The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-26

THE COURSE OF TAX EQUALIZATION SHOWS
 THAT POLITICAL WRONGS CANNOT SURVIVE IF
 ANYBODY WILL TAKE TIME TO EXPOSE THEM

 have consented" to a $5,0O0,0O0 in- crease in the valuation for taxation of the property owned by them. It appears that they were informed by the administration" euphemism for De Yer H. Wafner-that there would have ito be some increase, and so the Bridgeport Manufacturers As sociation employed a gentleman to go among the several properties and de- eide what proportion of the increase each ought to bear.
 The result happily accomplished. was presented to the assessors, and they have made the unofficial list their own. 7 So much for the increase. Some of the Farmers journalistic friends have almost perished of admiration over this unique proceeding. One news paper has referred to the s5,ooo,o00 added to the manufacturers lists, as "a Christmas present. from the gen. tlemen who own the property. Others have spoken of the matter as if it were performance of high nobility which ought to extract commendation from the stoniest critic.
 NO GROUP OF MEN ARE POW ERFUL ENOUGH IN THIS CITX- OR IN THIS COUNTRY-TO LONG; SUSTAIN A WRONG IN OPPOSE TION TO THE JUST OPINIONS AND BELIEFS OF THEIR FELLOW CITIZENS.
 The campaign for tax equalization is but five years old. It has been conducted by four or five individuals and especially by this newspaper.
 Five years ago the manufacturing property of Bridgeport had a census value of s4s,o0O,000.
 It was listed for taxation at no more than $12.OOo,o
 The early demand for some meas ure of correction of this enormous in- justice was greeted with a storm of disapproval and censure,not from the people-but from the men who always follow wealth and from the newspapers whose dearest wish is to gain the applause of the influential.
 The most servile of these, organs repeatedly asserted that ''tax justice in Bridgeport would mean the end of manufacturing in Bridgeport. 2. It was an insult to the manufac- turers of Bridgeport, to tell them that they could not pay just taxes and compete with other manufacturers.
 The five years have elapsed and another census of manufactures has been taken, by which it appears that the value of manufacturing property in Bridgeport has increased from $4s,- 000, ,o00 to $62, ,OOO, ,OOO.
 The Democratic party put a tax equalization plank in it's platform Mayor Lee, Republican, was elect. ed. He made tax equalization also his slogan.
 Under Mayor Lee some inequality Tn the taxation or manufacturing property was eliminated.
 Again the Democratic' party put a tax equalization plank into. it's plat form, and Mayor Buckingham took up the work-w1thout the help of the owners of the property.
 At the end of his term the valua. ton had increased to $19,000, 900.
 The work continues, pressed by MT Warner. The $5.0O0,0OO to be added will increase the valuation of this species of property to $24,000,0O0 ol whereabouts.
 Under stress of demand for jus. tice the valuation of manufac. turing property has increased more In five years than in the 60 years pre-. ceding.
 The work must continue until ap proximate justice is attained. Nor i: this to be construed as a criticism o . correction which fails to reach tho n whole evil at. one stroke.