The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-27
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 1909.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27, 19Os CITY AUDITOR
 KEATTNG'S ANNUAL
 One of the most important events Tn the municipal year is the annual re- port, or rather recommendations. of City Auditor Keating. His lengthy ex- perienee in city affairs, his natural ability and his judicial temperament combine to give his recommendations an exceptional force. His recommen- dations, published, on Monday, come easily under this rule, and are entitled to careful consideration by the board of Apportionment.
 He calls attention. as in previous re- ports. to the fact that municipal ex- pen<itures are steadily increasing and are now beyond the increase in reve- naie coming from the increase in the who finds such a condition in his af- fairs takes prompt steps either to in- creaSe his income or to lessen the out TO. 4 similar condition now confronts tho FedsraI and State governments, and attention is being given to the aaxae alternatives, which would come befcre the business man in similar cir cumstances,s Neither Federal, State nor municipal governments can pro- ceed safely with a constant annual de- dcit, for 1t means an eventual resort to increase of bonded debt which in turn means an increased annual interest payment and. sooner or later, an in crease in the tax rate. To a city de- sirous of growth, heavy tax rate is a very crave handicap.
 Auditor Heating does not, however, recommend parsimonious econ omy, for he undoubtedly knows that a growing city means growing ex- pendftures, but if we understand him arigtt. he would favor some manner of adjustment of increased expenditure to the grand-list increase.
 He urges the collection of unpaid taxes the total now outstanding being over $290,000. It is, as he says, unjust to those who pay their taxes, Ito allow others to escape payment, for it means fin the end, increased taxation to make up deficit. He suggests the placing of additional facilities in the control of the tax collector.
 The need of a new high school build ing is foreseen by MT. Heating but, for this purpose which is for the benefit of future generations as well as the pres ent generation, he favors the issuance of bonds redeemable in a fixed propor- tion yearly. There is some opposition to this project, some holding that if pupils from other towns were exclud- ed the present building would suffice, and others that the rightful education al demand upon the city should end with the grammar school.
 Whether or not the fire department has grown beyond the city's needs, is a question. The. people demand effi- cient fire protection, and the fire rec ord shows that we have such. Econ omy which resulted in heavy fire loss es, would not be approved.
 Efficient police protection is also an essential, and is recognized as such by MT. Heating.
 Permanent pavement is also neces- sity, in these days of heavy vehicular traffic. Auditor Heating recommends the use of stone, brick or wood and discountenances macadam. Asphalt is not mentioned by him, except in call- ing attention to the need of repaving Main street. to which he might have added Fairfield avenue where the as- phalt is already badly worn.
 In sewer construction he urges that the comprehensive plan recently re- ported by competent engineers be fol- ordered. The entire plan could not be carried into effect, without necessi- tating either an oppressive tax rate or an issuance of bonds, neither of which is favored by MT. Heating. Neverthe- less, it is becoming more clear every year that ere long the city must face the question of sewer reconstruction, whatever may be the cost of a sani- tary disposal of sewage.
 Evidently, MT. Heating does not view with favor the 20 year water contract, but considers himself obliged, until it may be abrogated, to recommend an appropriation covering it's terms.
 He recommends total tax of 15 1-2 nMlls, or one mill less than last year s rate, but the final voice upon this mat ter comes from the board of Appor- tionment. It would not be surprising if the heavy pressure upon the board for increased appropriations should re- suit in an increased instead of de- creased rate, but the members should not forget that "hard times still pre- vail in material degree and that the burden of taxation rests heavily upon many whose income last year was re- dslced or cut off and is still below the normal.
 The Norwaik Hour, one of the very few Republican papers which are apt to speak out in meetin'" without much regard to the tender sensibili- ties of the party managers, says:
 lRepublicanism as expounded by Bulkeley, Brandegee, Kenealy and Co.,, is one of which the Republicans of k1~x kr <Id1r var%% 1,n ,v1 Dat