The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-12-05
Message Of Mayor Read To Aldermen
 At First Meeting
He Calls For Cooperation of City Fathers in Carrying Out Project of Admin ,tratiOn

Olty FatnerS m Oarrylng Out
 Project of Admin ,ratiOn
 Mayor Wilson's first official com-
 munication to the Common Council
 was his message, which he himself
 read to the aldermen last evening. It
 dwells chiefly upon the projects ad-
 vocated in the Republican platform.
 and recommends steps towards car-
 rying out these matters.
 Following is the message:
 To the Honorable Common Council
 of the City of, Bridgeport:
 Gentlemen-It is not my intention
 at this time to go into details as to
 all of the purposes of this adm1n1s-
 tration, but in a general way l will
 say that a reconstruction policy will
 be put into. effect as soon as possible, in reference. to our various city d$-
 partments. and our financial system Personally I believe in the inherent right of the majority to rule and am of the opinion that the prevailing party in your body is entitled to such offices as come within the. peculiar power of the common council to fill. and in return would ask for your cooperation in. all matters and meas ures which will ten toward the recon struction of the city's affairs, and for the advancement of our city, which has been intrusted to our care. shall oppose all new fixed charges against the city in all departments until a proper audit has been made
 and the need for them established It is absolutely necessary to ascer tain, in a practical way, the. presen' conditions and needs of the city be. fore proceeding further F' Auditing Committee.
 l therefore request your, earnest support in passing resolution au. thoIizing the mayor to appoint com. mittee of three citizens who shall have. the supervision of the auditing of the various departments. This com.
 mittee is to serve without pay. but ]
 would recommend that they be given authority to employ experts to aid them and otherwise to facilitate theil work, in order that proper results may be obtained.
 Board of Contract and Supply. I also ask your support at this time to pass an ordinance creating a board of contract and supply, which board will do all the purchasing for the various boards and departments of the city. believe this to be high ly essential in effectiny businesslike administration of the city's affairs. In C1So SuCA all OIuluduC0 ShOuld SOA- hict with the charter provisions of any department, I will ask your ;co-opera- tion in effecting amendments to our i city charter to meet any such contin- gency.
 Wants Results.
 I propose to follow the ordinances in reference to money paid and the hours employed by the various em- ployes of our public works depart ment, but I shall endeavor. to obtain the highest efficiency in personnel and capa bility of each and every man given employment. I believe that this department should be under the abso- lutes control of the city engineer, and that he should be solely responsible for the proper conduct of the office of the director of public works, as well as the office of city, engineer. I be- iieve that the city of Bridgeport is to be congratulated upon securing the services of so competent a man as MT. Terry. It is not my purpose to hinder or obstruct him in the performance of his duties. but to look to him for results only. Must Have Designations Ready. I am very frank to state that both the director of public works and the superintendent of streets, who shall be appointed, shall be required to place their resignations in the hands
  necessary, at any time which he may deem advisable. This is done solely for. the purpose of securing. beyond question, absolute cooperation in this important department.
 Purchasing of Supplies. I am opposed to the practice hith- erto indulged by members of the va.
 rious boards and departments of our city of purchasing supplies for the city from themselves, while serving as members on any of the boards or departments to which they have been named, and I shall check this prac- tice in every way possible. The board of contract and supply, as soon as created, will obviate this evil entire ly.
 Eminent Domain.
 I am very strongly in favor of ex- ercising the charter rights of "emi- nent domain by all city departments through the common council, in pur. chasing lands for all public uses, and l believe that the exercise of such rights will eliminate the expense evil denced in the past in the purchase of lands through favoritism.
 Exit Personal Tax Collectors. I am absolutely opposed to the ere. ation of offices for political purposes and such offices as now exist which
 can be readily and without destroying efficiency consolidated, will by ordi- nance or charter amendments, as soon as possible, be brought together. In this way much saving can be accom- plished for the taxpayers.
 The appointment of three personal tax collectors during the past year shows 'conclusively the fallacy of cre- ating needless offices for such work. The regular tax collector should have | been designated for this work, and at the expiration of the terms of office of the present incumbents, or the sooner termination thereof, should such thing be possible, the general l tax collector shall be named for this