The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-04-18
MUCH OPPOSITION MADE TO
PROPOSED CONSOLIDATION OF
FIRST AND SECOND DISTRICTS

les, especially in finances. Trying to
live beyond ones means has been the
means of driving a good many bust
ness men to the poor house and some
to the penal institutions, said he, and
the city should take warning to her
self from this fact.
He reminded the aldermen that the
residents of the North End must be
remembered as men with mortgages
home owners, able to bear up under
the additional tax proposed.
| Judge DeForest declared that some
good reason must have existed for the
establishment of two distinct tax dis
tricts, and that it is apparent the
same principles can't be applied to
rural as to urban conditions. There
may be certain localities he said where
change should be made from the old
conditions, but this is not true of the
whole situation. He represented the
Bartrams Of Black Rock. This pro-
posed sweeping change would be I'M
just to such residents particularly
when it is remembered that the same
conditions practically still exist as
when that section was regarded as
distinct village. He argued that the
practice of the Legislature in such
matters is to require a notice to be
given before the General Assembly
convenes and that this is a matter
so important that there should be no
effort to overthrow the general policy
of the Legislature as has been sug-
gested. He argued that it would be
irregular, unjust and unfair to disre-
gard the standing regulations of the
General Assembly in taking action
during this session on petition of
this adverse nature. He said he be-
lieved he voiced practically the un.
animous sentiment Of the residents OF
the section in which his particular
clients reside.
Judge Beers denied the force of the
logic of Alderman MacFa yden's reso-
luton. AS for the NEARLY one mill
lion dollars of bonds there is but
one matter in which the Second dis
trict has a particular interest, and in
which the First district wouldn't pay
its share in the regular course of tax
alton. That was the new bridge. The
town farm, the high school, are First
is not avoiding under present condi-
tons it's payment Of it's share.
While the lighting expenditures are
charge against the First district,
that fringe OF the First district sur
rounding the Second district gets only
levy of more than 100000. Thus he
said the Second district is not being
taxed all out of proportion as is claim
ed. He echoed Mr.. Tesiny's argu-
ment that If the additional tax is i'm
posed the residents affected should
have the additional fire and police
service.
"And if you take them into the bor-
ders of the Second district" he con-
tinued, ''you have got to provide all
these things for them and increase
the expenses of the whole city proper
able to take them into the Second
district without giving them improve |
ments. The ultimate result will be |
that you will find yourself in the !
same position as you are in today, |
with hard work to get sufficient reve-
nue. to pay the running expenses of |
the city,
He pleaded for the small home own
er, the home seeker, asked the alder |
men not to drive the man who want |
ed to buy little piece of land for a |
home out of the city, into Stratford, |
facilities promised, into Trumbull.
Joe Stoehr rallied against the pro-
ject said the only benefit the First |
district got out of his personal sacri-
fee of quantity of land for the wild
ening of Main street was for residents
of the Second district to have an au-
tomobile ride through the improved !
street.
Charles C. Wilson of Fairview ave.
nue. asked the aldermen to let the
matter go over couple OF years ana
then it would adjust itself. He point
ed out that at present the liquor IL
censes of $13S,000 under a change Of
the city's bookkeeping system now go
to the Second district. and that Of |
the old system is followed they will go
to the whole city's credit instead. He
argued that this would straighten out
the relation of the proportionate share
Of expenses between the two districts
in the annual budget. Abe Levy, Geo.
Seltsan and John Clarkson also voic-
ed opposition.
The hearing promised to last indefi-
nitely when Mr.. Wilson came to the
rescue of the aldermen at 10 o'clock
by suggesting that those who wished
to show opposition and didn't care to
occupy further time might be an op-
portunity to manifest their disapproy-
al by arising. President Lavery who
had slipped into the chair during a
temporary absence Of Mayor Buck
ingham seized upon the suggestion
and asked those who wished to take
of this suggestion to arise.
About 30 responded. There were no
further speakers and the hearing was
dnolarad closed