Norwich bulletin., 1916-06-24
Especial to The Bulletin.)

Especial to The Bulletin.)
New London, June 23-Former Sc
lectman and former member of the /
board of school visitors, William c. |
Fox, the only citizen who spoke |
against the appropriation of $50, 900 |
for the municipal pier and increased
accommodations at the ferry approach, |
was evidently not talking through his |
hat" as was intimated at the special
city meeting when the appropriation
was voted. He advocated postpone
ment until the more urgent need of
school facilities was met He stated
that in the very near future the city
would be asked for a special appro-
priation of considerable size to pro-
vide necessary school accommodations
in the Fifth ward and. to meet out
standing notes made by. the board for
NECESSARY purposes and other school
deficiencies that must be supplied by
reason of the pairing of the regular
annual appropriation recommended by
the board of school visitors. The
prediction Of Mr.. Fox has become fact,
for even now, before there is any in
dication of commencing work on the
municipal pier, the board has asked
for 100000, with which to buy the
Thomas Casey property on Ocean ave-
nue. for sc11ooi purposes and to meet
the other expenses of the school de-
partment.
/
Gated for school accommodations in
/ the fast growing Fifth ward, and the
1 house can he readily made over into
an eigfft-ro01n sehoolhouse, and. be-
i side, there IS ample room for play
( ground. and Cor a large schoo house in
/ the future when the city finances war
| rant the expenditure. 1t was planned
| to have the city issue school bonds to
i the amount of 100000 to meet the
/ emergency. but at special meeting
I pGration Counsel Brennan announced
| that the bonds could not be issued
| without legislative authority and that
I therefore action could not be taken I'M
| til the session of 1917. Some of the
aldermen were of the opinion that the
home rule bill of the 1915 session left
such matters entirely with the city.
/ The court of common council agreed
with the board of the school visitors
that it was good policy to purchase
the Casey property at this time, as 1t
1 could be had for $4,000 and that pay
ment could be made in any way and
at any time, leaving the matter OPP
tional with the city. Although no
definite action was taken, it was the
tacits understanding that arrangements
/ would be made with Mr.. Casey where's
by the city could take possession of
the property in the near future
i When Captain Thomas a. Scott, as
Il alderman from the Fifth ward, adj
vocated the building Of a large school
house in that section, one that would
cost 800, 900, and be as large as any
of the large schoohouses, his talk was
considered extravagant. But he per-
! sisted and the large school building
was constructed, and in less than ten
years 1t is found to be inadequate for
z that section, proving beyond doubt
that the marine-alderman had better
judgment and forethought than was
credited to him at that time. No one
denies the absolute need of increased
: accommodations there, and in all other
sections of the city, for that matter
: but there is mild objection to trying
7 to spend money that the city does not
! possess and there is also objection
to an increase in the city debt. The
only way to raise money to meet the
needs of the school, and all other de-
partments of the city, is by increased
taxation.
IN New London, as elsewhere, there
Is always strong protest against in
crease IN taxation, or rather the rate
: OF taxation. Within the past five
years the small taxpayer wf1oS occu-
pies his mortgaged home has been re-
? CURED to pay to the tax collector dou-
BILE the amount that he did before tina
that a raise in the valuation would
i result in a reduction of the rate and
that the public fund would be en-
ii riched by the change in system. Blu
, the valuation has been raised in New
London, and so has the tax rate, ant
/. city debt is on the increase. and blu
! for lie ownership Of the water work
!. as an asset would be well beyond TIT
debt limit. The little fellow Is nov
paying more than his share OF the tax
: es and an equalization of taxation
: ! might be to the benefit of the city an,
: the citizens.
Buz, commencing the reel at In
: head, the opposition Of Mr.. Fox 4
: that $4,000 for the municipal pier
) would have been supported at tina
special meeting and the matter post
poned. but for The assurance given B,
q the mayor. the mayor whom he sue
1 ceeded and the former acting mayor
{ q republican and two democrats. tina