The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-20

tion, Paving & Sewer and Charities boards. In this connection Judge Eos ter explained the silence of Mayor Wilson in the matter. This was be- cause the administra tion, had promised to be governed by the verdict of the voters, at the referendum on these various questions.
 A. M Marsh, attorney for the Crane Valve Co, for which A. E. MacDon- aid. chairman of the Contract board, is purchasing agent, spoke in favor Of the board, and maintained that it was in line with modern business.
 Alderman DeForest said there were board of aldermen opposed the mat ter. He considered it a piece of ef- frontery to attempt to put through such 1egislati ton, particularly. in view of the attitude of the people. Not only the people, as a whole, but the board of aldermen had gone op record as opposed to the measure. The ad- Ininistration has promised not to press such legislation.
 '"Then who, in heavens name, wants this 1egislation?" he demanded.
 He admitted that if the Board of Contract was saving money for the city the aldermen might in their judg- ment continue it. But the board is creation of the aldermen, and the board has not yet reported to the all dermen.
 Senator whitcomb said he wasn't financial proposition, but he was op- posed to making it a charter crea- tion, if it proved an unsatisfactory proposition the aldermen ought not. to be prevented from abolishing it.
 Rep Wilson spoke strongly against the measure. He maintained this in itself was not significant unless taken in connection with other measures, all parts of a. general plan in which a minority Of the people of Bridgeport are attempting gradually to remove government from the hands of the people He spoke of the refusal of the Board of Education to relinquiSh it's purchase powers, and of this 1egisla- ton as an attempt to wrest from that board a power that was peculiarly vested in it. He insisted that if the committee did not reject the proposi- tion, at least they should add to it a referendum clause
 Representative McMurray argued that the Board of Contract and Sup ply had been created by the board of of the board it was thought best to abolish the board, that power should MT Sweeney of Bridgeport also op- posed the measure.
 Questioned anew by opponents of the Legislation, Judge Foster said that it originated with a great many in dividuals.
 Senator McGrath of the committee asked if the businessmen or other bod ies of the city had taken any action and Judge Foster answered in the neg ative.
 There was no opposition to the pro-
 
 health officer from $1, 800 to $2.0o0. Al derman DeF'orest said that while this measure had not passed through the proper procedure of going through the Common Council before reaching the General Assembly it has been ex- plained to the aldermen that it was thought of at the last minute. after the board of aldermen had held their last session before the date for the introduction into the General Assem- bly, of new business. He said there objection far he knew
 Senator Whitcomb spoke both as a member of the legislature and a former health commissioner, and paid a high tribute to pr. B. A. Mcclellan the present health officer, calling him lone of the most painstakfng. and faithful servants that the City of Bridgeport has been fortunate enough to have.''
 The bill to change the procedure of selection of Park commissioners was opposed by Alderman DeForest. Rep reSentative McMuTay asked for a copy of the instructions of the coun- cil this matter, suggesting that because. through oversight, the meas ure had not been introduced in the Common Council the aldermen had op- posed it on general principle.
 Alderman DeForest presented the of this nature. He added however that was one of the reasons, though not the sole reason. for the action ot the council was that the measure had not been first referred to it.
 Repres 6utatiVe Wilson vigorously opposed the measure He claimed the present self perpetuating bond was un- Democratic in principle. He spoke of the principle of the referendum in this connection, and said he with the other Bridgeport legislators hoped to sub all Bridgeport matters which would meet with the approval of the com mittee
 None appeared to favor the con-