The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-27

1 Sn1RS can result. l It is not, generally speaking, tht
 small taxpayers-the honest, hardwork ing men-who long remain in arrears in the delinquent class, but persons O.
 larger means who either look on taxes l as impositions, or who desire to use l their money in other more profitable | transactions
 Fire Department.
 | The expenses of this depart ment have increased out of all propor- l tion to those of any other department of the city,, I am in full sympathy with the movement to make the de. l partment, eventually, permanent one doing away entirely with the call force | by promotion to the permanent one, as fast as circumstances will permit, but think that this change ought to be gradually made, so as not to entail toe
 great an expense in any one year. During the present fiscal year, the
 permanent force has been increased by the addition of thirty three men, all
 but one of whom have been promoted from the call force. One members a blacksmith--has been taken from out side the department. This addition to the force means an additional fixed ex- pense, each year, after deducting the
 pay previously received by the appoin- tees, as cali men, of about $20,000
 
 the past few years, the fire depart n1ent has been well taken care of and that there was no immediate, pressing need for such a radical increase in
 the force, and in the fixed expenses of the department. No one can appre- vices rendered gratuitously by the es-
 timable citizens composing the fire
 commission, but cannot help think ing that in this case they have allowed zeal to outrun discretion, when they
 made such a sweeping increase in the
 permanent force. They probably only saw their own department wants, from fact that there were other depart ments of the city perhaps equally as important as theirs to be cared for.
 The appropriation made in Febru- ary. 1908 for salaries in the fire depart mert, as I then figured it, provided for a permanent addition to the force of about fifteen men, that is, provided all such men went on duty on April i, 1908 and continued until April, 1903. By not making the appointments until a later date-some of them, twenty in number not until January 1909-and by husbanding their resources in other ways, the commissioners found that they could add thirty three permanent men to the force without exceeding the
  the present fiscal year.
 Granting that this is correct still entertain serious doubt as to the wis., dom or legality of their action. While they may not exceed the appropriation of theD current year they, undoubtedly, if their acts are valid, create a debt or obligation on the part of the city, to provide an additional $2Oo0O, each succeeding year, for salaries of the fire department. believe that this course is contrary to the spirit and in tent, if not to the letter of our city charter If thirty three men can be thus added to the force, when only fifteen were contemplated, it is equally possible by deferring appointment of any until March 1st,s 1909, to add one hundred and eighty men to the force and pay them for the one remaining month of the fiscal year, and still not spend any more money during said fis- cal year than would be required to pay the fifteen men, for the entire year: but in this case the fixed expen- ses of the department would be in- creased about $140O00 per year.
 Will any one seriously contend that this would be a strict compliance with either spirit or intent of that section of our city charter, which provides that boards shall live within their appro- priations and shall not contract debts in excess of the same?
 While, as stated, I seriously ques- ton the right of the commissioners to do as they have done in placing more than fifteen new permanent men on the pay rolls of the department this year, I hesitate to recommend drastic action, as to the remaining eighteen men ad- ded. The men thus appointed, have been taken from their ordinary avoca- tions and have entered the service of the city in good faith. If they were now discharged, in the middle of win- ter, it would be a great hardship to them as the result of action, for which they were not responsible. q would, however, prevent a recurrence of such action by any board of the city in the future, by providing that future ap- for new men, should, in all cases, specify the number allowed, with a proviso that the maximum number thus specified shall not be ex- ceeded.
 If this course is pursued, I will see to 1t, while have the honor to hold my present official position, that any ap- pointments, in excess of the specified will neither be recognized nor paid.
 Police Department.
 The Police Commissioners in addition to the sum required for maintenance of the present force. request an ap- sufficient to enable them to add fifteen new men and an auto 
 I recognize the validity of the ordi- nance passed by the common council, the salaries of the police force and make provision for payment at the increased rate I also recognize the reasonableness of a moderate in- crease of the police force, each suc- cessive year. While l regret that cannot provide the full number asked for. I recommend an increase of five men.
 It looks to me as if the police ap- for the present year, were more than ample to meet all reQuire- l ments. and that there will be sur- plus.
 This is probably due to the fact that your board. at it's final meeting in last in failing to provide for salaries of the force. at the increased | rate. did not cut off from the appro- oriation recommended by me, an l amount equal to the full difference be- 1 tween the totals of the old and the new salaries of the department--a fact to | which I called attention at that time. | As already stated. allow for payment l ,f all salaries at the increased rate. IS take 1t for granted that even | should the result of the suit now pend- ng in the Supreme Court be adverse o the men. they will, nevertheless, re- ,eive the same fair treatment already | to the officers of the force lnd be permitted to receive the bene- 1t of increased pay, during the next iscal year