The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-05
MIR. PHELAN PLEADS FOR CHARTER CHANGES
 TAX LEAGUE SEEKS
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 cause of the care and hard work it had put in on these amendments. He said it was no idle boast that the better part of the intelligence of the city had passed upon the work He said it had all the intellectual discus sion and approval that was neces- sary. MT. Phelan touched briefly up- on the specific amendments and said with reference to the firemen's sala- ries that the amount to be paid as recommended by the league $1, JOG per annum, is the same scale as is now paid in many cities of the size of Buffalo, Milwaukee and others in that class. He believed this compensation to be fair Or he would not advocate it for he is proud of the firemen of his home city and of the work which they have done. He said it Is unques- tionably true that there is some sen- timent in Bridgeport for permitting the salaries of the firemen to remain where they have been placed; and if the committee decides not to ,recom- mend any change, then the league would ask that their amendment should be adopted providing that in the future no increase in the salaries of the police or fire departments should be granted without at first be- ing approved by at least three-fourths of the commission affected.
 Attorney Eugene B. Peck introduc- ed by MT. Orcutt as a member of the Taxpayers league said there were about 1S,000 voters in Bridgeport about equally divided. He said that the members of the league had contribut- ed S4000 for the purpose of educating the people in matters concerning their well being In a governmental sense. He said the best intelligence and en- ergy obtainable had hoen devoted to the study of these problems. Weeks of labor had been given to the duties There was no partisanship in it what soever. The task entailed the read ing and studying of practically all the new charters granted throughout the country. He closed by saying that 1000 men or practically the best minds in Bridgeport had banded themselves together for the public veal and their interest is merely the interest of the public at large and has no selfish bearing. -.
 In opposition to the amendments ap- peared Senators Paddock and McNeil and Representatives Bent and MeltzeF and Aldermen R. G. DeF7orest and H. H. Jackson representing along with Senator Paddock who is also an alder men, the Common Council of Bridge port. Senator Paddock in introducing the opposition informed the committee that last evening by practically a un- animous vote the Common Council had provided that the committee of three of which he was chairman and Messrs DeForest and Jackson the others should appear in opposition to all of these amendments. we are here, gentlemen he said, with the mandate of the city of Bridgeport be- hind us"
 Alderman DeF'orest was first intro duced He said: "Gentlemen, we rep resent the Common Council of the city of Bridgeport, duly elected by the vot- CTS of that city, charged with import ant responsibilities and answerable to the people for our acts.'' He said the Common Council last evening instruct ed and authorized the appointment of a special committee to appear before the Legislature and oppose these amendments. He said the proposition before the committee came from rath- CT a, dubious source. Yet they were before the committee. They were there because the Board of Aldermen raised the pay of the fire fighters of Bridgeport. No one questions, he said, but that the Board of Aldermen had a perfectly legal right to do this. "and no one has charged so far as l know that the Aldermen acted other than conscientiously.
 "Why, gentlemen of the committee, although there was a big hue and cry
  some of the very Aldermen who voted for that raise and who were denounc- e.! in some quarters for having so voted, have been returned by their constituents. Senator Paddock was one of these. So much for this so- called great feeling of indignation, which you have been told existed in Bridgeport.
 "You have heard it admitted by the advocates of these amendments that the source from which they spring would never have been organized or called into being had it not been that the wages of the firemen were in creased. I contend that there is no great principle of public benefit in volved here Where is the great mass of people today? We were led to believe in Bridgeport that there was a great sentiment in favor of these amendments. I fail to see it evil denced here These gentlemen who come to you suggesting change in our organic laws are estimable men, men of affairs, and as far as know, tainers of theories. But they are here for purpose" .s.
 Attorney Pl1elan interpolated to ask Alderman DeF'orest to please explain the purpose. Quickly came the re- ply. eff you don't know it., no one does.''
 Gentlemen" continued Alderman DeF'orest, i've have become the sec ond city in the State of Connecticut; we have grown great and thrived and we have got along, and I assure you we are getting along in fine shape under our present system of govern ment. There is no demand in Bridge port for any experiment with these new frills, and I don't know of any body unless it is the theorists who are wasting much time to want to put commission form of government there But we come here, and here we are met by these modern Don Quixotes surcharged like mindwills who want you to change our existing laws and open up new era of gov ernment in our city.
 Yes. gentlemen, we have heard about this so-called commission form of government-for we do hear things occasionally in the Board of Alder men. Alderman Jackson, my col league has introduced a resolution of inquiry which has passed our body whose very purpose is to investigate the commission and other forms of government which have lately come into being.
 "This collection of amendments which you are called upon to sane ton we consider to be a remarkable experimentation. These gentlemen who have come here to ask you to pass meet in club rooms little groups not clothed with any authority of 8 re- sponsible nature whatsoever. Why. if we listened to this sort of thing now and entertained such an idea, that we can tinker with our charter