The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-12-07

preSSion or n1S purpose 10 DrlnS aDoul the reforms promised to the people in the Democratic platform. and in his speech accepting the nomination for Mayor.
 Perhaps the most unusual feature of the message is the Mayors insistance upon the fact that it is the duty of parties to bring measures to the att fention of the people. and the duty of the elected officers to execute those measures to which the electors have 9fven their approval
 In referring to tax equalization the Mayor says. This promise. as every other promise made to the people must he scrupulousiy kept
 h his reference to the harbor grab he an1pIifes -5 view. using the lam guage: 'l'sG- system of govern n,ent psrt.e. seorn:t issues for the ap- ploval of the ~ar:e- Such are mere ivy expressiorl oe party opinion. and are only bi-1 1.ng upon the officers of the city afssr they have been approv- ed by popular vote"
 The largest portion of the, message. which is brief. is devoted to tax equal .ization. to which the voters gave their most emphatic approval in the major Ifty of s.o43 which the Mayor received In substance the Mayor says that the law requiring equitable taxation of prov erty must be enforced against all cftizens and all property equitably. with the purpose of removing some of the tax burden which now unjustly rests upon homes.
 His references to the harbor grab and car barn surrender are colored with evident, fear that in the face of the contract made with the railroad company the city has no remedy. But peculiar conditions relating to the crossing at 6tratford avenue apparent 1. ly cause him to hope that relief can be obtained from the tracks proposed to be laid across the sidewalks there.
 The Mayors grasp of the relations between public service corporations and the city Is more comprehensive than that Of any executive who has preceded him in office The message Emphasizes the fact that the relation of a public service to the community is vastly different from that Of a pri- vate enterprise. and lays stress upon the duty of monqpolies to furnish their commodities at such a price as will yield no more than a fair return upon their investment
 The message follows:
 ' TO the Honorable Common Council of I the City of Bridgeport.
 Gentlemen:
 This evening We enter upon the per formance of our fabors as members < of the Common Council, to which. 4 body is entrusted the legislative func- ! lions of the municipal government \ and the privilege of directly repre- 4 senting the people.
 ;S During our terms of office new tasks and responsibilities are likely to be imposed upon us. the accomplish isment of which will require our ear before us in the performance of our work but one aim. that we shall Faithfully and impartially execute the fduties or our offices according to our best skin and. judgr1ent'' in such a way as to promote the best interests of the city
 The Charter imposes upon the may or the duty of recommending from time to time such measures connected with the security. health. cleanliness and ornament of the city or with the Improvement of its government and finances. as he =hSH deem expedient-
 Businss Principles.
 I feel 1t my duty at this time to call your attention to the existence of cer- tain conditions and to recommend for your consideration measures which believe to be conducive to the welfare of the city. These recommendations are quite aside from the general statement of the situation. state and condition of the City which the mayor is required to communicate to the Common Council on the first Monday of June in each year.
 It should be our purpose to apply business principles to the affairs of the municipality. to furnish a thor ough and business like management in danartmRnf and nCnnrfa11x- | to establish our finances on a sound basis The administration should be progressive and economical The practice of economy in municipal af- fairs is often misconstrued to mean that needed public improvements are to be overlooked or postponed. but this Is not true economy I believe in the economical conduct of the busi- as will not delay progress nor post | spone necessary Improvements
 The City should receive the great !, est possible return for the amount of money expended without any diminu- ton of the quality of the services rem | dered or of the supplies furnished
 Equalization of Taxes
 An important problem confronting | municipality relates to the equali- | zation of taxes Since our city was | incorporated great enterprises have | grown up which have contributed in | a large degree to our prosperity and | to our standing as one Of the fore | most cities of the country.
 The values of some forms of prop | erty have increased with great rapi- | dity- Because3 of this increase, some | such properties are not valued ac- cordfng to the meaning of the law, while other forms of property, more | especially dwellings, have been listed | at substantially full value. This is. of | course, unjust as well as unlawful The law knows but one rule: that all property shall be assessed at its true market value The law is not aimed at any particular class of citizens, nor at any special kind of property It1 applies to all cititens and to all prop erty not exempt from taxation, which cipa1 purposes This law must not. and, we believe, will not be invoked