The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-11-23
CONFIDENT SIXTY
PER CENT. VOTE
Will BE P0LLED
Commission Government
League Working to Bring
Out Ballots.

With the history of special elections
in Bridgeport pointed to by Republi-
| can politicians as a reason why 60 per
cent. of the vote will not be po1led
Saturday, members of the Commission
Government league today redoubled
their efforts to get citizens to express
their opinion on the proposed charter
The league members are confident
that they can get out the vote and
they declare that from their observa-
ton during the last few days the
voters of Bridgeport have enough
patriotism to turn out to exercise
their franchise.
There are 1851 voters in Bridge
port. Under the Home Rule bill at
any special election where it is pro-
posed to change the charter or the
method of government, at least so per
cent. of the registered voters must go
to the polls to make the election valid.
This means that 49, 2O voters must go
to the polls and vote next Saturday
or the election will not be legal.
On November 2, 1915, when the
municipal election was held the ques-
ton: "Shall commission be chosen
to prepare a charter for the city Of
Bridgeport" appeared on the machine.
Only 6,409 voters took the trouble to
express their desire on the question.
This was only a trifle more than half
Of 60 per cent. of those who voted.
The total number of registered
voters that year was $1,000. 1t would
have required that 11,44S voters ex-
press preference on the charter. Of
the $1,000 voters registered that year
only 1900 went to the polls. Of
these 4,304 voted for the commission
to prepare the new charter; 2,1O5
voted against the proposition, and
$500 Of those who voted did not ex-
press preference either way. Thus it
will be seen that 5000 votes of the
60 per cent. were lacking and this at
a regular municipal election.
Fifth District voters took more in
terest in the question of commission
government than the voters of any
other large district in the city. A
large number Of those who have been
active in the endeavor to bring this
form of government to Bridgeport
live IN that district. They made a
vigorous campaign to get a vote on
the subject then and they are max
ing a more vigorous one now.
The returns for the election in
November, 1915, show that 1920
voters in that district took pains and
opportunity to register their choice
In the matter. Of these 831 voted
'yes," for the commission to frame
the charter and 189 voted against it.
The vote in the other districts was
as follows: First district, Yes PAS,
No 109; Second, Yes 24S, No 211;
Third, Yes 120, No 116; Fourth, Yes
301, No 17S; Sixth, Yes 4o6, No PIG;
Seventh, Yes 299, No 149; Eighth
Yes 279, No 106; Ninth, Yes 581, No
276; Tenth district, Yes 244, No lis;
Yes 1853, No 1928; Twelfth,
Yes $50, No BIT.
It was not necessary that go per |
cent. of the voters express their minds |
on the question. The figures are
merely offered as interesting by COM
parison.
Again at the special election held
April Is, 1916 q total Of about 400 |
votes were cast. The election called |
for bond issue for pavement, sewers, |
schools, bridges, police and fire de-
partments, public clinics, parks, and /
street extensions, aggregating $2,225,-
900. Despite the importance of the |
measures to be acted on, total only |
about 400 Of the $1,000 went to the
polls. The vote was largely in favor
Of the bonds. but had the matters de-
pended so per cent. vote of the total
they could not have car
ried.
When the vote Is taken at the
special election next Saturday on the
adoption Of the charter change of
government is to be passed on and 60
per cent Of the voters must declare
their minds for or against the charter.
The registration in each district Is
as follows: First. 1,o74; Second, 1912;
Third. 954; Fourth. 1908; Fifth.
2,588; Sixth, 1851: Seventh, 1,549;
Eighth, LAC; Ninth, 2,4S4; Tenth,
1853; Eleventh. 1856; Twelfth, First
precinct, 1.444; Second precinct, 1858.
The Canadian government placed