The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-12
MAYOR WIELDS HARD HAMMER
 AT BANQUET rraws DarkIing Picture of Water Works
 Managed by City. LABS A FER0CI0US
 LANCE INTO S3,0O0,0OO
 PLAN FOR SEWER SYSTEM Spears Board of Education Proposition for Bonds for High School - Wants Library Board to be Self Perpetuating -Grudgingly Says, ''City Has Been Honestly Run."

Honestly Run."
 l Speaking before the board of trade
 last night, Mayor Lee, paid his res
 poets to a number of questions. He 1 fercely denounced the idea tha Bridgeport is able to manage a water 1 to say that the city had always been honestly managed He expressed oppo- s*tion to the $3,0Oo, 900 sewer project, 1 and to the plan for high school bond ing. He said in part:
 "It has been brought to my notice l within the last few days that the Lii brary board has plan whereby it's members could be perpetuated in of fee. I agree with this idea, and think 1 that the same ought to be done as with the Park board.
 'I defy contradiction that we do not
 have low tax rate. In this city we are all taxed alike, in Hartford and Norwich and probably Danbury the old school tax still exists. This means that in broadly one year there is no tax, but the next few years it will be $20 on the $1, 900. Here everything is by direct taxation.
 About 1-16 of our taxation goes to
 cover our debt, which is lower than
 any other city in New England, with
 the exception Of Springfield. I am still
 opposed to the purchase of the water
 works. At the present time there are a
 number of gangs Of men employed by
 the Water Co.,, both day and night. If
 the city owned the company this num-
 Der of gangs would be doubled, would
 not be working but drawing pay.
 'Again, no efforts would be taken
 to collect bills, and they would be al-
 lowed to accumulate and then applica-
 tion would be made to the board of aldermen for their abatement, the de- linquents saying they were too poor to pay.
 Tn regard to a new sewer system, MT. Rudolph Herring, who examined cur sewer system as it is at present, and was paid over s6,000 for his job, says it will cost oyer $3,00G.O00 to com p1ete the new system, s1,75oOoo of which would be needed to start.
 "Mr Herring says that about 90 per cent. of our sewers could be used.
 "T do not agree with the Board of in having bonds issued for a new high school. I do dot wish to censure the board, but it is a well known fact that they are calling for an issuance of bonds to the amount of $250,000, when they have not even a plan drawn for the new school and not even a site selected. I have always been opposed and always will be to the bonding of the city for things such as sewers and schools, which should be taken care of by direct taxation. Our sewer system is as good as any; our schools are as good as any. Our have never been ham pered by taxation, nor have they ever been oxertaxed.
 3The board of assessors, when they | know what they talk about, as 1t is a very easy matter to value a lot and the resident thereon, but when it comes to valuing a manufacturing plant they | have to depend on a guess.
 "F'Or my part I do not want to see l .he manufacturers overtaxed. Fur l ther I can see no reason why the Ring | ing Brothers show should not be tax | ed. They were not made in Bridge | port, but perhaps they find it better | to locate here. A we'll known busi- 1 ness man approached me @ few days | ago and said that the show people l ought"not to be taxed, as they always cave great deal of money in this ,ity. When new manufacturer comes % this city fair proposition is put to lim. He is not asked to pay for streets and roads, sewers and fire pro- ection which has gone, all he is re- luested to do is to start in the day hat they begin operations to pay tax $ from he day he starts.
 "It is well known that most of our manufacturers are non-residents. Through their being non-residents we ose the taxes on their beautiful homes. which if we had them would ,e a great asset for our debt. Most all # the officials of the U. M. c. Co.,, Wheeler & Wilson Co.,, Crane Co.,, and he Bridgeport Brass Co.,, live out of own, and that is why we can not have wealthy men on our different boards in UT city.
 "In my opinion Bridgeport has al- ways been honestly governed, though t times poor judgment has been used. 'here have been no defalcations. and d a low debt. The only way we can ffer manufacturers Inducements is to ave a low tax rate, a gCOd school sys- ern, good water supply and decent ewer system. In regard to our sew rs, or any other cities sewers, know f no epidemic, that ever came from ewers. What is needed in this city is
 few new storm sewers. The new ystem proposed will require a large umber of men to operate it; will, if it damaged by storm in it's mile and ne half distance out into the sound, euuire a great amount of money for epairs, as the depth of the water is bout 30 feet, and it will require a engine at work at all times ) run it. Within the last few days has come to the notice of all that ne trouble in New York is not from l he sewer system, but from garbage nrown into the water.
 s"The real trouble here comes from ne flats where the sewerage collects nd sends off that foul smell which is ) prevalent at low tide. I believe l lat if we keep on as we are we will rogress in the future, as we have in le past.
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