The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-15
USEFUL VS. USELESS
 CHARTER CHANGES.

Sir-When reading last evenings is- sue of your paper I chanced to run across some proposed amendments to our city charter. purporting to come rom the Taxpayers League, or from the executive committee Of said league. I would like to ask few questions for information. not for the benefit Of myself entirely, but for the rent pay CTS who are also taxpayers.
 In the first place the proposition to increase the term of Mayor from two to four years with a recall to keep him in check and after having served four years he would not be eligible to serve another term. if the proposed amendment was adopted by the incom- ing Legislature. We will suppose that Mayor under these conditions ful- fills all the requirements set down in the proposed amendments and satis- fled the people to the fullest extent, then the rights of the people are taken away if they want to re-elect him. and must take 8. chance on another man. I believe that is un-American and not giving justice to the voters of the city. but taking away their right of choice and making .hem sup init to the will of few. Then agaln they say that if 8 complaint Of per cent. of the voters the Mayor must look into the complaint within 50 days and If complaint is justified. remove
  the said officer. or commission. Is not removed by the Mayor that on petition of F per cent. of the vo-ers he snali be removed if he does not receive the endorsement of a majority of the vot, CTS at such an election. This would leave us liable to an election of a Mayor about every eight months. Who pays the expenses of such an election? The taxpayer, or in other words the rent payer.
 Then again the committee wants to take away from men what they all ready have. chop off one hundred dol- lars of fireman'g pay and add to the salary of the police department. While see no objection iO raising salaries. I don't believe in taking from a man what he already justly pos sesses. would like to ask the Tax payers League if by cutting down the salary or expenses Of the city would they in return cut down the ren. pay CTS rent? If such would be the case I think it would be possible. if 1t was put to a vote the majority of the vot- CTS would vo-e that way. But let tee to a wrong injustice on the tax payers of the city. Why is it. with all the new equipment and modern ways adopted by our city for fighting fire. and less chances of conflagra- tion and loss of property than what existed fifteen or twenty years ago. or ten years ago, that the cos, of insur- ance is greater instead of being less? The city is better equipped to fight fires today than ever it was. The building code is so strict for the pro- lection of property and the Water co. has enlarged the water mains through out the city. but still we are compelled to pay higher rates today than ever. What is the reason of this?
 Another thing for the benefit of the taxpayers and the rent payers would be an amendment to our charter giv- ing the Board of Relief more lime to do their work. the Board of Assessors to look over the property of the tax payers in the months of June. July and August. and fix the value of the property according to thelr view. They have a year to do their work. If any taxpawer is dissatisfied with the assessed valuation he appeals to the Board of Relief for relief from the assessors valuation. The Board Of Relief, according to law. must do the work in the month of February, ,the worst time of the year to look at prop erty. and they must complete their work in one month according to law. When the Board of Relief have $50 appeals to look up after their public hearings they have only two weeks in which to cover the ely and to per sonally look over the property in each appeal and judge for the city whether the taxpayer is right or the Board of Assessors There are no four men in the city of Bridgeport can do so. and do justice to the city or its taxpayers and that is vital point, as it may mean the city losing taxes or the tax payers losing money. If some of these vital points were looked after they would be of some benefit to the rent payer and taxpayer of our city. but to take away the rights of the voters as 70 who shall be Mayor of our city and govern us as we want to be gov erned and ought to be governed, l don't think it Is fair. and to take away from man what he already has don't think is fair. but to amend our charter for the best interest of us all. rentpayer or taxpayer, factory or bus mess establishment would be fair and for the best interest of our city.
 Amend our charter on progressive lines, do away with some of the old Puritanical ideas and give us more liberal laws so that the working peo- plo can enjoy innocent pleasure on the Sabbath. Give us Sunday base ball and outdoor recreation that will promote health. thought and vigor amongst our young men. and make them better qualified to become s,aunch and true American citizens and able to dc six days work during the week knowing that they have one day for innocent recreation and can look forward to that without fear of being molested. and by the old Blue
 GEO. A. WOOD.