The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-02
PORTER POINTS OUT EVILS OF
 TAX INJUSTICE
How Pubic Service Corporations Abuse the Great Powers Entrusted to
 Them.
INTERESTS MUST OBEY LAW

MT. Porter, in discussing the funda- mental issue of the campaign, the question as to the equalization of tax ation. before the assembly of Hebrew citizens at Lincoln hall, said in part:
 When the Democratic party declares for equalization of taxation 1t declares for simple justice. There is no gain saying the fact that the cost of run ming this city as 1t ought. and must. be run Is not apportioned as 1t should be. The difficulty is very simple Throughout the long years large and influential interests in this common wealth. as in most American common wealths. have persistently avoided property. do not say that they have done this necessarily through any self conscious criminal intent. but criminal 1t Is nevertheless. This is forever class shirks. the other must bear in addition to its own normal load. This additional burden as the years pass and herewith the population increases community, in time become intolerable. It was the last straw that broke the ceuePs back The present discontent among the working classes of the camel's back is already loaded up nigh to the breaking point It Is up to the capitalistic, and at present dominant. element in our population to heed the
 signs of the times and submit to a gradual but proper increase in their contribution to the general expense of running the civic household. The
 same Is true of the State and nation.
 In this way only may the rising dis content and incessant agitation of those who burn with the injustice of
 present conditions be progressively met and violence avoided The large and powerful interests might as well awaken to this fact sooner than later, that they one and all know in their heart of hearts to be fact.
 | Surely, while some luxuriate in wealth and others have to struggle bitterly to meet even the bare neces- stiles of existence. surely when inter ests, strong intrenched in privilege, are continually able to dictate the laws, the interpretation of those laws. and minister the same, certainly when these same interests find 1t to their immediate, selfish interest to muzzle even the public organ of speech and corruption. bribery, islander, to gain their own immediate ends. certainly when city or a state Is unable be- cause 1t lacks the wherewith to car " on the administration of govern ment as 1t should be, to provide for the proper education of the children. the maintenance of the public works. and the carrying forward of manifest ly necessary public improvements. cer- tainly when public service corporations are able ct will almost to secure what rights they desire within the jurisdic- ton of a community without regard to the rights of the great bulk of the people of that community, certainly when all these things are so as they certainly are so in this our city, Bridgeport, there must be something very rotten in the state of Denmark"
 So when the Democratic party de- clares for equalization of the tax bur den and a progressive administration, they mean simply this. that they mean to enforce the statutes without re- spect to persons. and if corporation to pay, and conniyes by hook and crook to evade. a manifestly just ap- portionment of taxes, 1t must be brought to terms. It also means that no great financial interest will be all lowed to put its interest ahead of that vastly greater interest, the highest welfare of the populace as whole. You all know that the rankest sort of violations of these common principles of common welfare have been tram spirlng in our midst in times past and in times recent. But these must cease, and my friends. the fact that these offending. interests are one and all op- posed to the Democratic nominee and are leaving no stone unturned to thwart his success. is the best pos sible proof that they regard him as pre- ?eminently fit to administer, the office as 1t should be adminstrated, for the good of all of the people, regard less of race or creed. wealth, or so- cial position, and that when he says he intends to enforce the laws he means to do exactly what he says. They therefore fear him like they do the judgment day.
 One instance of the injustice of the opportionment will suffice to elucidate the point. Compare the gas companies of this city and Springfield Spring field is not more than three-fourths the size and wealth of Bridgeport, yet its gas company is assessed on a val uation of over thrice as, much. The round numbers are $60O.O00 for Bridge ports company and S2,O00000 for Springfield's- To find a city that com pares with Bridgeport, you have to go down the list to one of 10000 popula- ton. You may draw your own con- clusions.
 This certainly is gospel truth. that if the strong financial interests of this or any city. comprising as they do the bulk of the wealth of the community, do not contribute more than half as much as they ought to, judging by comparison with other American cities portionately, then the city can not be run as 1t should and must continue to be backward. shabby and unkempt It is beyond the question to pile up the burden on the small taxpayers further. those who pay rent and those who own their own little homes, the small and medium-sized taxpayer of every kind. who at present pay on full valuation of their property. They are already bearing far too much of the cost. The only solution to com pei the large and intrenched inter rrHn afr fa Drfr