The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-01-23
THE FARMER: JANUARY 23, 1911

quisition of the board, including the deficiency amount.
 Street Lighting.
 I recommend for appropriation the entire requisition of the Committee on Street Lighting. It is just as inn portant in the protection of person and property that our streets should lie we'll lighted, as that they, should be efficiently patrolled by our police force.
 The one is valuable adjunct to the other.
 . Then again, by bringing the num- Der of Arc lights up to the minimum number entitling us to a reduction in price, we are able to get an in- creased number of lights without a corresponding increase in the ex- pense.
 By providing for 700 arc electric lights we will save considerable in the cost of same, under the new schedule as compared with the old. The price to be paid for lights. provided at least TOO are in use, is S1.S3 less per light, per year, and the actual difference in cost would there just announced reduction in price to private consumers and it's action in this respect is comm mendable. Let us trust that similar liberality may be extended to the City of Bridgeport in it's corporate capacity, as slight appreciation of the valuable fran cEise enjoyed by tho company here.
 The Personal Tax.
 Under the provisions of the Per sonal Tax Bill passed by the General Assembly at it's last session, every ruale person, betwecn the ages of 21 and SO years, except those specially exempt, shall be liable to a tax of two dollars in lfou o1 a poll and com mutation tax, and such tax may be collected either by the regular col lector or by a special collector to be appointed by the mayor.
 The list of persons liable to such tax has not yet been completed and filed as provided by law, but I am informed that the number will be about 23.000 which. 1T all were col lected, would amount to $46,000. There are many persons entitled to exemption on this, list. and allow ances must be made for the same.
 If the tax is not fully collected it will be the fault of the officers em- powered to collect it. fully provided for in the act, and ap- pears to be ample for the purpose if lived up to. -
 The City, under the provisions Of such Bill, is obliged to pay to the State, for the support and mainten- ance of it's National Guard, sum that estimate at $33,000.
 It can be readily seen from the foregoing statement that it is import ant for the. city that this tax should be as fully collected as possible, from the persons liable for it. as otherwise there would be considerable defici- ency in city revenue, not otherwise provided for, and resulting in em barrassment The law appears to be plain one and no fair-minded per- son can blame the officers whose duty it is to collect such tax, if forced even to resort to extreme measures in order to do so.
 Tax Rate.
 I consider the following tax rates necessary and recommend that the same be levied:
 In First District eight and eight tenths mills.
 In Second District seven and nine tenths. Making a total tax rate. in both districts of 16 7-10 mills.
 I had hoped and earnestly desired to be able to recommend a lover tax rate, but in my Judgment, it cannot be done. and at the same time ade- quately provide for the necessary de- mands of our growing city.
 Resp ectfully submitted that 21st day of January, 1911.
 BERNARD HEATING,
 City Auditor.
 Following are the appropriations recommended by me in the First Dis frio