The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-19
Business Men Listen To Talks
 By Local Men
S. E. Vincent, A. E. Lavery and Others Discuss Political
 Conditions

While Samuel E.. Vincent, vice president of the State Business Mems association last night urged a gath e9anR of the Bridgeport Business Mems association to favor the pass are of a state civi1 service law, A. E. Lavery, told them how to play 'tsquare'' politics The gathering was an informal smoker held in the At lantic hotel
 'sThe time is not far distant said Mir. Vincent. when we must pension all our public servants. therefore it Is up to us to see that they are care fully chosen, because of their partt- cular fitness for the places they are to fill and not because of some politi- cal utilization they may own.
 Flew people realize what civil ser vice means or what it's possibilities that as the villages of the nation arc governed so will the states and the nation be governed
 Efforts have been made, he con- 4inued, Throughout the country by a change of government to amend con dtttons which are known to exist, but change of the party In charge of the government will not take the place Of good citizenship.
 The average business man does not take the amount of interest he should in his citizenship. The great increase in population. the very lfb- erty allowed our people, becomes a source of danger unless the business men take hold of the problems which are now facing the cities of this country.
 think of conducting their private bus mess as the public business is con ducted. A man will choose a part ner solely on his business Judgment and without regard to his political affiliations, but when 1t comes cleo ton time instead of consulting with for the community, what does he do? He joins his party ranks, shouts for his party candidates and votes for him whether he is fitted for the of flee to which he aspires or not Then after election when things do not go as he thinks they should, he decrys helped to place in power
 .What can be. expected in public care of themselves in private busi- ness, private affairs or from men who sometimes buy their elections? ITO the vfctors belong the spells is the push the damper in and we pull the daInper out and the smoke goes up we continue to do this same thing over again and watch the smoke go up the chimney just the same? If we do it bodes III for our country. It is up to every business man to take an active part in the public affairs of his town or city rather than to which his own indifference is largely responsible.
 'Public servants who hold posi-. tions through civil service and not through political influence are more efficient, more free to act, because they know that as long as they do : If they do not do their duty there is a way provided for getting rid of them. The cities of this state now have no standard which provides for efficiency in the employees of all de- partments and it is up to us business men to see that law Is enacted s-.V. vice examinations for public en- p1oyes in Waterbury, New Haven and Hartford and all Connecticut cities as
 s'It Is useless to look to either poli- tical party to do this and it is up to us as business men to see that it is public servants it is but fair and right that we get the best in the com munity regardless of party or of poli-
 superintendent c. H. Chapman of the Bridgeport division of the Con .necticut company told of the diff overcome when it took over the trol- ley system of Bridgeport in August, which have been installed since then and the efforts which he is making to give the people of Bridgeport eff double truck closed cars and one single truck car in operation against 23 double truck and AT single truck
  The most modern car barn in the state has been built in Congress street Nearly 80 per cent. of the road bed and the overhead systems Is new or has been rebuilt.
 After MT. Chapman had finished, Joseph Stoehr, mayor and chief of the fire department of the North End" took him to task because pas Bengers in North Main street cars at certain hours of the day were pack pd in like sardines." Supt- Chapman promised to look into the matter and to remedy it.
 Rev. George M. Brown, pastor of The First Methodist church said:
 -sI have recently prophesied that within the lifetime of many who are now living, Bridgeport will grow to be a city of 500.000 inhabitants. Our population has doubled in the last 25 years and if it continues to double at the same ratio in 75 years we shall | have nearly a million people"
 Mr. Brown then said that some | thing should be added to the slogan | Made in Bridgeport to make it a | better city. a safer city in which to | bring up boys and girls.
 A F. LAvsry of the Bridgeport l axd-anIic Co. who SDoke n@xt aalA- ]