The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-16
LARGER THAN LITTLE
 TIN GODS ON WHEELS"

The charter amendment proposed by the Executive committee of the Tax payers League, rela ing to bond issues, etc, is decidedly of greater reach in possible effects than either of the other propositions. and of more im- portance than all combined. Its great importance Is found in its first sec ton which provides that mo bonds or other evidences of debt. hereafter au- thorfzed by the Legislature. shall De issued by the city. or on Its behalf, without the consent of the Board or Apportionment and Taxation"
 Mayor Buckingham urged. in re- cent interview. that the offer of Pres- idert Melien of the railroad company to sell to the city any wharf property desired by the latter be accep ed. pro- vided the price be reasonable. naming 600 feet of dock front South of the Stratford avenue bridge as desirable. and suggesting that bonds be issued for that purpose As every one knows. public wharves are greatly needed. But, under the leagues proposed char ter amendment. this very desirable deal with the railroad. even though authorized by both the Board of AL dermen and the General Assembly of the State. could not be perfected with ou, the consent of the Board of Appor- tionment.
 For some years. a probably great majority of the citizens have favored ownership by the city of its water supply system. particularly since the execution of the twen .y-year contract. Issuance of bonds would be necessary to consummate a purchase by the city. Again. under the proposed charter amendment, the Board of Apportion- ment would hold a veto power over action by both the Board of Aldermen and the General Assembly.
 The city is said to greatly need a new sewer system. the cost of wh oh would necessarily be met by an issue of bonds. Yet again. under the pro- posed charter amendment. the Board of Apportionment could put an abso- lute veto upon the coinciding action of both city and State.
 There is said to be pressing need of a new High School building. and of an increased number of other school buildings. Taxpayers of today can hardly be expected to shoulder the en- tire burden. therefore. a bond issue would be needed in order to shift part of the load upon posterity. Again, the veto power of the Apport.oners!
 Indeed. not one public improvement. to be made through bond issues. could . lon Vuff the consent of the Board of Appor- tionment. however greatly public sen- timent might demand such improve ments. or however unanimous the Board of Aldermen in their favor. or however complaisant might be the s Late of Connecticut through its Gen. eral Assembly. Always would block the way. this discretion of the Appor- tioners. unless the public improvement in question found their favor. For instance. how would an issuance of bonds for the purchase of the water supply system be treated by a Board of Appor. .ionment, constituted as 1t was last winter when a continuance of the twenty-year water contract was practically voted?
 The common characterization. '1it- tie tin gods on wheels" would not be large enough to correctly describe the members of the Board of Apportion- ment under this proposed charter amendment They would be "the whole thing" in municipal affairs. and would constitute the "II" of the city government.
 The Farmer does not believe that the voters of Bridgeport desire to entrust such unprecedentedly great powers to the Board of Apportionment. Extend those powers but a comparatively lit- tie. and the remainder of the city might be abolished as a needless expense. Give then self perpetuating power to the Apportion- CTS. and we could dispense with cleo tions! Possibly. the Executive com mittee of the Taxpayers League might consider this an improvement upon even the commission plan of ely government.