The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-26
ADOPTED BY
 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

We the representatives of the Democratic party of Bridgeport convened to nominate candidates for the municipal offices believe it the duty of the party to state it's position and to define it's purposes relative to matters of particular moment in municipal af fairs and therefore make the following declaration
 Correct principles of taxation are the foundation of intelligent and successful municipal business agement and property should be assessed justly der the law, that wealthy and influential property owners whether corporations or individuals, shall not escape their share of the burden at the expense of the small property owners, or of the man whose only hold ing is his own home.
 The Democratic party pledges itself to a deter mined effort to correct the abuses of nequitable vau ation of the several classes of property, which exist under present methods of assessing property.
 We deplore the lavish, wasteful and dsordery use of the public revenues which has compelled levy of the highest tax rate in the history of the city upon the highest grand lst and especially do call the attention of the electors to the large appro prated for streets and to the deplorabe condition of the streets, some of which have been torn up for months to meet the interest and convenience of pr vate parties, while public and private business has been delayed and inconvenienced
 The Democratic party, if placed in power will practice economy and wise expenditure, but will not cease in endeavor until the roads and streets of city restored to proper and acceptable condition
 We favor the purchase of water front, or it's talk ing by eminent domain, to establish public wharves which we believe will be self supporting for the pres ent and revenue producing for the future. We deem it the part of wise government to protect the harbor from all encroachment and to do everything possible to preserve for the benefit of the city and it's
 
 We denounce as part of the same transaction both the "harbor grab" and the car barn surrender, by which in the one case large portion of the harbor was yielded to the New Haven Railroad Company, and in the other case permission was given to the company to establish death traps at the ends of the two principal bridges connecting the East and West Sides of the city We declare this bargain in furious to the city and harmful to good public policy
 We favor thorough investigation of the Electric
 Light company with the view of securing the just tax ation of the property used in producing electricity and with the view of securing substantial reduction of rates both to the city and to private consumers
 The city should seek and secure legislation giving it fuller control it's streets and fuller powers for the regulation of public utilities service and their rates. But amendment to the fundamental law of the city should become operative until it has been first approved by the electors at the polls The fun damental law of the municipality is subject to F change at the will of group of politicians, and in spite of the opposition of all the people, The suits of such a situation in the Permanent Paving commission, which is entirely beyond the control of the people that it's personnel cannot be completely changed except during period of six years, during the term of three mayors. This mission organized by politicians who have placed
 practical politician at it's head The purpose of it's organization to strengthen political machine by securing the expenditure of all the moneys devoted to public works.
 We denounce the complete subserviency of the executive branch of the city government to public vice corporations evidenced in the matters already referred to and in the usupaton of the lawful powers of the legislative body when permission was given to