The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-02

ana w. G. kOehr1ch, members Of the Annexation Club and taxpayers in Stratford, who spoke in favor of an- nexation. MT. Sexton described con- dilions in sStratford as being back ward and that the only way to get ahead was by becoming part of Bridgeport. However. he said he did not want to press the movement un- of the voters of the town He said the working class of residents in Stratford who had purchased land and built their homes were without fire protection, without police or ambu- lances, and unable to obtain adequate things would become theirs if they were part of Bridgeport MT. Koch rich agreed with MT. Sexton
 Senator Judson said tie move was engineered by few real estate spec ulators who were after a better mar Bridgeport and Stratford, opposed an- nexa jon; that there was no sincere sentiment for 1t in either town, and that 1t was a galIing performance for any one to come before the Legisla- ture and ask that a town be carved up against its will. If the citizens of Stratford wanted to annex their town to Bridgeport he said the way to take remarked. could sign a call for town meeting and voting in favor of annex ation. Any 20 voters in the town, he remarked. could sing a call for a town ment of the voters could be ascer- tained just as well as by submitting the question to the voters.
 Attorney Marr said he would con- sent to that providing the vote would be taken by ballot. He said he asked by some of the residents favoring an- nexation that if they attended a town meeting and openly expressed them selves favorable to annexation their taxes would be raised. This caused smile from the Stratfordites present, put MT. Marr said nevertheless such rears were entertained by some of the people in the town who would favor joining hands with Bridgeport He wanted It understood that he did not himself hold any such fears. for he had the nlghest opinion of the officials of Stratford. although 1t was natural to find them opposed to this move ment
 MT. Judson injected no little merri- ment into the hearing by his allusions to the generosity of Mother Stratford from whom sprang the towns of New town, Monroe, Trumbull, Huntington and even Bridgeport. Now he said it has only one rib left and they want to fracture that.
 Representative Joshua Meltzer of Bridgeport spoke against the scheme or annexation saying that he believed the chief promoters of the idea were owners of real estate that had spec ulatiVe interests to advance He knew of no sentiment in Bridgeport favorable to annexation and was in- clined to think that the other repre- sentatives of Bridgeport felt as he did on the question. The territory that he was proposed to take he said would but add to the already too heavy bur- den of Bridgeport
 Judge and Represtntative Charles H. Peck said that he knew the name of every voter in the town of Stratford and he could truthful1y say that there was no sentiment worth while in the town for annexation He said it was known fact that there are not in the town enough voters favorable to the scheme to call a town meeting and it requires only 20 to have a meet ing called. He characterized the move as absurd and did not think the committee ought to have its time talk ing up With 1t in view of the views of the legislative representatives of Bridgeport and Stratford.
 Others who spoke against the bills were Selectmen c. H. Welles, John Holmes. Frederick Nettleton, Frank Brakeman, Edwrd H. Beers and Rep resentative Crawford. There were upwards of 50 leading residents of Strat1ord present in opposition At storney Marr will be allowed to bring additional evidence in support of his bills at another meeting of the com mlttee next week. He expects it is said to show at that time that there IS considerable sentiment among the business and manufacturing interests or Bridgeport to have Stratford made part of Bridgeport.