The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1916-01-26

pockets of its taxpayers-its home
owners, business men and manufac-
turers-money worth to them for use
in their business far more than the
two per cent. which the city receives
for its use and places it with the
banks to loan at a profit, in many
+ to the same persons who have
paid it for taxes to the city.
Would it not be better to leave so
much of this money as the city does,
not need for immediate use where It
will do the most good, in the pockets
of it's taxpayers?
This result could be accomplished
by making the taxes due and payable,
twice year in equal amounts, one
half on. April 1st and the other one
half on October LIST each year, eend
making the penalty for non-paynaent
apply on May LIST and November list
on such serni-annuaI payrn ents If
the city can collect it's taxes as rap
idly as money is. required for muni-
cipaI uses that is all that is neces-
sary. On the other hand the prop
erty owners ought not to be asked to
part with their money until it is ac-
tually needed. While, under this
plan, the city would lose some in
fterest If the proposed changes were
made, the resulting benefits to the
taxpayers would more than offset this
loss. In other words 1t would sub
SLlCuI0 the taxpayers Tor the banks
and trust companies as the 'benef1clar-
les of city funds which are temporar-
lily idle,
Fire Department
If the common council had author
lied, by ordinance, and created the
two-platoon system in this depart
ment, would consider it my duty to
provide in my recommendation for
making the changes effective. But
h. nnf n I1Irf 10
and I feel that ought not either to
foresta1l or to anticipate the council
action on the matter, and therefore
provide money sufficient to pay the
salaries of the force as now consti-
tuted, thus reducing the salaries re-
QUESTION of the department by the
sum of $49.200, that being the in
creased sum called for by the pro-
posed changes requested by the com
missioners. I believe that the entire
naotorization of the department is de-
sirab1e and justihab1e and would
greatly add to it's efficiency, and the
sooner it is done the better. I pro-
vide the sum of $4,000 for partial
rnotorization only in my recommends
lions to you. I would like to see my
way clear to rovide for com plete mo-
torization, but the money is not now
available. 1 trust that the balance
can be provided next time when some
OIneE CITY Q0InanQS may not De as
great as they are this year. When
the department is completely motor
lied and made as efficient as it can
possibly be, our property owners
ought to profit as a result thereof, by
obtaining lower insurance ratesN on
their property, for the Insurance COM
panies will surely be fair enough to
concede more favorable rates in a
city like ours, where the fire depsrt-
ment is so efficient and where money
is so freely spent to equip it fully and
keep it up to modern requirements.
and where, too, the water supply not
only keeps pace with, but actually
keeps ahead of, our other fire proven
tive measures.
But one other really important
matter, is still required, that is to
strictly enforce our existing building
laws and all ordinances relating to
fire prevention so as to obtain the
best results. The fire hazards IN
many sections of the city are still
great and we cannot afford to relax
our efforts to prevent CONGREGATIONS
and save people from the results in
many cases of their own carelessness
and want of forethc1ght
Police Department.
The commissioners include in their
reqhisition to me, salaries for one new
lieutenant and so new men, amount
ing to $61,625. diSalloW this ent1fe
sum in my recommendation to~you,
because there is no legal warrant or
auth orization for it.
The existing city ordinance provides
for the appointment of 100 men and
nine lieutenants and the force is now
so constituted.
I believe that a reasonable increase
of the police force would be justifia-
BILE under present conditions, and TAX
ing into account the city's immediate
future outlook but as the common