The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-16
"SNAP" CALL FOR HARBOR COMMITTEE Haste Made to Get to a Vote on Harbor Line Propo-
 sitiOn Mayors Support Is
 Melting Away in Heat
 of Public Opinion
Caucus Fiasco Frightens Supporters of Railroad Line = Executive Using Every Means to Get Dem ocratic Votes-Has Hague But Tague is Jealous.

ocratic Votes-1as Hague
 But Tague is Jealous.
 It is thought that Mayor Lee will try to push his plan to discontinue the City harbor line through the Com mon Council, Monday night. The members of the harbor committee re- ceived a "hurry-up" call this morning for a meeting of the committee to be held tonight. The call was issued from the office of the city clerk on the importunate demand of Alderman John H. Tague upon whom the Mayor depends to secure enough votes of Democratic aldermen to complete the deal.
 The Democratic members of the har- bor committee expressed surprise, this morning, that so much haste should be deemed necessary. They were en- deavoring to conjecture the reasons that induced Chairman Tague to call a meeting on Friday for Saturday, giv- ing less than "A hours notice, when on Thursday evening he apparently had no idea of doing such a thing.
 There was a Democratic caucus Thursday evening. It was, attended by Aldermen Mahoney and Cassidy, both members of the harbor commit tee Nothing, however was said to them, about a session of the Harbor committee being planned for a few hours later.
 The best guess among the politicians is that Tague and Mayor Lee had a consultation. It is believed that both gentlemen, since the fascO that the Republican caucus turned out to be, have reached the conclusion that haste must be made, if the forces that the mayor has ranged upon the railroad side of the controversy are not to melt away.
 One of the aldermen said this morn ing: "A feature of the harbor- ques- tion that throws suspicion upon the motives of some of those connected with it, is the haste that is deemed necessary at every step.
 s'The matter is brought up in mes sage from the mayor at the very first meeting of the council, which usually is and always ought to be devoted to organization. A public hearing is held upon scant notice, only few days la ter. When the harbor committee is convened it is with unnecessary haste. Nowhere do we find upon the part of those who" want to discontinue the city line the deliberate action that ought to attend upon the consideration of so important question.
 ''This haste is carried to such de- gree that the proposition has not even been fairly submitted to the council. The mayors plan calls for a discon- tinuance of the city line before any new line is ready to take it's place. The whole question ought to be before the council. If we are to have a new line, let us know what line. If we are to abandon the city line, and are to endorse the government line, let us have that proposition before us.'
 The mayor is now at a point where he frankly depends upon the votes of Democratic. aldermen to enable him to execute his program. The party lash has been cracked. The party infiu- ence has been exhausted. As last desperate expedient caucus has been resorted too, at which it was expect ed to, bind the consciences of those Republican aldermen whom other measures could not cOerce into prom ise to vote against the interest of their constituents. Five aldermen were absent from this caucus. Three, at least, of these are aldsrmen who are known to believe that it will be disastrous to the interests of the city to yield to the railroad in the present disagreement That they would not attend a caucus was known in politi- cal circles for two or three days before it was held.
 What Democratic aldermen will be used as catspaws to pull Mayor Lees chestnuts out of the fire? What Dem ocratic alderman can be cajoled into laying down his political future, to follow Mayor Lee on ice so thin that the mayor, with his party bosses be- hind him, and the railroad influences bent to the same end, cannot get all the aldermen of his own party to shoulder the responsibility for the raw deal certain interests" are trying to force upon the citizens of Bridgeport.
 It is now considered very doubtful if the mayor can muster votes enough. At this time he has lost three Repub- lican aldermen, or more accurately, there are three Republican aldermen. who have steadfastly opposed the rail- road harbor line. who are pledged di- rectly to their constituents to main tain the city line. and who are open adherents of the policy of keeping the harbor for the future.
 To offset three Republicans the may or has gained one vote, Alderman Ia gue whose zeal for reasons best known to himself is great, but fortun- ately whose vote counts but one.
 The mayor is searching the woods for two more?
 Who will dance to the mayors mu-