The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-09-24
PUBLIC OPINION
Editor of The Farmer. Sir:

Editor of The Farmer. Sir:
 As I once before had occasion to re- mark, in criticizing an address by MT Cooper to his fellow members of the Board Of Apportionment on the Dis trict problem his argument in your last Thursdays issue for extending municipal taxation to the uninprov- ed Outlying District is strictly ex- paTte in It's nature It seems largely lacking in the judicial equipois one would naturally expect in the Presi- dency of responsible a body, in matters of city taxation, as the Board of Apportionment.- It rather partakes the retained advocate.
 For instance: As a sample of the trict to the city, he takes the year in which the Tesiny school house was constructed and adds it's cost of $25,
 294 to the yearly expense account As only two schoolhouses have ever been built in the outlying district within the present genera ton, one can easily
 Then again, the extension of the through roads s connecting Bridgeport with it's neighboring cities, he charges up to the outlying district. Fairfield avenue, for instance, $500. He charges up against this same district also, the big item of between s50,O00 and s60.000 for the extension and Wid- ening of North Main street to the Trumbull line
 Now whether this large expense was incurred as a passage way merely for the big city automobiles and touring cars, or whether, as the wise ones tells Us, it done at the behest of the big Trolley monopoly, and to all low of an extension to it which should bar tt1e entrance of the Danbury and Bridgeport line into the city, depon- ent sayeth not. Of one thing how ever he is reasonably assured: It was not incurred for the sole purpose of giving to the hundred or so First Districters beyond the Hawley cut a magnificent entree and exit for their occasional visits to and from the city proper. Incidently, one might in fer from MT. Cooper's. article, that the connecting it with the outer world, and that they were built and main tained solely for the accommodation of the Outlying District.
 The balance of sundry items as be- tween 1st and 2nd District is perhaps hardly worth discussing here. The collection of garbage which it doesn't get, and gets perhaps, a lesser item or two in it's favor.
 MT. Cooper's real argument hinges, as one may readily see in reading it, on the relatively large number of children, in proportion to the property list, within this outer area. This is how it comes about: When the ten ements of the Second District are bar red to the increasing family, the head of such an undesirable aggregation has, willy nilly, to hike out for the outskirts and get a little cottage of his own, going without the graded streets, sewers, water in and out, ct cetera. of the city proper. Ought he then to be taxed for all of these inn provements which he is thus forced to do without because, forsoothi he has a big family? And because too, his neighbors about him are in the same boat in this respect?
 The large family, as we all know, is the poor mans weakness, or pride cali it what you will-but it seems upon him on that account If that plan were followed out we all know l of sections within the Second District, l both on the East and West Side which | would be subject to a vastly increas- | ed amount of taxation from the pro- l portionate1y large numerical quota re- qufring school service.
 Education has always been handed | out free here and a SPA per capita tax on it is hardly worthy of serious con | sideration- The man who, in these l days has the hardihood to undertake l the up-rearing of a large family cer- tainly needs encouragement. He is | doing yeoman's service to the State | and is furnishing the strong arms and | sinews of the coming time, that, | taught in her schools-children, of l times of differing na.tionalities-shall | greater Bridgeport of the future.
 Of course there is question a S to any street or section which has city The Second District cIude it in the city proper and a charter amendment giving the city i power to alter the District line, under such conditions, should be had from the State for that purpose.
 B. B. LEWIS.