The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-03-01


 bridge of the board of assessors ao-
 journed to the office of the board of
 contract and supply and listed the ap-
 propriation on an adding machine.
 They brought back 8 report that the
 rate must be POP if all the appropria- conference and then President William
 B. Seeley announced that $6, GOO would
 be cut from the appropriations for the
 treatment of the poor at st. Vincent's, Bridgeport and the tuberculosis hos pitfalls; $5 coo from the nacadam re- pairs account; $4, 400 for the repairing / of Knowlton street and $9, ,150 for re- pairing Putnam street. The striking out of these items brought the rate down to 19.9 mills and the board then adjourned.
 Before adjournment Mayor Wilson made a speech, thanked the board for it's efforts, said it was the best tax board ever convened and finished by saying that number of things, such as new school houses, street paving, sewers, etc, were to be provided for by bond issues to be voted on April IS, but if the bond issues were defeated he said the board would be called to- gether again to lay additional tax to provide for any of the improve ments for which it is proposed to bond and for which the people may not vote.
 To bring about this reduction in rate the board voted to strike out the item | of 1916 state tax estimated by City l Auditor Heating at $204, ,75O.
 The 1915 state tax which is to be paid is $1SO, ,727. .29. with a g per cent. interest of $7,530.72.
 The appropriations granted in the First district will aggregate 1,676, l e31. 55. The estimated receipts in this district are $329, 9,150. leaving $1, BAT, 782-- 51 to. be raised by taxation. A tax rate of ST mills in this district will raise $1, ,349, 316 .A, leaving a balance of 1 $1, ,578. .63.
 I nthe second district the approprfa- tions aggregate $1, ,521, 76S g. The es- timated receipts are $114, 800, leaving ! $1, ,407, ,166.23 to be raised by taxation i The 1O.2 mill tax in this district will furnish $1. All, III IA which leaves a bal ance of 8, ,854.91 The first appropriations were made on the basis of 9.s mills in th First Tistrict, and, in the Second district, l0.4 mills.
 The board changed it's former attd- men to be added to the force and vot- ed for the 60 men which the common council had asked for instead of 25 which was the tentative figure. The board also voted to add 15 men to the fire department When the pruning knife was wieTded it was thought better to reduce the appropri- ation for the treatment of the poor at hospitals and keep in the item of $2,50o for printing a, history of Bridgeport.
 All the members of the board of health were present. Under the di- rection of pr. Robert J. Lynch, who is chairman of the subcommittee handling their appropriation, it was remorseless1y cut.
 Tho real TOW was over the appoint nnent of Q supervisor of school nurses. Attorney zepp, Dr. Monahan, pr. Ste vens and Dr. Callahan were all pres ent when he matter was taken up. pr. Stevens, president of the board, was called to explain some of the items the board wanted. He said it was proposed to have a supervisor of school nurses in order that pr. Flor ence A. Sherman 1nigh devote her en- tire time to following mental defects or children in schools and separating them into classes. He said Dr. Sher- man has too much work at present.
 Commissioner Max J. BuechIer moved that the supervisor be appoint ed at salary of $1,5O0 but Commis- sioners Clark, Kee1er. Armstrong, An derson, Lynch. Green and Siemon vot- ed it down. The board also refused to increase Dr. Sherman's salary from s1,80o to s2,OO0. The proposed nurse assistant to the health officer, at a $90o salary. was cut out So were the two additional sanitary inspectors at $1,S72 salaries. Dr. Stevens said these inspectors were needed. He said there are houses whefe bads are oc- cupid 24 hours per day because of housing conditions. He said in some lodging houses when . day worker gets up night worker takes his place. | Instead of eight additional school nurses, the board allowed three. The carfare account was cut from $2,o00 to $1,00O.
 The printing and stationery account of the health department was reduced from $700 to 0600; the abatement of nuisances account from $500 to $40O; 1 chiefs of clinics from $500 to $15O and | dental clinic from 1000 to $15,O0O. In fact the hfea1th board accounts re- ceived more thorough pruning than those of any other department. A de- 1 fciepcy of $2,0OO was allowed and l there was provision made of $2,5O0 | for remode1ing the police and cha,ri- | ties building when the board finds 1 other quarters, as it must The item | of $2O,000 for a new slaughter house 1 was also cut out
 It was explained that the advertis- ing account of the city has increased | to three times what it has been in l other years and $6,00O was allowed 1 for this. The vice comniss1on was given $1,oo0 and the City Plan Com 1 mission $1,0OO.
 Despite the objections raised at l former sessions of the board it was voted to pay $15, ,365.45 for deficit in | the building of account the new almshouse and also to allow $12,O00 | for equipment of the building. The | charities board had asked for $22,O0O. For the city nursery, $8,092 was a1- lowed For the remode1ing of the city hall $7,50O was allowed.
 In the fire department the addition | of 15 men increases the salary account | from $238,8 ,824.79 to $253,339.
 The tax board allowed $2O, 500 for i rnotorzaition of the fire apparatus. The fire board has asked for $52,ooo