The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-10
E. Fl. DILLON & co.
Referendum On
 Bonding Bills?
(Contiued from Page 1.)


 thoroughly, and there was no ques- ton but that the people of the city were of one mind as to the necessity for laying permanent pavement. He spoke particularly Of condlt1ons m the western section of the city, principal ly State street. where he owned prop erty A member of the committee asked Alderman Walker if he had other interest except that of prop erty owner in seeing the streets paw ed, and the Alderman replied that he had the city's interest first. any other interest was secondary.
 Representative w. w. Bent explain ed his position on the measures. and said he favored the referendum He called attention to the fact that he had introduced a bill providing for referendum. and he would ask the committees permission to file with 1t a cpoy of the bill that it might at tach it to the bonding measure If It would.
 Alderman Lavery. chairman of the commission to construct the new bridge across the Pequonnock river in East Washington avenue. told the committee of the conditions that made a new bridge practically imper. alive. The Alderman explained al length the reasons which impelled the city to recommend a bond issue for new bridge, saying that after thor ough investigation it was found that to repair the present structure would necessi tate an outlay of $43,o00. and then the structure would be- only an old bridge made over and inadequate for the needs of the city. He told how Major Harry Taylor. the govern ment engineer, had sent an ult1matum to the city which said in effect if you don't provide an adequate bridge the government will be urged to make no further appropriation for the dredg- ing of the channel adjacent to the structure.
 Alderman Guy P. Miller pointed out cars run over the bridge because it is unsafe, and he said there was no question but that the most economical move for the city was to replace the present bridge with new structure.
 Alderman Jackson then explained at length the necessity for a new almshouse in Bridgeport. describing the present conditions as intolerable. He said the old section was built away back in 1865, and the women's wing was added over 20 years ago: If a fire broke out in the present almshouse. MT. Jackson said. it is doubtful if one-fOurth of the inmates would escape with their lives. He explained how cautiously the commit tee. had proceeded in securing esti- mates from architects and a compe- tent ew York expert had gone care fully into the cost of construction of the proposed new building. and the committee felt satisfied it could build the new institution within the appro- priation requested. Up to the pres ent time, despite the amount of time and energy expended by the commit tee, Alderman Jackson said there had not been an expense of $50 to the city.
 referendum on any of the pending bonding measures, but said if one was to be employed he recommended that it be the form as agreed upon by committees from the Aldermen and the Tax Board of which Senator Pad dock is chairman. and in effect is that if the proposed measures were sub mitted to the people they should be- come effective unless at least one third of all of the registered vote of the city was cast against them. Per- sonally. however neither he nor the other members of the Tax Board fa- vored any sort of referendum upon the measures. He said that each of the various projects had been care fully and intelligently considered by what he deemed to be competent and responsible officials of the city and that it was unwise and unnecessary to risk defeat at the caprice of a mere handful of the electorate. MT. Phe Ian was supported in his stand by the other members of the Tax Board
 
 tee that the several measures had all been favorably approved by the off, cials to whose care they were entrust- ed only after thorough consideration. 1 He recalled that members of the AL | dermanic body who at first were much 1 opposed to some of the pending meas l ures were finally won over after tack 1 ling the questions themselves and go- l ing into the merits of each upon their i own initiative. He said the idea of l a referendum was right in principle 1 provided it was not allowed to oper- l ate to the detriment of necessary leg l islation.
 MT. Loewith explained the necessity | for a new precinct station in the | West End and Attorney J. J. Cullinan l for the Board of Education told why l the city requested a bond issue for | new High School Mir Cullinan's l views were similar to those printed in | the Farmer a few weeks ago in a | communication from MT. Cullinan.
 Principal Simonds followed MT. Gull linan with a comprehensive statement showing the needs of additional High School facilities. Col. M. H. Rogers l closed the meeting by asking the com mttee to take immediate action on the serial notes for paving bonds. TURK HELD TO