The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-04

Mayor Wilson's message to tn Common Council contains some ne, matter, but is largely a reiteration c things which he has urged before. Q which were presented by the preced ing administration. I6s-s,,
 He renews recommendations for ex tending the Second District to includ the, entire city. for building ney almshouse. and for the construction Q a new bridge at East Washingtol avenue. t
 Other. tions are to sub init merit system to popular vote. t give enlarged powers to board of con tract and supply to eliminate sel perpetuating boards. for increased manual training in schools. for uni clinic for children and for abolition of garbage stench on the East Side
 He recommends the building of t bridge from State street to Stratfort avenue. across the PeQuonnock river To the Honorable Common Council o1
 the City of Bridgeport;
 In accordance with the provisions o1 to you my annual report. For more detailed information as to the fnan- ces of the City would refer you te the annual reports of the Severa officers and boards.
 Finances.
 The total debt of the City on April 1st, 1912, was $2 2s2, ,30o.00, an increase over last year of s$16S, % due to is- suing Paving Notes" amounting to $6S, 900 and $100000 in ''Construction Bonds" which bonds were issued No vember 1st. 1911. :. an increase over 1910 Of $7,84S. .S76. This large increase came mostly from our interests and business on a tax equalization basis.
 Our net debt; exclusive of cash in the treasury. is $1,652. .192 and the pro- portion of City debt to the City Grand List is a tride under 1.7 per cent. all of which Ss Is. a most screditable showing and places Bridgeport's cred it in the front rank of municipalities.
 The. report of the Sinking Fund mmissionerss iS most. gratifEtng and All of its funds are now invested in bonds and notes of our City. which means considerable saving to it.
 The tax rate for this year is 15.4 s1.S0 per thousand dollars worth of property. and Of tz00 over two years ago, and the -smaI1est rate for the past several years.
 Audit Committee.
 The necessity of uniformity in and the systematixing of the Cityss ac- counts waa very obvious and an Au- dit Committee was created by an Orr dinance passed December 18th, 1911. This Committee has employed Peter White, c. PA. one of the best Afn4 nicipal accountants in the Country. and he is now engaged in this work. The need of 8 system in our financial afrairs is most apparent when we con- slider that the funds of the City are handled in the same way as when our annual budget was $50 900 although now 1t approximateSr $z, ,O00 0U0 a year.
 It is just as essential for our city as it is for, commercial enterprises to be in position to know the cost of the upkeep of any of It's depart ments and the expenditures for any particular work, and to obtain uni- Iormity in price for work and mater |aas.s. It is the only method by which economy can be practtced without les sening the efficiency.
 By particularly itemizing the appro- priations made to the various depart ments, the Board of Apportionment and Taxation will be able to ascer- tain definitely and positively what sums to a1lot ito the several city boards, and the present Init or miss" plan will be obviated.
 Board of Contract and Supply.
 As further step towards economy and efficiency, the Board of Contract and Supply was created by Ordinance on 18th of January, 1912. The neces- sity of one purchasing department is very obvious, as various prices have been paid for the same commodity, on account of dealing with different bus mess houses.
 This Board now purchases at one price for almost all the departments and obtains much better prices for the same grade of goodss Then again, this Board obtains discounts, which the city has rarely, if ever, had before. and the market for the most ad- time to purchase. I am it's creation and be a means of saving much money for the taxpayers. It however, have broader powers, which can only be given by the Leg lslature, and these should be sought at the next session of the General As- sembly.
 Street Department
 I believe that our streets should be kept in better condition than they have been in the past. More. care should be exercised in, building and repairing them. Our present Director of Public Works is working to this end, and thoroughness in his depart ment is his watchword. The season has been very backward for his la bors but he Is making good progress and his results will prove satisfactory.
 Owing to the severe wear to which the streets are subjected, greater care must be taken in constructing and them. think it would be well for the city to try out some of the new formulas which have proved in other cities in an en- deavor to improve our street condi- sions.
 Our permanently paved streets have never been kept cleaner than at the present tin1e The present Superin- tendent of Streets is cleaning twenty per cent more surface than was car ed for last year. with about the same number of men.
 Board of Education.
 Perhaps the largest project which this Board has. before it is the con- struction of new high school build- ing. for which the issue of $400, 0,000 in bonds was approved by the people at our last election. This matter should be hastened without any un- necessary delay, so that the present high school building can be used to re-