The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-16
CHANCE TO DODGE
PERSONAL TAXES
BY FAKE DEVICE
Redding Fire Department
Discusses the Method and
Favors Prevention.


from consideration of what should be
done in the cases of some fifteen who
caused their names to be entered on
the rolls active members about
three months ago and who have
neither performed service nor paid the
monthly dues of ten cents. Under the
bylaws they might be dropped from
the rolls for their neglect, and the
question was whether to take such ac-
ton without giving them a further
chance to make good. AS the law ex-
empts members of volunteer fire COM
panies from personal tax obligation
the suggestion was made that joining
a fire company just before the per-
sonal tax list was made up on Jan. 1,
paying perhaps a months dues and
then letting membership lapse, afford
ed an easy method Of beating the tax
game. No one intimated that any of
the delinquent fifteen was actuated by
this motive, although Collector Muen-
mich said that two or three OF the west
side department had asked him if they
were not entitled to exemption by rea-
son of their membership. He thought
they were not because when the per
sonal list was made up No. Co. had
not become what might be called a go
ing concern. Mr.. Muennich believed,
and others expressed agreement that
the collector should not be required to
solve such problems and that the law
should be amended by the addition Of
specific provisions so as to prevent
ire companies from being unworthy
used to the detrinn~nt of the States
interests. AS to the present delin-
opportunity to show their good faith
and Should they fail to properly re-
spond to have the matter of expulsion
passed upon by the company instead
of the secretary alone.
It was announced to the meeting
hot in ho o1.o1
wish Mr.. Muennich would serve out
his term as secretary and treasurer.
The new engine which was involved in
the recent barn fire has been shipped
hack to Boston for reconstruction and
the Badger Co. will be asked, in view
OF the MISFORTUNE attending it, to
make concession in the purchase price
and repair bill. Its cost price was
$215 and $3.50 had been raised towards
payment. The meeting decided to buy
several large iron hoops as a feature
of its alarm system which is now en-
Struck by a hammer these hoops give
a sound which can be heard from a
long distance.
Whether Commodore Luettgen and
Senator Peck viii go to the courts
with their grievances IN the matter of
taxation or be content with the frac-
tiona1 ~~af allowed them by the board
Of relief, and also whether the Grange
will make a further effort for exemp-
ton by asking the seIectmen for
abatement are matters as yet undeter-
mined. AS Senator Peck has for sew
eral years paid his taxes under pro-
test the way for redreSsive measures
is open to him on claims covering this
entire period. Some are asking why
the town does not seek to recover from
the Grange for the unpaid taxes of
1914. Such a claim could probably not
be enforced against the Grange be-
cause no assessment against it was
levied on that year, but it is also prob
able that it could be enforced against
the 1914 assessors by reason of their
neglect whether the same was wllful
or innocent. A new and interesting
disclosure in connection with the for
ner claims that the Grange was tax
exempt because it had a library IS the
fact that the conditions under which
the late Catherine De wolfe donated
to it the books of which the library
mostly consists included a specific
provision that the use of these books
should be restricted to Grange mem
bers.
The fiat roof OF the power building
of the Sanford school is being sup
piled with an ornamental balustrade
and when this and other features are
added will be known as 1.-The Ter
race" Among other uses it will serve
the purpose of open air theatre, the
occasion of its first important service
in that respect being a production of
1.-THE Merchant of Venice as part of
the schools commencement program
in June. The Shakespeare tercenten-
airy has been a large influence in the
present terms course of literary in
struction and the elimination of this
preparatory work will come with the
commencement dramatic performance.
Henry Daley Of Cambridge, Mass,
died suddenly on Wednesday of last
week at the home Of his daughter,
Mrs. William B. Claf1in, in the Un-
pawaug section. At the time all the
members of the family were in New
York with the exception of two CIaf1in
children and the servants. Although
not robust Mr.. Daley seemed to be in
fairly good health and it was there
fore a great shock when one of the
children who went to his room to call
him to supper found his lifeless body
fully dressed, stretched upon the bed
The cause of death was cerebral hem
orrhage. The age of the deceased was
So.
The meeting of the Central Congre-
gationaT church and society which was
to have been held last Sunday to act
on the mater of extending a call to
Rev William S. Woolworth of Dali
man, N. Y, was postponed to next
Sunday on account of the, scant at
tendance due to bad weather.
At the annual banquet of the Fair
field County Yale Alumni association
to be held in Bridgeport tomorrow
evening this town will be represented
by D. S. Sanford, the associations
present president. Mr.. Sanford is of
the class of 'S2, and had as his only
Redding .c1assmate Frank Abbott, now
a professor of Princeton University
They shared honorsl as valedictorian
and salutatorian.
Some shoveHing was required to
oEen the highways after last Fridays
storm, although much less than. the
previous big storm made necessary.
The two rural carriers failed to get
through.
1t is the expectation of Harry
Lounsbury that the coming season
will see larger local incursion of city
real estate hunters than has been the
L.