The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-30
PLATFORM ADOPTED BY
 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

ULUlULNAlILL LUlVvElNIIUl
 We, the representatives of the Democratic party of Bridgeport, convened to nominate candidates for the municipal oices 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 man. agement and property should be assessed justly un- der the law that wealthy and influential property owners, whether corporations individuals, shall not escape their share of the burden at the expense of the small property owners, of the whose only hold ing is his own home.
 The Democratic party pledges itself to deter mined effort to correct the abuses of inequitable vau ation of the several classes of property which exist under present methods of assessing property
 We deplore the lavish wasteful and disordery of the public revenues, which has compelled levy of the highest tax rate in the history of the city upon the highest grand list, and especially do call the attention of the electors to the large appro priated for streets and to the deporabe condition of the streets, some of which have been torn up for months to meet the interest and convenience of pri vate parties while public and private business has been delayed and inconvenenced
 The Democratic party, if placed in power, will practice economy and wise expenditure but will not in endeavor until the roads and streets of city restored to proper and acceptable condition
 We favor the purchase of water front it's talk ing by eminent domain, to establish public wharves, which 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 it for the benefit of the city and it's merce forever.
 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. 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 the city and harmful to good public policy
 We favor thorough investigation of the Electric &o-~ aton 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 over it's own streets and fuller powers for the regulation of public utilities service and their rates But no 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 now subject to change at the will of group of politicians, and in spite of the opposition of all the people. The suits of such situation are seen in the Permanent Paving commission, which is so entirely beyond the control of the people that it's personnel cannot be completely changed except during a period of six years or during the term of three mayors. This mission was 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 ser vice corporations evidenced in the matters already referred to and in the usurpaon of the lawful powers of the legislative body when permission given to lay tracks foot centers at Main street and Gold en Hill street. While favor every effort to main tain harmonious business relations with public service corporations, yet pledge the Democratic party to prevent the surrendering to these corporations of right belonging to the people and to compel such cor porations to comply with all their duties and legal obligations.
 We hereby reafdrm our adherence to the prin cipes and policies embodied in the past platform ut terances of the Democratic party of Bridgeport, made in Town and City Convention.
 4ov PoTHIER OF RHODE ISLAND,