The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-02
Phelan Inquiries Into Charges of Electric
 Monopoly to City
(Continued from Page 1.)

 Asked where the board got tht
 money to buy the auto-patrol wagon last year, President Hallen said thai he was not a member of the board last year, but he understood that the Board of Apporticnment had hgureo incorrectly and had allowed the de partment surplus of money.
 Sigmund Loewith of the sub-com. r1ittee on Police Department. stated that the board held off the appoint ment of new men until it got enough money for the automobile.
 In closing President Hallen said ht hoped that the board would see fit te allow for the erection of garage anc barn at the rear of the Police and Charities building. He presented fig ures to show that the city was paying $1, 400 a year for the care of automo- piles, ambulances, and horses for the Police. Charities and Health depart ments. He said if the city had a prorer building 1t could save $500 per annum.
 Electric Light Rates.
 John J. Phelan made it point last night to ask the heads of all de- partments about the charges for elec- tric lighting and President Hallen said that he would look up the rates charged for lighting the Second and Third Precincts as compared with the cost of lighting the Police & Chari- ties building. He asked Auditor keating how it was there seemed to be such a variance in the acquisitions for lighting. MT. Heating said the electric light company treated each of the city departments as individuals. He said that he had told the com- pany on several occasions that the city was entitled to rebates on its Inf if had nQVPT needed his suggestions.
 It is understood that at the next meeting of the board MT. Phelan will present rates to show that the city can save a great many dollars if it Is treated as a single consumer
 MT. Heating said that the rebate amount ranged from 10 to 35 per cent. reduction according to the quantity of current used.
 A member of the tax board said last night that the city was such a large consumer in the police, fire, charities, city hall and other depart ments that it should be entitled to about a 50 per cent. rebate if the matter was properly figured out and adjusted.
 What Selectmen Eat.
 Andrew M. Cooper, of the board, was of the opinion that the Board of
  ident Thomas Lovely stated that he was new member of the board and that the secretary of the board could explain the situation better than he could.
 Mr. Cooper said tr.. t the selectmen had the services of the town clerk, had five members, and then asked for six clerks. That 599 new voters were made last year and he did not think 13 men were needed. Besides the board asked for $60 for meals.
 MT. Braithwaite replied that the town clerk did not assist the board as the law required him to be there to pass upon the papers of foreign born applicants. He said the clerks the recording, while the selectmen administered the oaths of office. He said that the board only sat two days one year and eight the next. The last time it sat for eight days it made nearly 1900 voters
 MT. Cooper said: 1T can't see why the board needs seven clerks to make a little over thousand voters in eight days
 'I guess you was never made voter,'' said Allan w. Paige.
 "Yes about 12 years ago." said MT. Cooper. "They gave me a book to read and took it out of my hands be- lore commenced. Iney nldQo 10 or us in five minutes"
 Secretary Braithwaite said that in a former year the selectmen's ap- was cut down by the tax board and it was necessary to get $100 the Common Council. He said the money was asked for the meals because the members of the board were not able to go to their meals regularly as the bulk of the new voters were made at noon time and early in the evening when men in the factories have an to come to the city hall.
 Contractors Held Up.
 City Engineer Maurice F. McKenna whose requisition was cut down from S15. 800 to $13,950, by the city auditor, told the board that last year several contractors who wanted lines and grades were forced to lay off many of their men because he did not have a sufficient force of men to do all of the things he was asked to do. He said the days were not long enough for the men to get around.
 Outside Towns Don't Pay.
 Judge E. P. Nobbs of the probate court was asked how much the tow ns of Easton, Trumbull, and Monroe paid toward the support of the district court. He said they paid nothing as it had been figured out that their share of the expense would be be-