The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-01-27

for the appointment of 13O men and nine Heutenants and the force is now so constituted.
 I believe that a reasonable increase of the police force would be justifia- bIe under present conditions, and talk ing into account the city's imm ediate future outlook but as the common council has not by ordinance, aL..hor- ized such increase, I take the same stand as I did in considering the in creased force in the fire department that I ought not to anticipate proba- ble council action in the matter. The first necessary step to secure an in crease in the department force is to obtain favorable action by the com mon council in the form of an ordin- ance amendment, defining and au- thorizing such increase as may be deemed necessary. Should this be done before your final meeting you will deal with the case as changed circumstances may then require.
 State Tax.
 Owing to the fact that no provis- ion either was or could be made for payment of the state tax of 1915, due in November last, the principal plus interest until date of payment, at the rate of nine (9) per cent. per an- mum will have. to be met this year. and in addition thereto the state ta7 to become due in November, 1916.
 This entire amount ought to be pro- Vided from the proceeds of taxation for it is current expense and the penalty for non-payment is so great that it ought to be avoided in every instance. While the city can borrow money, on about a four per cent. ba- sis. it is not good business policy to defer payment of any city obligation nd int fa nf mir centf- thereon as a penalty for delay The amount to be paid to the state this year, under our increased grand list, will probably not be less than $39O,0o0.
 The Grand List.
 I cannot figure accurately at this tin1e, the amount of the city's grand list as the board of assessors has not completed it's labors. Then, too, the board of relief will hold sessions to hear parties entitled to relief during the month of February, and the re- auctions to be made by that body can not now be even inteI1igent1y ap proMmated, in view of the probable increase this year, in the number of applicants for relief. As your final meeting will not be held until Febru- ary 29, 1916. you will then have be- fore youf the revised and corrected grand list and your computations can be accurately determined. It would be, as I view it, a decided improve ment if the charter were changed, so as to require both the board of assess ors and the board of relief to conn pIete their labors before. the city au- ditor's report is required, in order that a correct grand list would be available at your first meeting. This could be done by enacting that the board of re- lief should hold it's sessions in Janu- ary instead of February each year. The law now requires the assessors to have the tax lists completed and available for public inspection in their office before January 1st each year and no change in that law would be required. It would only be necessary to exact strict compliance there with.
 I estimate the grand list at $780, 50O,000 in the First District and $135, 900. 900 in the Second District, and recommend a tax of Il 4-10 mills in the former and g BIO mills in the latter district, on each dollar of. the grand list, making 20 710 mills in both districts.
 Following are the appropriations recommended by me in the First Dis trict: