The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-11-01

I control over the contracts for this paw ing I do not charge dishonesty. l i simply have recited the facts and now repeat them and I will let these facts speak for themselves. "A fragrant example of the admins tration's reckless disregard of the city's financial condition was the un- precedented increase, during the past year, in the number of men in the po- lice department. I believe that the ] city ought to be as we'll policed as can be done consistently with a proper consideration of our financial strength. But in making such a radical depart ure and in putting such a large and | permanent expense on our city, the size of the grand hist should be kept in mind and also the amount that can be raised by taxation As [ have be- fore stated, taxation is practically our only way of securing revenue Out of this our schools must be maintained, our streets kept in repair and inprov- ed, our fire department supported and developed, the charities, police and health departments and the engineer ing and fiscal branches and all other divisions of our municipal government maintained.
 Therefore the addition of this large number of patrolnaen to the police force at one time was a gross injus- tice to the city The motive behind it
 
 good of the city. At the first meeting of the board of apportionment and taxation following the election of May or Wilson, namely in February, 1912, the administration declared that no new policemen were required. Then to have this same administration, with in a few months thereafter, recom- mend that the police force be increased by the addition thereto of nine lieu tenants, thirty-four patro1men, three doormen and thre@ drivers, made the people rightfuIly suspicious of it's good faith and sincerity.
 Another instance of thought1ess and extravagant expenditure was the pay ment to Peter White of $20,Oo0. And what benefit to the city does the ad- ministration even claim resulted from this large outlay? All that is asserted is that there has been some beneficial modification of our system of book keeping. MT. White and a. corps of as- sistants spent weeks Investigating diff ferent departments and checking up vouchers of s41ose depar trnents4 This was all waste of time and an unnec- essary expense to the city, if all that MT. White was seeking was to ac- quaint himself with our audit system This he himself as an expert in mu- n1cipa1 government or some other ex- pert could have done within a few days and a small cost to the city But the administration placed $2O,000 at his command and he did not let go until the money was exhausted.
 And if we turn to a, consideration Of the management by this admins tration of the department of public works, what do we find? The streets have never been in. worse condition It does not require d long memory to recall sthe dissracefu1 condition in which Fairfield avenue was left and against which the business men and residents along that street vainIy pro- tested. We all recall the incident when residents of John street were themse selves compelled to go out and work upon that street in order to make it in some degree fit for travel Throughout the city the streets were generally neglected until the past few
 months as the day of election ap- preached. Mayor Wilson is now at- tempting to make political capital out of the permanent pavement recently laid But the administration will have to account for it's sorry record in this department, extending over period of two yeans.
 tIn conclusion, fellow citizens, I de- sire to say to you that I stand before you absolutely unp1edged to any per son in any way. This nomination caIne to me unsolicited and I am entirely free to act for the~best interests of the city as my judgment may guide me. stand upon the Democratic platform adopted at our recent city convention. The Democratic platform pledged the party to give the city an Independent administration free from the controlI- ing power of some invisible hand: We pledge ourselves, if elected, to adhere to our city's well established policy of paying as we gos and of creating no bonded indebtedness without the ap- prova1 of the voters. We pledge an economical and efficient administra- ton in an effort to offset the bills heaped upon the city by the present spendthrift administration. We be- Iieve that the people should own and operate the public utilities of the city, but in no case should the city engage in such ownership without amrma tive vote of the people. This is probably the last opportunity in the campaign that I shall have to appear before such a large gathering I therefore, before closing, desire to appeal to all Demo . crats of the city to lay aside all differ ences that may have arisen in, the re- cent primaries. This is not now a contest of any faction or group of men. The Democratic party calls upon you to do your duty. I promise you that if elected my office shall not be used to advance the interests of any group or faction. My services in public life in Bridgeport and my record in the city justify me in believing that my word will be accepted. AS have said before, the confidence which you may repose in me win not be betrayed.
 John M Donne11y spoke briefly but very earnestly again encouraging his supporters in the primary to emulate him and work hard for the success of the whole ticket. He was given hearty reception.
 The final speech of the evening was by Representative Lynn w. Wilson, who was introduced by Senator McNefl asessa man who has fought the battles of the people for years without hope of reward. No man at Hartford ever made a better record," said ne. MT. wilson said, in part:
 A city is a corporation, not a bus ir ess corporation in the full sense ef the word, but sort of social corpora tion, in which the citizens assemble to do certain things for each other