New Britain herald., 1915-03-25
CHAMBERLAIN SHOWS
 UP (. 0. P. SHARES
(Continued From First Page.)

 a. tax rate no higher than last year. Who Promised Low Tax Rate: 1T don't know who it was that promised the people that the tax rate would remain the same as last year and I don't know when that promise was made" said President Chamber lain. "I'd like to be informed who made that promise. The board of fi-, nance goes over these estimates year after year and it is my option that no commission gets away with much. "The promise was made that the extra tax of one mill levied to giva work to the unemployed on the streets would be deducted from the appro- priation of the board of public works and that promise was kept as we re- duced the public works appropriation by just about a mill in addition to turning over sS,000 from that depart ment to other departments which needed the money.
 Schools Will Have Deficit.
 You can cut out the permanent pavement and city service truck ap- propriations if you want. But I don't think the schools can go through the year on the amount left them af-
 
 state laws are back of the school board and if the money is not ap- propriated they can go ahead with their work and present deficit at the end of the year It has been remarked that there has been a big increase in the school department appropriations each year and now you want to cut That is true, there has been an ap- proximate increase of ten per cent each year and now yo' uwant to cut that down to four per cent" --f
 President Chamberlain said a slight cut might be made in street lighting but that is done by contract. He said no large amount could be clipped from the street sprinkling appropria- tion as that also is done by contract and the appropriation is the same 7,s that made last year despite the fact that there are more streets to take care of.
 Economy to Pave Bigelow Street.
 The paving of .Bigelow street can be cut out," he continued, ''but the finance board believed it would be economical to do this paving. The board of public works has a large pile or paving stones piled in it's old store yard and these must be moved Why not move them to a spot where we can use them instead of simply stor- ing them?
 Want to Starve Horses?
 You have cut supplies for fire de- partment horses $500, yet you have not taken into consideration the fact that if you eliminate the city service truck you must have more horses and a consequent higher expense for their Do you want to starve the horses?
 'Incidentals in the fire department you would reduce $20O. We'll, what's the odds. But they must have some thing to go and come on. The in- cidentals item in the police depart ment appropriation you propose to cut from $400 to $10O. The appropria- tion last year was $4OO and this was $36O too little. An appropriation for two new policemen has been cut out and you certainly need them.
 Must Take Care of Poor.
 Tn the charity department you in- tend to make more reductions. The charity department is somewhat sim liar to the school department in that it has the state laws behind it. The
 
 have never had complaint to make Only in 1907 during the hard times and this year was it's appropriation exceeded. They'll have to take care of the poor whether you give them the money Or not. I notice the out side poor item has been cut s1.OOO. It can't be done
 You have cut the appropriation for more wagons for the health depart ;ment. But you want to remember that it is in the contract that the city must furnish suitable wagons with which the garbage is collected I don't think the printing supplies in the health department can be cut either'
 Praise for Institute.
 Regarding the reduction of s3,OOO1 proposed in the New Britain Institute appropriation, President Chamberlain remarked that it was the intention of those in charge of the libraries 10 extend their branches in the schools and he considered them of great value and assistance.
 Alderman Parker asked sarcastically whether the New Britain Institute wanted to build any more new fences around the property "in these hard times President Chamberlain said that the money for that work had been appropriated last year. He told the council that it cost the city not a penny to erect or equip the build ing and all that is asked for is ap- proximately seventy-five per cent. of the upkeep. He did not see why there should be cut in the emer- gency fund of $60OO, which was pre- viously listed under the head of "sun