The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-02-06
POWER TO ANNUL WATER CONTRACT
 IN TAX BOARD

mend, that it permits the property of this company to be taxed for much less than it's value. "He also tells you that it valves the right of the city to have the hydrants supplied bv the company, and always supplied with water and ready for use. MT. Wilson continued, @'Now, gentle men. many cities are supplied with water cheaper than Bridgeport is sup piled The neighboring city of New Haven is given 8 supply of water free of charge, and is required to pay all its taxes to the city. The inhabitants of New Haven are supplied with water cheaper than they are in this city.
 "The mayor tells us that in his opin- ion the property of this company is worth $6, 900, 900. He is mistaken about that. But if it is how does he account for contract which assesses this com pany with tax upon $1.O00,000 of it's value!
 'Now can any member of this board, board composed of business men, de- fend a contract which so obscures the price the city is to pay for water so that nobody can tell exactly what is paid.
 Suppose the common council sent in to this board contract with a coal dealer. he engaging to supply the city with coal for 20 years, at a price per cent. higher than it is supplied in New Haven. and that in return the council assures him that he shall be taxed dur ing 20 years only a small portion or the valueof his property.
 What would you gentlemen do to such a contract?"
 Mr. Wilson declared that the com pany should furnish the city with a supply of water free of charge, and pay taxes on $2,0OO,O00 more than it does now. This would represent a gain to the oit of nnn qn1l13J1V
 ''The contract meant" he said, "that when the city buys the company 1t would have to pay a million more than it will have to pay with the 1nstru- ment annulled."
 MT. Wilson also said that the gov ernment in this country was gov ernment of parties. He said that the bipartisan system of boards in vogue in Bridgeport was an outcome of party government, the idea behind it being that one party would watch the other, and wrongs would thus be prevented.
 He then quoted from the platform of the Democratic party. to show that the 'recission of the 20 year contract is de- manded. He declared that there IS only one duty superior to duty to par ty, and that was the duty of an officer to the whole public.
 MT. Wilson said that he represented himself, and directly, or indirectly, as president of the citizens defense com nittee, about $5,00O,OOO worth of property banded together to obtain fair treatment. Expensive counsel had been employed, but the defense was much hampered by the existence of the 20 year instrument.
 MT. Phelan addressed many per tinent questions to MT. Wilson, and apepared to be much interested in the subject.
 Alderman Near said to the board that more than 200 of his constitu- ents had asked him to appear before the tax board in favor of annuihng the arrangement with the water com pany. He severely criticised the man. ner in which the instrument was ere ated, and compared the open and above board methods of the Council in contracting for the purchase of voting machines with the secret methods that were used in the former case. MT. Near was several times applauded.
 Alderman McMurray's remarks also excited great enthusiasm. He renew ed the objection which he has several times expressed in the Council. He laid great stress upon the recommen- dation of the Council, in favor of an- nulling the instrument, declaring that such an opinion from the body that created the instrument, and which was directly responsible to the people should have great weight. He pro tested that the recommendation should not be f1ippantly received, nor lightly rejected.
 Joseph Stoehr, chief of the Hillside Fire department in North Bridgeport, spoke against allowing the Bridgeport Hydraulic Go. to list their property at less than full value. He thought the city should pay the company for the water used by the city. He appar- ently did not understand that the company is obliged to furnish the wa ter free under it's charter if it was not for the obnoxious contract.