The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-24
HIGH TAX
 RATE SNUB
 FOR MAYOR
Regarded as Gentle Hint That Administration 'sTax Equal ization Plan is not Popular in Influential Circles.

III 1nIlu0nU1aI C1rCloS.
 How Power of Chief Execu- tive Is Being Limited and
 Duties of Government Turn
 ed Over to Boards Not Re
 sponsible to the People.
 The rate of TIA mills. the highest rate in the history of Bridgeport. laid where received with disapproval. It is generally recognized that such a rate is unnecessary and that all of the expenses proper to be raised at this time might, with rigid economy, have been met by the 16 mill tax recom- mended by the city auditor The rate of 16.S mills suggested by the Mayor ingly liberal conduct of municipal af- fairs during the fiscal year.
 The high rate has opened the eyes of the taxpayers. as even the 20 year water contract has not done. to the fact that the Board of Apportionment Has cedSeQ to perform the IunCIlOu TOT which it was created.
 From al body devoted to economy it has degenerated into an oligarchy of extravaganza. Originally organized on lines that gave utmost scrutiny to every item of proposed expenditure, it has developed into a. loose union of subcommittee, whose conclusions are reached in secret and whose findings are practically always accepted by the board as a whole
 It should, of course be remembered that one mill, or slightly more. of the tax rate is necessary to meet the de- n1ands of the State, which for the first time in 20 years has laid a tax direct ly u!on the towns.
 But to meet this expense there was an increase in the grand list of more than $5, 900. GOO. so that the rate pro- posed by the Mayor, levied upon the increase, would have raised the SS7, ,000 necessary to meet the demand of the commonwealth. and about $3,000 more for general purposes about $S2OO0 in excess of the revenue for the last fiscal year.
 The feeling is prevalent that the high rate represents on the part of some of the members ofbthe Tax board, the purpose to punish Mayor Buckfng- ham for his effort to execute his tax equalization program.
 Tax equalization will. naturally, irl- crease the grand list. through greater valuations of property now underval- ued, and the expense of running the city remaining normal, lower rate should follow. Thus the humber sorts of property would be advantaged, for it is largely such property that is now listed at substantially full value.
 The policy of the group who chiefly resent the administrations plan of tax equalization is to keep the tax rate high as possible, for the reason that the anger of the taxpayers will natur- ally be directed against the head of the city government. who happens to be elected and not appointed. as are the members of the Board of Appor tionment.
 If the chief champion of tax equali- Zation should fail of reelection that policy would probably not be regarded with favor by the next incumbent of the office, who would almost certainly have been nominated because of his subserviency to the public services and the tax dodgers.
 In support of the common belief that the enormous tax rate is part of a de- liberate effort to discredit the admin istra ton the attitude of the Standard has been noted, especially in it's issue of yesterday. in which Former Senator Paige is made to appear as the sneer- ing champion of the high tax rate as he was few nights before the sneer- ing champion of the 20 year contract.
 Says the Standard: NO little criti- cisTn has been made of the tardinesS of the mayor in coming forward and expressing his views on the tax rate.'
 But said citizen this morning, tthe mayor had the right to expect that the board would make a tax rate consistent with the large grand list and the reasonable needs of the city. He could not know that it was the purpose of the board to lay a rate of almost 17.5 mills until the prelim- mary list was completed.
 His recommendation in favor of rate of 16.8 mills was presented at the first subsequent opportunity. The mayors communication to the board came in ample time. if there had been a disposition on the part of the major ity to consider his view.
 Any item upon the preliminary list, any extrava gant, or un- necessary, expenditure could have been cut out and should have been cut out, at this meeting. It is for this very purpose that the final meeting is held some time after the preliminary meet ings, that, in the light of more knowl- edge the board may exercise frugali- ty and intelligent economy"
 Continued the speaker, "The sooner the citizens realize that the effort is to reduce the mayor to a figurehead, and that the tendency of charter is to make him still less an active feature of the government, the hetter it will be for the city.
 .sThe mayor does not control the board of apportionment through his appointees until the second year of his term.
 "He has power to make appoint ments. but no power, such as is given to mayors of other cities to remove actory office holders.
 'The continuing effort of the element that is trying to remove the nunici- pal government as far beyond the reach of the people as possible is to change the charter so that a mayor, during single term of office, cannot control any board.
 This policy has been expressed in three charter changes within the last few years.
 sFirst the park board was made a self perpetuating body. it's members for eight years, the board naming the successor of any man whose term expires.
 Then the library board was con- stituted also a self perpetua ting body which the people have absolutely noth- ing to do.
 '"rhe permanent paving commission was constituted upon such a basis that a mayor. during one term in of