The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-02
BUSINESS MEN WOULD HAVE MAYOR APPOINT
 BOARD OF EDUCATION
Taxpayers League Amendments Endorsed by Directors With Exception of Fire
 and Police Pay Changes
Would Have Charter Committee kamed Partly by Four Civic Organizations, to Consider Commission Form
 of Government

The directors of the Bridgeport Business Mems association made g long, bold leap into the cold waters of municipal government, last night making up in courage any lack ir specific understanding of municipal problems.
 Demanding also a radical change in the method of choosing members ot the Board of Education, the directors endorsed most of the charter amend ments demanded by the Taxpyers legue, excepting only those relating to pay increase for firemen and police and concluded an orgy of political dissipation by going on record for a committee of ten to make new char ter for the city, with the especial end in view of installing the commission form of government.
 The directors also gave their approv- al to the principle that the pay of of. ficers and employees of the city o1 Bridgeport should be fixed in Bridge port.
 The plan for the Board Of Education is to make it appointive. two members from each political party to be nam- ed by the mayor in each year and to serve for three years The board
 
 now six from either party.
 The plan Is reminiscent of a bill in- i, troduced into the General Assembly in 1909. which enjoyed the backing of John T. King, the new Republican 1. leader And 1t is believed that the present plan will have MT. Kings un- deniable influence in the General AS eembly behind 1t.
 The evident purpose to give. Bridge port new form of government hith- ! erto unknown in Connecticut is evil denced by the form of the demand for committee of ten on charter amendments, four members of which are not to proceed from the original VIII Of the public appointing power. buf to be named by the presidents of four organizations, to wit, The Man ufacturers Association, The Business Mems Association, The Board of Trade and The Taxpayers League. The political parties. which actually are responsible for the government of the [ city, and which are held accountable for the mistakes that are made, are apparently not considered. nor are many organizations of a civic nature, which are as useful and of a larger membership than those enumerated.
 Just why city should proceed to amend its charter through citizens named by civic organizations, instead of through men named by the respon- sible head of the city government solely for their capacity and special knowledge of the work to be done, is a matter that will be later thrashed l. out, if this ambitious program is ever carried to the point of serious consid- eration.
 Twenty out of the twenty-five off, cery and directors met last evening at the Stratdeld and carried out the in- structions given them at the last meeting of the association by acting upon the charter amendments pro- posed by the Taxpayers League. Each amendment was carefully and exhaustively discussed for three hours and at the end committee was ap- pointed consisting of A. M. Cooper. M. w. Manwaring. Frank D. Bell. s. Fl Vincent and F. W. Bolande to bring in set of resolutions enbodying the action Of the meeting.
 These resolutions, which follow. were adopted with hut one dissenting vote:
 Whereas. The Bridgeport Business Mems Association is heartily in fa- vor of city charter that will give this city the very best possible muni cipal government and appreciates the vast amount of work and study put into amendments prepared by the Tax payers League and presented to the Legislature. and is impressedl by the excellence of many of these amend 1nents
 
 Association goes on record as being opposed to the practice of fixing sal aries in any city department except by recommendation of the Board of Commissioners or of officials in charge of such department and approved by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen
 Resolved. That this association ap- proves of Section 27 of the Taxpayers League amendments in reference to the Board of Appraisal: amendment = Hrr- ~. >fE @c and departments of the city. recall and referepdum: amendment referring to boncs and powers of Board of Ap- portiorment: so much of act concern ing Police and Fire Departments as stated in Article A of Section re- duiring that the present compensa- ton can only be changed upon recom- ,nendation of the commissioners and approval of the Mayor confirmed by rhe Board of Aldermen the words ''per diem being omitted in both eases.
 Resolved. That we further recom- mend that the Board of Education be made appointive. the board to consist of F members. from each of the two leading political parties. two being ap- pointed by the Mayor from each of the two parties each year for a term of years. and be it further
 Resolved. That the association rec ommends that the Taxpayers League amend it's bill to conform with the ao0ve resolutions. to be governed by recall and referendum as applied to other measures.
 Resolved. That the Business Mems Association declare itself in favor of the naming by the Mayor of a com mittee of ten consisting of the Mayor, City Auditor. City Attorney. two members of the Board of Aldermen, one member of the Board of Appor- tfonment and that the Mayor request the president of each of the following oreanizafions to name one of its mem bers to act on the committee: Board of Trade. Manufacturers Association, Taxpayers League and Business Mems Associa ton. this committee to study municipal government and make such recommendations for further charter fmrrovements as may be deer1ed ex- redient. reporting its conclusions in time to enable the city to petition the Legislature of 1913 for such charter as is desired R@olv&d. That it is the belief of