The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-07-28

 TO 60 DEEPER Redding'S Financial Affairs For IS Years to be PrObed Kate Books of Collector Osborn For Seven Y ears to be
 Analysed
Special to the Farmer.)


 Bedding, July 2S.-The rate books for the seven successive years during which Henry s. Osborn was tax col 1ector have been obtained by the se- lectmen and will be turned over to Expert Accountant Soule for examina- tion and comparison with the other financial records of the town relating to the same period. This means that the investigation now in progress will go back so as to cover fifteen years instead Of ten years as was at first proposed. The period subsequent to the point at which MT. Soule started could not be expected to furnish any new discoveries of importance as the ground had already been pretty we'll explored by the selectmen. The books of the antecedent seven years are virgin territory which may yield re- suits both interesting and valuable financially to the town. Should this prove to be the case the inquiry may be extended back still further. The extension already decided upon by selectmen will be much more satis- factory to the public than an inquiry limited to the shorter period.
 Alterations were made last week in the town house vault which in the opinion of the Norwalk expert who did the work will do away with the former trouble from the dampness that came up through the concrete flooring. The method adopted was the opening of ventilation space, in the sides and roof of the vault, the floor beino left as formerly. Whether the better ventilation will affect the object in view can only be determined by practical test. Town Clerk Nick erson is skeptical about the efficiency of the plan and expresses the opinion that the ventilators not only create additional danger of invasion of the vault by fire but make certain a quick and destructive bonfire in the event of such an invasion. As yet he has made no general transfer of the pub- lie records to the vault. When ask ed about this he said that he had re- ceived from the selectmen no notice that the vault had been placed in a condition suitable for the keeping of the books. What he should do in case he received such notice accompanied by an order for removal of the rec ords to the vault he did not say. The selectmen are to meet this week and if the town clerk is non-compliant is- sue on this subject may again be acutely and belligerently joined
 Some books are already in the vault, including the tax lien records over the production of which the controver- sy originally arose. Selectman Pink
 
 at fault when the latter claims that no demand was made on him for these volumes apart from the demand for the removal to the vault of all the records. A demand for the tax lien books preceded the general demand, according to MT. Pinkney, and the lat ter demand came only when the first and lesser one was refused.
 The selectmen are considerably my stified as to the nature of the papers bearing upon the subject of tax lien releases which MT. Nickerson regards as his private property. If, say the | selectmen, these memoranda possess such an essential relation to the lien records as to be constructively a part | of these records they must be placed | in the vault along with the other pub- 1 lie documents. The town clerk in sists, however, that they are his pri- | vate property and while he is willing | that MT. Soule should take and fully | examine them they are not to be con- 1 sidered as possession of the town | Hence there would seem to be an ex- | cellent chance for another clash over | this question. MT. Nickerson wishes | it understood that he has no desire to | annoy or obstruct MT. Soule but on | the contrary stands ready to afford | every aid and courtesy toward the work which the latter is doing.