The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-10-27

I
in six years. Now, all new schools
are constructed from bond issues,
making the actual tax, as compared
with the rate when Mayor Wilson
took office, 211 Y mills, an increase of
about 35 per cent.
will close on this subject by
quoting Mayor Wilson's own, words:
In his annual message, June 8,
1912, he said: 81 believe this city
can and should be properly maintain
ed on a uniform IS mills tax rate.
Uniformity in this particular would
grove of great advantage to you tax
payers in fixing this charge at a def
hite amount for each and every year"
| In august of the same year, in
discussing proposed bond issues he
said to the council while I do not
recommend or condemn these projects
am opposed to increasing our tax
rate beyond Is mills for any of
these measures'
| believe the mayor was sincere in
that promise but the invisible gov
eminent of our city. seeing the oppor-
tuntty to build up a political ma
chine by an enormous outlay of
money, boldly forced the band Of the
mayor and by sinister methods of pol
/ ltics and brazen disregard Of pledges
proceeded to construct the Tanmany-
lied political autocracy that now
>Iretgns at the city hail.
/ AS new man in the game of poll
tics I cannot profess to have the So
cial manner of Mayor Wilson, nor can
I match his suave smile and hearty
lhandshake. 1 can only speak as a
business man who sat on some of the
boards in the first two and a half
years of Mayor Wilson's administra-
ton. I have witnessed the gradual
transformation of a political party
with a historic name that many Re-
Epublicans glory in, whose history was
i linked with some Of the brightest
pages of Americas achievements, I
have watched tho prostitution of that
4 political name until today in our city
it is no longer referred to by the
lpeople as the Republican party but as
ttthe machine at the city hall"
Another evidence of the mayors
duphcity or helplessness to properly
care for the city's interest is contain
ed in his solemn statement delivered
in his message Of Dec. 4, 1911 when
he said 81 believe that all work, ex.
lcept such as Is extremely urgent,
should be advertised for and awarded
to the lowest responsible bidder and
that the waiver Of the mayor should
not be requested except in great emer-
lgency.'
We know that the administration
deliberately turned its back on this
tsolemn pledge and awarded contracts
to q favored firm for millions of dol
lars without competition, advertising
bids. or any question as to the urgency
of the case.
Ex-Governor Rollin S. Woodruff Of
New Haven. now president of the
paving commission Of that city in
forms me that New Haven would not
buy q patented pavement but uses
the same ingredients and purchases
this pavement for "a cents a yard
foundation included, covered by a five
: year guarantee.
The Republican leader stated at 9
meeting last night that there II
no graft In Warrenite. 1 will con
trast this with the statement of for
: nler alderman. who served the city
seven or eight ago, that at that tins
the Warren Brokers' were anxious
start their product in Bridgeport ant
: that an agent of the Warren Broth
ers approached him and suggested
that he could make a commission O.
t20 per cent on all contracts that tn,
Warren Brothers might obtain.
1t might be pertinent at this tim,
to call your attention to the goot
roads, parade Monday night to cele
: brate the use OF Warrenite pavement
VI What I am wondering is. "Are tn
Republicans going to celebrate tn
3 enormous high price they paid TO
! their product or celebrate far les
lamount Of paved streets in proportio,
: to money spent. than any other city
Tor do they glory in the fact that the
Ihucceeded in spending more none
: for q street pavement than New Ha
ven and are virtuously glad that ther
was no graft.
: l would like to know why it is tina
: New Haven can have a good pavemefl
\ guaranteed for five years for "a cent
a yard while Bridgeport must pa
! $1.60.
q These acts are typical of many sim
liar broken pledges and one need onl
d lrecall the treatment accorded tn
: commission government proposition
o to place the brand of insincerit
Il squarely ON the face of the adminie
traticn, and one need only recal
# Mayor Wilson's communication to tn
o common council Dec. !, 1913, in whic
1t he stated it to be his belief that com
. mission government would be for tn
g more efficient and economical man
/ agement of city affairs"
u And why not, except that the inyisi
BILE government could not resist tn
= opportunity for. secret contracts, tn
= building up of personal political for
y tunes and the enjoyment dictate
. must feel at the creation of roys
= family at the city hall. You all kno'
- by what jugglery the expressed wi
OF the people for commission govern
!. ment was defeated by the admins
= tration.
q II the mayor was sincere regardin
- commission government his handlin
=. of the question so as to defeat tn
= efforts to bring about commissio
NJ government proved his utter helpless
NJ ness and inability to keep his pledge
of The platform upon which I al
~ running for mayor is very plain an
y clear as to the attitude of the Dem,
VS. cratic party on the commission go
eminent question. Its commissio
of government plank reads as follows:
n we therefore pledge ourselves thu
y II the Democratic party is placed
"a charge Of the city government OF
~ electors will have the opportunity
vote upon the question of adoptir
a commission form of government