The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-16
oOmcial-) COMMON cOUrllL MEETING
CContinued.l
COMMUNICATIONS

CUM MMON1CA1lONS-
 The following veto was received rom His Honor Ex-Mayor Henry 10 the Honorable Common Council of
 the CIryr Of BrIugeporr, Gentlemen:
 l have disapproN GU, and do hereby d1sapproSe the action or the Common - Council, at its meeting Of November ! 1. 1908, in passing an ordinance ln- rreasing the salarles of the officers and members of the fire department
 This increase means an addition to the fixed expenses of the city of about $23. 900 per year.
 This action was taken and this raise of salaries was made on the evening preceding an important municipal election, at a time when political con- alterations and party advantage are apt to be uppermost in the minds ol many and are likely to influences; the minds and the acts of men who are called on to act on such a matter at such a time If action had to be taken there was no necessity for post poning action on this ordinance until this late date. as the subject had been presented. to and was pending in the hands of the ordinance committe for weeks before, since September 2, 1903, and there was ample time for due de- liberation and a report before Novem- Der 1, 1909, and if such report had been made to the common council, as it ought to have been, at an earlier
  likely to receive that due deliberation -beitting a matter of such importance to our taxpayers
 I believe that the salaries now paid to the softicers and members of the fire department are sufficient to se- |. cure the services of capable. expert- 2 enced men. and am informed by the fire commissioners that there is no anxious to serve the city as memberf of the fire department at the present salaries I also believe that the sala- ries now paid in our city will compars favorably with the salaries paid in other cities of our class for similar services
 l. also believe that public sentiment of those who pay the city's taxes and to this increase. as evidenced by the fact that representatives of the board of trade. the Manufacturers associa- ton, the Business Menis association and of our taxpayers in general have already expressed to me their disap- proval of this salary increase, and of the manner in which it was sought to be accomplished, and at a time when money is so much needed for many necessary purposes in our city
 Bridgeport. for the present at least. cannot afford to pay this increase Of salaries in the fire department and ought not to do so-
 Z I also consider it improper that this srJroposed increase of salaries was not first presented by the fire force to their superior officers. the fire com senting the matter to the common council for action thereon
 This ignoring of the commissioners is in my judgment subversive of dis -cipline in the department and also tends to impair it's efficiency.
 Such action on the part of the force ought to be discouraged instead. of being encouraged and approved. as it has been by the favorable action of the common council We cannot af- ford to have the efficiency of the fire force thus impaired Besides the com missioners are. in my Judgment, the best judges of the proper salaries to be paid to the force of which they have charge. It is not good policy to encourage insubordination anywhere. but more especially in such an inn portant arm of the city as is the fire department If no heed is to be paid to- the opinions of those whose expe- . Tience best qualities them to speak on this subject. then it may be a ques- ton whether the time has not ar rived to remove the matter altogether from the region of domain of local political strife and have the salaries of the fire denartrnent forre regulated by charter. as are the salaries of near ly all of the principal officers of the city. such as mayor, city clerk town clerk, collector. etc.
 This course at least would prevent the unseemlv practice of having peti- tions for salary increases acted upon on the evening preceding important municipal elections. when fair deIib- crate judgment can scarcely be ex- pected-
 For the foregoing reasnns con- ssder that T am performing an irn- pcrtant public duty in a9ain asking you to review the previous action of the common council. in raising the salaries of fhe officers and members of the fire department
 Respectfully submitted this 6th day of November. 1aaa-
 FFNpy LEE.
 Mayor of Brid~eDort. Conn
 Upon motion by Alderman Gould the communication was laid on the