The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-02-27
M'NEIL URGES REPEAL OF BILL Would Withdraw Appropriation of $1,OO0, 900 for New
 London HarbOr Says Finances of State Do Not Warrant Any Such Expen- diture--Quotes Figures
 in Support of Ar
 gument


 committee on Roads, Rivers and Bridges this afternoon the hearing be- gun on the bill introduced by Senator McNeiI of Bridgeport repeating the award of $1,Oo0.OO for terminals and harbor development at New. London. Senator McNei1 in urging repeal of the bill among other things said:
 The two points I desire to make and speak upon to-day, in favor of the repail, are, first: That the financial condition of the state warrants it's repeal; second, that the million dol lars, if spent in New London har- bor. would be but the first step to- wards the sinking of many millions in this doubtful scheme to make New London a transatlantic seaport and place it in competition with New York and Boston.
 t'The state treasurer advises me that the state has on hand $1,815,-' 051.20 less on February 1st, this year, than was on hand February 1st a year ago. On February 1st. 1912, there was in the state treasury $4,330,2 ESQ., 96, while on the corresponding date of this year there was on hand but $2,472, ,564.98 and of this amount $42,- 663.7S was in the shape of trust funds not available. The estimate of re- ceipts of the state department for the coming two fiscal years, comm enc ing Oct. 1, 1918 is $3,716 900. which includes an estimate of receipts from the New York, New Haven and Hart ford railroad company of $S, ,000, 0O0. believe this estimate of receipts from the railroad company to be er- roneous as the figures show in 1911 and 1912 from this corporation for the state amounted to $2,495,3 321 or over $600,00 less than the amount esti- mated for the coming two fiscal years.
 ''I base this statement on the be- lief that the depreciation in the se- curities listed by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad com pany will mean a corresponding re duction of receipts from this corpo- ration to our state.
 ssI bel1eve am not anticipating coming events too strongly by saying that this legislature will probably re- peal the personal tax, which has been the source of some considerable rev. it's unpopularity with a certain DOT ton of our people, To meet this loss of revenue wifi therefore entail an additional burden upon the cities and towns.
 Estimate of expenditures for the coming two years compiled by the state treasurer shows necessary and statutory appropriations to the amount of $13,13o,729. showing at first glance a loss and deficiency of $4,315, 729, which will have to be met in some manner blythe state.
 t'The committee on appropriations this year has bills before it asking for appropriations estimated at ap- ] proximate1Y $30,000,OO0. feel that 1 am well within the bounds of con- servatism when say that the appro- priations passed by this. legislature will be. close to 2O.O00.p0O, an i'm crease of $6.869,271 over and above l the estimate of expenditures com piled by the treasury department, bas- l ed upon the states necessary and stat l utory expenses for the coming two | years, and which would show a total deficit and loss for the coming two fiscal years of $21, 1,184, ,99O, an appa1l- ing, startling and serious condition | confronting the people of Connecticut. 1 f'These figures do not in any way in- i c1ude the appropriation made for the New London steamship wharves and l docks. Unless this bill is repealed, 1 the original million dollars granted l by the state and the millions which l are to follow, if in the opinion of 1 experts the work in New London is | carried out to a practicable finish, | will mean an additional deficit in the
 state treasury.
 S'.With the exception of the year of
 1907. there has been net loss and debt created by the state since 1902 l of approximately $1,000,00O and the loss TOT the year or lS1Z, as shown
 by the treasurer's report is $4,877,- 856.28. The absolute necessity of a state tax on the grand list of the va rious towns to meet this serious sit
 uation is strongly and ably urged by former state treasurer Costello Lip pitt.
 sI have not touched in any way l the merits or the feasibility of the New London project but in my re- l marks this afternoon have simply en- | deavored to show you that the state | can ill afford this expenditure and the
 expenditures that are likely to come l thereafter if this project is pushed to
 completion.
 tI believe Mir. Chairman, it is about time for some member of the general
 assembly to arise and protest against the expenditures that are being made l in the state's name for the benefit of l individual legislators and communi- ties. We are all for economy, ex- cept when our own town or district ! hangs in the balance. It is about 1 time that some one defended the state
 as a whole. from those who would plunge their hands into it's treasury
 so deeply that the children who are to
 come will find themselves saddled
 with the most burdensome and out | rageous debt.'