The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-12

y the theatres, in order that the cit1- zens Of Bridgeport could have at- tended to learn how S1,000,O0O easy money is being handed to the Bridge port Hydraulic Co.,, out of the pockets of the people under the obnoxious special privilege contract. As it was there were over 100 spec tators present and, if they had been a jury, after hearing the arguments of Allan W. Paige and Auditor Ber- hard keat ting for the water contract and the speech of Hon. John J. Phelan against the contract there is no doubt but that it would have been broken then and there. The senti- ment against the contract expressed by the citizens was long and tumultu- ous.
 The appearance of Auditor Heating. was not because the auditor wanted to be heard, but because the friends of water called upon him to speak He wanted it understood that the committee of which he was a mem Der did not make the contract, but that the contract was made by the common council. The auditor made it plain that he did not want any of the "glory" that came from rushing the matter through the common council.
 The auditor said he might be mis- taken when he said the contract was a good one, but that he believed that 1t was. MT. Heating based his belief In the contract on the ground that 1t was better contract than those that had been previously made. MT. Phelan, who contended that it was a mere bagatelle to take the matter to the Supreme Court said he did not question the integrity of MT. Heating or his colleagues in making the contrect but that they were
  1 need for contract being made at all as long as the company had an ex- elusive charter
 He fayed the special privilege con- l tract clainingsit gives the water conn pany taxes free and took large the. same time while other corpora- 1 tions were putting taxes into the city and not getting any cash return. Allan w. Paige, who furnished the 1 backbone for some of the weak brothers on the board, including enc member who had apparently stood too | long over the flowing bowl before att tending the session, answered Mir. Phelan by referring to him as a rival to the late Patrick Henry. MT. Phelan replied, "I was holding 9 small office of trust in Bridgeport 40 years ago, MT. Paige, when you were scampering about the hills of Sherman, before you were engaged in the practice of political legerde- main for pleasure, or for profit" After the discussion was over the vote was taken. Messrs. John J. l Fhelan, Zalmon GoodselI, and Steph- en Osborne voted not to renew the | contract.
 Those who voted to continue to pay 1 S12.50 for unused hydrants and to | exempt the Bridgeport Hydraulic Cc from valuation of it's property on the tax list, like other corporations, were:
 Hobart E. French, Sigmund Loe- with, Bradford D. Pierce, Jr Allan w. Paige, Andrew M. Cooper, Samue! l E. Vincent, George Windsor, and George w. Jackman.
 After the vote was taken. Hobart E.
 French left his chair and walking
 across the floor to Allan W. Paige, said: well. we beat them worse this
 year than we did last year.
 MT. French occupied the chair at the 1 meeting which was occupied last year
 by Enoeh P. Hincks, the venerable and honorable citizen who voted l against the contract last year. and | who stated last year that the contract l should have been broken. l Bernard Setzer. the absent member l of the board, also voted against the contract last year, but was not pres ent this year to record his vote. George w. Jackman. who voted for ] the contract last night, was one Of the
 militant Aldermen who repelled the boarders at the meeting of the council | when the contract was rushed through
 in 19O6
 When the item on water was reached
 on the Second district tax list MT. Paige moved that the item be added to the list.
 MT. Phelan, speaking to the motion, 1 said in part. '1 am opposed to the
 item being added to the list. We
 think it ought not to be added recog-
 nizing the existence of a contract be- tween the city and the water company. We also recognize the standard of the
 men who were instrumental in caus- ing the contract to be made. They
 were men of honor and we hope they
 will continue to serve the city and 1 country with honor. We also recog-
 nize that the contract is a better con 1 preceded it. There is some d:ssatiS- faction among private consumers as
 to meters. but generally the contract is
 better
 tBut, generally speaking. among the | features of dissatisfaction is that it is
 for 20 years. too long a time for any contract binding a growing city. And
 far too long if the provisions are ob- | noXious or unfair.
 'When we speak of s12.0O0 it cuts | put small figure. The sum means little for one year. but for the full 20 ] years it means a great deal more. Had we better stop here now, or go l on?
 ''The other objectionable feature is
 that the contract provides for the pay
 ,nent of 20 times%$12. 900. and it allows l the tax valuation of the company to
 be listed at one million dollars-it is
 currently believed that it ought to be | more.
 ''The limiting of the valuation is as l objectionable as any limit placed on
 the tax list. The valuation of the | conlpany's property in Bridgeport
 ought to be at least 5000 00O and
 probably would be if it were not for
 the contract that says the company
 shall be exempt beyond the sum of $1, | 000,O00 The stock Of this company is selling at $2O0 It has 100000 shares | which would make the value of the 1 1tIoDertv S4 GOO GOO