The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-10
BUSINESS men DECLINE
TO Be RESPONSIBLE FOR
IMPOSSIBLE REFERENDUM
fContiued from Page II


When the meeting was called to or
der at o'clock by President Bolande
Just II members of the Business Mems
association were present and Is outsld-
ers. a total of "a. Among the 'outsld-
ers' were John T. King and Secretary
OF State Matthew Rogers.
Attorney John ]. Phelan read in be-
half of the Taxpayers league. a pro-
posed charter amendment reducing
the salaries of members of the Board
of Appraisal from $500 per annum as
at present. to $500 and leaving the
clerks salary $500 as at present.
No one said anything against the
proposition and NJ. w. Manwaring
moved that It be endorsed.
President Bolande Immediately inter-
posed and said that it should be de-
cided whether the endorsement were
10 come as an official vote of the
Business Mems association, or at
pubIic meeting held under the aus
pices IF the Business Mems associa-
ton.
There is but a scant bakers dozen
of members of the association here out
of total of over 200," said President
Bolande. and personally I am very
much averse to have it go out that
this small meeting has endorsed these
important amendments in the name of
the Business Mems association"
He suggested that it would be wise
to have the meeting go on record SIM
ply as a public meeting. and refer the
matter of endorsement to the board
of directors of the Business Mems as
scc'ation-
Samuel e Vincent, James Feeley,
and other members Of the Taxpayers
league opposed this action on the
ground that the meeting was a regu-
Iariy constituted session of the BUSH
ness Mems association and as such
had a perfect right to go on record
other for or against the proposed
Charter amendments as it saw fit.
John T. King took a hand in the
discussion He stated that he had
come to the meeting simply as a guest
OF the Business Mems association to
hear the discussion and he hoped that
the gathering wouldn't give him vote
in the matter.
After considerable parliamentary
wrangiing. the motion to endorse the
amendment was laid upon the table. A
vote of the Business Men was taken
and Ii was decided to throw the meet
ing open to everyone present and have
the session known as public hearing
held under the auspices of the Bust
ness Mems association, and that any
endorsements given, would not carry
the associations name with them.
As soon as this motion passed, John
T. King left the meeting, apparently
not caring to take an active participa-
ron In the proceedings.
The Taxpayers league amendment
concerning the salary of members of
the Board of Appraisal was then en-
dorsed without dissent. the endorse
neat being simply that of a public
hearing and not binding the Business
Mems association in any manner.
Attorney Phelan then read other
charter amendments, one proposing to
give the board of apportionment pow
er to supervise bond issues, which was
approved.
Finally he came to the referendum
clause which goes with the amend
ments. This produced war, for the.
clause. required "a majority of two
thirds of the registered electors of the
city of Bridgeport" to defeat any of
the proposed charter amendments.
Attorney Phelan was Immediately
piled with questions as to the mean
ing Of this ambiguous clause. He ex-
planned it as requiring two-thirds of
the voters to vote upon the PROPOSE
ton before il could be defeated. 1t
was pointed out that the clause might
be construed TO require two-th;rds of
the voters of the city to vote against
the proposition before it could be de-
feated- He admitted that the construc-
ton of the clause was faulty and at
the suggestion of 4. W. Burritt. it
was agreed to change the wording to
read that at least One-third of the
voters of Bridgeport must vote against
the amendments to defeat them.
Rep. w. w. Bent described the ref
erendum proposed by the Taxpayers
League as unique. and said that he
thought the referendum bill introduce
ed by him into the General Assembly
Is more in line with modern prac-
tice. This bill provides that a refer
endum may be had upon any charter
amendment or bond issue. or salary
increase upon petition of ten per cent
OF the voters. a majority of those
voting will defeat the measure submit
ted. or carry it. as the case may be.
Lynn W. Wilson said: There seems
some lack of understanding among
some here as to what the referendum |
Is. Every little Connecticut town has
practically q full referendum on all |
town questions. They are settled by |
the voters in town meeting. But cit (
les are large and the town meeting |
for every question is unnecessary and |
impracticable- Ninety-nine times in a |
hundred the servants of the people do |
their work well enough to satisfy the |
majority. But the hundredth time |
there Is dissatisfaction. Then the ref |