to take in regard to this matter, | liter a study of the proposition in all | ts bearings. I would suggest that | he tax commissioner, an attorney at | aw, and a, third person might prop ,lry compose such a special commits ion.
 Thanking this honorable body for it's Lttention to this message and wishing his good old state full share of Gods blessings.