The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-11-24

the city's fundB. There are very few | in the city. said he. who are satisfied
 with the way things have been going
 find fin fault with condit4ons that they
 take no steps to remedy. The league
 will provide a means of securing the
 attention of the Aldermen.
 Frank Miller said many municipali- ties are suffering through extrava- fgance- If the taxpayers league re-
 suits in Brddgeport,s getting the most
 possible for it's money it will be a grand thing. The league should strive
 money as well as any other city in the United States.
 A W. Burvitt called attention to the
 deplorable lack of interest in public
 affairs. as exemplified by the sparse
 attendance at public hearings on such
 matters as the proposed increase of
 the firemen's pay He accounted for
 this by public confidence in men elect | ed to office He called attention to
 the depiorable condition of the streets
 and sewers. and pointed out that the
 league did not seek to get lower taxes to the detriment of the city. but want
 ed to effect a betterment of the city through the expenditure of public
 funds. He too discussed the proposed increase of firemen's wages
 Parrott asked for information as to
 the relative pay of firemen in various cities.
 
 the new scale of firemen's salaries was found to be above the average in all cities of from s0.000 to 10000.
 John J. Phelan dwelling on the fire
 mems salaries said he did not feel
 qualified to pass on the merits of the
 salary question. but he criticised the
 firemen for going over the heads Of the Fire Commissioners to secure the
 increase He argued for co-operstion
 with the authorities in the compilation
 of information. that the taxpayers' league might be a sort of advisory
 board to the Aldermen He said. he had joined the movement in the Deifef
 that 1t was to be entirely non-partisan. for the very moment the suspicion of partisanship creeps into the organiza-
 ton. that moment the organization should end. l. W. Birdseye. speaking briefly, dis
 cussed the proposition of government | by commission. compared the manage ment of the city as c corporation with that of private corporations. ana said Tiff the same vigilance were exercised over public affairs by the men who lcontr1bute through taxes to the main tenarce of the city. as is used in the direction of their private enterprises,
 the league cannot help but be q oene- | fit to the city.
 Lets have for our watchword." ]" said
 w. A. Grippen. ''Not Antagontsm. but | Co-operafion-" He dwelt on the con-
 dition of the streets, and said Bridge- porters might well be ashamed to in vfte their friends to their city. If we | 20 into this movement with the same l energy that we do in our own business. l I believe forcefu results will be ac- comp plished- tt lt
 Aiderrnan. BulIard told the league with their unfamifiar surroundings. are prone to follow a leader. If the | leadership is good. the city Is not the loser. but if on the contrary the lea ' Al ~f~~.f e. r.<nA q <~ffx <~rFT The Alderman feels the need of direc- I ton. and the league can supply it. I Further, he pointed out that the leagde would no doubt result. if 1t acts as an
 ciass of men in the Board of Alder men. W Georre M. Earnes moved that the 1 league 20 on record as whining the AL dermen to sustain the veto of the May 1 or on the fircmen's salary increase. and that the matter be re-discussed by the present Common Council | Former Alderman Bulkley presented
 the same idea in q more complete res olutfon. and Mir. Eames withdrew his motion Save for a solitary NO" the
 motion would have been carried unani- mously. rs Edward 8. Wnlett moved for the ap- pointment of a committee to name two men from each district. but MT. Eames objected and asked that the committee be selected from the floor of the next meeting. The meeting adjourned sub l ject to the call of the chair.
 | lists distributed last evening brought back z36 signatures. There are al- ready SO people identified with the league. Some Of the 256 had already been included in the 80. however. The committee that brought in the nominations comprised: Jerome or cutf. M E. Brewsfer-Greene. Hobart E. French. D. Fairchild Wheeler. Frank
 T Staples. A W BurTitt. George h
 ster, Henry Setzer. F. l.. Holxer. A. L
 Riker. George c. Edwarcs. Angus H.
 Mackenzie. George M Eames, (. D.
 Davis. Thomas H. Macdonald. s. F. Graves. w. F. Hobbs. Robert E. Hur-
 ley. Frank Miller. Isaac W. Birdseye.
 Frank A. WHlmot, C. c. Godfrey. M. | w. Manwzring. Arthur M Marsh. w. A. Grippen and Samuel H. Wheeler
 evening:
 Article one-Name-
 The name of this association shall
 be the Taxpayers League of Bridge port
 Article Two-Purposes. The purposes of this league shall be: First-To induce taxpayers to take
 municipal affairs.
 Second-To obtain and publish facts relative mto the efficiency with which
 the revenues of the city of Bridgeport are expended as compared with other cities of similar size and condition. and to encourage the expenditure of funds for needed public Improvements Third-To encourage the faithful performance of public duties
 Fourfh-To secure the enactment and enforcement of laws where need ed. for the economical. Intelligent and progressive management of the affairs of the city of Bridgeport
 Article Three-Members- Any taxpayer of the City of Bridge port may become a member on sub scribing to the purposes of the league as stated in article two. Article Four-Odicers. The officers of the league shah be a President. Four vfce-Presldents. and a Treasurer. all of whom shall be mem bers of the executive board. also a Secretary who shall be appointed by the executive board. Officers shall
 serve for one year. or until their suc- cessors are elected