The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-07
City Hall Unable to Hold the Thousands Who Come to Witness Triumph of Idea that City is for
 the People Administrations First Work Is Frustration of Attempt to Smother Investigation of Electric Lighting
 Monopoly Buckingham, Boucher, Gill and Aldermen Hidden by Flowers and Overwhelmed With Gifts and Speeches of Congratulatior

A new. era of municipal government was inaugurated in Bridgeport last night with the entrance into executive and legislative control of Mayor Buck ingham and the new Common Council The era of government by corporation lawyers, by and for public service cor poration and large property interests, breathed its last. The era of the city for the people was ushered in The message of Mayor Buckingham was such a document as has not before in this city issued from the executive of flee Mayor Buckingham renewed the pledges made by his party to the peo- pie. and announced that steps already have been taken. or soon will be. to execute the program laid down as fm-
 Never in the history of Bridgeport has there been before such an outpour- | ing to greet an incoming administra- tion-A Never have the people been so inspired with confidence that the city government is to be their government and conducted for their benefit
 ! The progressive nature of Mayor Buckingham's first official communi- cation to the Common Council was im- edfateiy recognized The zapplanse. | which almosF interrupted the reading of the message. and which followed its close. was not the perfunctory applause | of political adherents- It was the con- trfbution of those whose earnest belief was that the things of which the May | or spoke are such as have long been needed and are now to be done | No part of the message received more appreciation than that relating to l tax equalization Every thoughtful | citizen has long realized that ths city
 trust remain dirty and impoverished unless the cost of running 1t can be | fairly met by charges upon all prop | E.o long known that taxation upon homes cannot be pushed to further extremes and that the income derived from l homes alone. with the three-eigbths derived from other forms of property, | will not meet the necessities of a. com munIty that Is expanding more rapid ly than any other in New England. | Indeed the Mayors message recog- nized equally two phases sof this prob- l lem. As a matter of sound finance he said. tax equalization must be had As a matter of obedience to law and compliance with the fundamental prin-
 ciples of American government he de ciared tax equalization is imperatively The Mayors handling of the trolley problem was equally hrm- His in-
 dfctment of the dirty cars and insuffi-
 cient service which are given to the
 citizens Of Bridgeport by the trolley monopoly was as sweeping as the con- ditions demand His recommendation
 was followed by immediate action.
 Relief for business men was also promised in the determination to pur- sue the investigation of the electric light company for the purpose of es- tabiishing it's proper taxation. and the amount 1t is entitled to charge for its
 current There IS every reason to be- llieve that substantial benefits. both tc private consumers and the municipal ity will follow from this course.
 Not so bright a picture of the future was contained in the reference to the harbor grab cnd car barn surrender The Mayors belief that the contract
 with the New Haven road. in whicf
 these abasements were accomplished
 Is binding. except possibly as 1t re- lates to the Stratford avenue crossing
 ditions are that give the city possible
 avenue of escape at this latter poin
 are not disclosed.
 The first practical illustration that
 the administration means business wa:
 given when the attempt to smother tho electric light investigation showed its head. All through the day the friend:
 of the electric interests had been work
 ing to find support for the report oi the committee appointed by Mayor Lee. This report was virtually a whitewash. It afforded no reliei
 whatever to private consumers. Jeff
 the citizens entirely in the dark a.
 to the actual cost of producing cleo
 tricity. and asked for the consumma' lion of the very bargain which the voters had declared, after a long dis cussion of the issue, should not b.
 made
 The answer of the administration was. polite. but complete The repor was referred to the miscellaneoui committee. where it will perish of it own weakness. Alderman O'Neil in troduced a resolution discharging thu . investigation committee with thanks The resolution was carried, and tn, way is paved for the appointment O
 an Investigating committee that wil
 investigate. Arrangements for rais ing the new committee will soon b. , made.
 The matter of the fremen's increas
 which was expected to take up mucl
 time, was put over for two weeks
 upon the motion of Alderman Goul,
 who has been an ardent supporter O , better wages for the members of thi department. Other business of tn
 Common Council. and the complet text of the Mayors message will b ; found upon page s.
 7 No inauguration could have been at , tended with more ceremony. more we : wishing or a greater display of re , joicing and good fellowship than al } tended the inauguration of the Boar l of Aldermen of 1909-1910 at the counc
 room in the City Hall last evenini