The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-07-09
MELTzE CALLS AUDIT COMMITTEE AND MAYOR
 MALICIOUS SLANDERERS

published the new matter as part of the Charter N
 At the same time [ prepared for printing all the amendments to the Charter in full with a separate fly leaf and heading. It takes up about b pages and is an addition to the Charter as in the revision of 1906. I nave also discussed with City Auditor Pullman the advisability of revising the ordinance, as, indeed, 1t contained good many obsolete and inconsistent ordinances, which could not be elim- mated by a compiler, but by a revfser. and was willing to do it for an addi- tlonal consideration, as I was getting very little for the work was to do in compiling without revision, and I was not. going to undertake additional work without additional compensa- ton, but MT. Pullman thought that the administration wouldn't care to spend more money on the matter. Evidently the administration was even then saving to be able to nay the laundry bills and the luncheons of it's high priced experts. I therefore did not revise it, but only compiled 1t with obsolete and inconsistent ordinances left in, as l had no right without re- vision to eliminate them. Now after this explanation can you honestly say that your high priced experts had a shadow for an excuse for their unwar- ranted criticism, except their crass ig- norance of the subject matter they undertook to investigate and critfcise at your order? Take for instance the hrst Il paragraphs relating to the Charter: It is based on Oh. 2e3 of the SD. l.. of 1909 amending the Charter of the City of Bridgeport. This Ch. contains B sections. The first sec- tions have directory amendments, di- recting to strike out or add to differ 6nx 0 "a far- Y have done and noted the amendments in the margin of each section. Be- ginning with section the rest of the chapter contained new matter, which while it impliedly amends some sec- tions of the Charter it does not direct ly do so and I had no right to print them in amended form, but printed the new matter at the end of the Charter, and also printed the entire chapter in the part, where all amend ments are printed in full.
 Now based upon this correct and proper doing of the thing as legally had to do, your experts in their crass ignorance made Il errors out of 1t, be- lieying as they did that their ignorant way was the right way, and you swal4 lowed your experts criticism whole, and became one of them.
 The paragraphs from il to 29 relat- ing to ordinances can be only dis missed with the explanation already made that I was only compiling the ordinances, not revising them, and it is up to the Council to repeal ob- solete ordinances. but the compiler has no right to do 1t.
 The charge of padding is. of course, absurd to say the least I have al- ready explained my method of com biting the charter, and the repetition was pursuarlt to that method and was necessary and useful in a proper Al ~~ flee to say that l have never agreed to make new index. A new index is worth at least $500, and I am to get only $500 for the entire work and I have spent already in typewriting and stenography almost that amount. ment to make a new index. The old index served several compilations Of the charter. It may not be perfect but it served it's purpose.
 It is true it retained the reference to John Porter for two compilations. and I jocularly said when reached his reference that Bridgeport can af- ford to retain the memory of John Porter at cost of about 25 cents sB the index to the charter and ordi- nances when it spends thousands of dollars for laundry bills and lunch cons for useless imported experts In conclusion, wish to say to you, Mr. Mayor, that the report of Mir. Peter White or his experts shows conclusively their uselessness and waste of public money. If your pur- pose was attack on me and with nhaI- ice aforethought you have certainly missed your mark. I could suggest to you employment for your experts. For instance, let them find out what benefit did the city of Bridgeport re- ceive from the $3,000 1t spent in pay ment for compiling a new building code, which was never used? And if you are sport, Mir. Mayor. let me suggest to you a way to test the cor rectness of the criticism of your ex- pert. will put in the $500 which am to get in a pool for charity. You put in the $500 which you re- ceived for the building code and which the city never used; and your experts should put in the pool all their luncheon and laundry bills and we will select here in the city of Bridgeport, honest and competent ex- perts and let them examine my work. If my work is defective as you and your experts say, I forfeit the $500 to charity, otherwise you and your experts should forfeit the amount placed by you to charity. If you are honest, accept this offer, other wise am Justified in proclaiming you and your experts as malicious slan- derers.
 JOSHUA MELTzER