The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-29
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 notice. The benefits. of this reduction should I believe. be taken advantage of ,as it amounts practically to a saw ing of $3,500 year.. If, in the judg ment of the committee and the com mon council, this inyestigation shouli it's continuance. This committee was appointed with the understanding tn at it's work was not to be hampered by political considerations.
 Its work and results should stand or fall on their own merits.
 Question Il. How do you account for the fact that the Electric Light Co.,, which supplies only 87,000 people of Springfield with electric light is taxed upon valuation of $1 400 000. while the 100. GOO people in Bridgeport is only taxed upon a little more than $300.0J0 on the list of 1908?
 Mayor Lees answer: I cannot an- swer this question off-hand as I have no knowledge of the property of the Electric Light Company of Springfield. or whether that tax includes the valua- tion of the franchise. The United illuminating Co, is not Bridgeport corporation and is taxed only on the value upon such portions of it's assets as are located in this city.
 Question 12. Is all the tax equaliza- tion you have accomplished like this equalization?
 MayOri Lees answer. when MayOr Mulvfhil1 came into office in 1901 the mills and manufactures of Bridgeport were assessed upon valuation Of s6,- 305, ,199 for their real estate. When he went out of office in 1905 the real estate was assessed at $6.160.4S2. In the 1lst of 1908 the mills and manufactures were assessed upon a valuation of ST. 468, ,348.
 The mechanical operations of these same manufactures. when Mayor Null vihill came into office in 1901, were as- sessed at s, 726, ,750. When he went out of office in 1905. they were assessed at 8, 735, 1855.
 Upon the list of 1908 these meehan- ical operations are assessed at l$6, ,236,- 631. I think that these figures an- sweri the question fully
 Question 13s Or do you claim that. the property of the electric light mo-. nopoly is only worth sSOo,ooo in Bridge port?
 Mayor: Lees answer: I could not answer this question off-hand without property which is located in Bridge port.
 Question H. Why was the contract for the Congress street bridge not given to the lowest bidder?
 ,oS Maysr fna Lees Lee san answer; a. The The eontrass made by a committee of citizens ap- pointed by my predecessor in office. Their authority was conferred by the General Assembly. and the Mayor of the city had no authority in the awarding of the contract.
 Question 15. Why was the contract with the high bidder drawn so that the clause requiring the bridge to be conn pleted on Nov. 3, cannot be enforced
 Mayor Lees answeri This question is the legal adviser of the city and who, am informed, passed upon this contract in his official capacity. I be- lfeye that he is also Democrat in good and regular standing. 6 Z Question IS Why has the paving street and Fairfield avenue been put over for another year?
 Mayor Lees answer: It has been put over because it. would be iMpossa- ble to complete the paving before the setting in of the frost
 Question IT. Is it to give the New Haven Railroad a chance to make an other fight for ten foot centers?
 Mayor Leeis answer: It is not This question has been definitely settled and the railroad have publicly signif1ed their intention. of abiding by the de- out further contest or. appeal
 Question IS. Why did you permit the electric light monopoly to tear up Main street without a permit from the Common Council? s 3S.1a
 Mayor Lees answer: I did not per init them to do so. The street was torn up without my knowledge or au- thority.
 Question 19. Why did you give per- mission to the Connecticut Company to lay their tracks on ten foot centers on Main street at Golden Hill when you had no lawful right to give the permission and the Council had denied it? <
 Mayor Lees answer: This was done in order to faciytate the compile ton of the work on Main street The Connecticut Co. was authorized by. the Common Council to lay ten foot cen, ters on Golden Hill street. Its tracks on Main street were on nine foot six inch centers. To connect these diff fering centers would require the con struction of special work at the cor her, requiring six months, or the lay ing of ten foot centers on Main street for a short distance to make up this d1nerence in centers. This amounts in all to only 102 feet I believe that the welfare of the travelling public and the practical necessity of settling the street amply justify this action.