The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-10-30
REPUBLICAN, PARTY HEADS HAVE
 JuGCLED BOND ISSUE IGNORING
 PEOPLE, CANDIDATE KIRK SAYS

Fearing public sentiment against the issuance of the last batch of bond issues amounting to $2,575, 900 was so great that they would be beaten if put to vote, the Republican machine by political jugglery in the legislature ignored the voice of the people and issued the bonds. Those acts were a feature of William P. Kirk's speech at rally of the Sixth, Seventh and Eighth districts in Eagles hall. last night. The Demo- cratic mayoralty candidates speech was forceul and most convincing.
 The speech in part follows:
 When the present administration took office. Bridgeport was in the DO" sition of a city with a per capita tax of $16 and with total bonded debt of ,1.7 per cent. of the grand list and a credit in banking circles second to none in the United States.
 While it is true. that in the past, the system of development in Bridge- port was economical, it was because of this economy, and careful handling that her credit stood so high.
 "The administration assured the citizens that Bridgeport could be de- veloped to take car it's wonderful growth on 15 mt ex rate if al- lowed to take cafes he so-calied sssnes ea Donds nn the th. 5i statement from the message of the when he said:
 "I believe the adoption of all these suggestions as to bonding can ha Aro 17o 1 rrrf1 ha q without jeopardizing the city's inter. ests in other particulars
 This promise of the administra. ton was SO thoroughly and carefully drilled into the people from every angle that all the bond issues propos. ed at that time were adopted, and at a still later election more bonds were unhesitatingly adopted by the people in the full confidence that bonding for permanent Improvements would not jeopardise the low tax rate.
 When the people were thoroughly educated into the belief that bonding was the solution of our financial problem, they unhesitatingly voted for the issuance of approximately s1,000,000 in bonds and the admin istration considered that al great en- dorsement of their financial program. But in the minds of some of the as- tute leaders of the machine, there was one very disturbing element in the election of 1915 that seemed to indf- cate that the days of the city hall machine were numbered.
 Commission Peoples Efforts.
 "I would call your attention to the laudable efforts of the commission government people in nominating a third ticket as a protest against tho administration and I would call your attention to the part this independent ticket played. It ran second to Mayor Wilson and the significance of this independent protest was not lost on the invisible government, as sub- sequent actions showed. t r-%s-,
 Previous to the last election there was a careful catering to the people on all bond issues. After the cleo ton the policy showed a determina- ton that now was the time to go the limit before the citizens were thor oughly awake to their danger. And what do we find? The citizens were calmly iEs.ored. Their wishes re- mained unspoken and the administra- ton went back on it's pledges and asked of the legislature permission to bond the city to the limit allowed by law. The legislature granted the per- mission in an act approved April 1, 1917, in which permission was grant ed the common council to issue bonds up to the limit of debt, 8, 800, ,000, in no part of which did the people have a voice by referendum as provided for in the home rule act.
 'sThis proceeding, gentlemen, was one of the most bare-faced bits of jugglery with the liberty of the peo- pie ever witnessed in the city of Bridgeport, and I am compelled to cite these facts even at the risk of being called a mud-slinger.
 Tn addition to this vast amount which the administration have had to spend there is little joker in the bond act to which I would direct your careful scrutiny. It is further pro- vided that when the grand list shall increase to a sufficiently large amount there may be issued by the administration a still further amount of bonds in. the sum of $2,500, 900. So that as the law now stands, our credit