The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-02-18
Referendum Accepted
 For Port Project
(Continued from Page One.)

Of the Chamber of Commerce, ana read at the public hearing on the Port of Bridgeport project last night was not acted on by the aldermen. and a committee asked for was not appointed.
 The resolution asked the aldermen to reverse heir action of Feb. 3, in opposing the bill, and also called for a referendum. Alderman Cornell objected to the clause asking he board to reverse its decision and while no action was taken on the matter, 1t is known that the alder men will reverse the decision men tioned if a substitute bill calling for referendum, be brought before them.
 The resolution as introduced reads as follows:
 Resolved. That the Board of Alder men hereby reverse it's action of February 3 in reference to the Port of Bridgeport project and hereby au- thorize the appointment by the chair of a committee, which committee shall study the possibilities of this project from every angle; shall con slider the benefits which 1t may bring to the city of Bridgeport; shall con fer with the committee to be ap-
 
 of Stratford and with the committee from the Chamber of Commerce, and shall report back with its recom- menda tions and amendments to the next meeting of the Board of Alder men;-any report which may be brought back in favor of the project to include a provision for submission of the act to the voters of the city of Bridgeport by REFERENDUM before final adoption.
 Lindon w. Bates, the eminent en- gineer, was the principal speaker for the Chamber of Commerce in advo- eating the measure. He pointed out what Bridgeport could make itself The home of a large sugar refinery, oil center. and terminal for western railroads transporting live stock to and from South America, the West Indies and Europe.
 While MT. Bates address was one of revelations to a great many, he spoke entirely from an engineering standpoint, and according to the op- position neglected, what Is to their minds the most important phase of the subject, the financial condition of Bridgeport, and where the burden of taxes would rest It was claimed that MT. Bates was not familiar with the financial situation here.
 Simon Lake appeared on behalf of the project and told how the Lake Torpedo Boat Company had reclaim ed marsh lands at the foot of Seaview avenue, pointing out that the same thing could be done in making Bridgeport a great seaport.
 MT Lake told of commission bi ],;- ping board during the war to locate a seaport and that he had travelled from Maine to South Carolina with out finding the proper facilities. Had Bridgeport harbor been developed" said MT. Lake, 'I would not have to leave home, and we would have had a great plan right here The same thing is possible now, and the land values along the water front. which are not in use at the present time would become valuable property
 Samuel Lavit, representing the American Labor party, said he had attended the meeting to oppose the bill, but that as long as the sponsors were agreeable to referendum he no longer opposed it, as 1t would give the work to the laborer and in time better living conditions in this city. George W. Finn in opposing the i measure, said he wanted to know something about it. He asked three questions, and although they were spertinent ones, neither of them were answered. He asked: ''Who is back ! of the project? Is the city o1 1 Bridgeport a partner in the scheme ? Does the bill provide that the city should play the good apostle and give something away?
 l Lawrence T. Gallagher said he did not think the city is in a position to bond itself for s11, 100000 for a port project or any other kind of 8 | project at this time. And I don't l think the city is in position to bond }itself for the sS,O00,OO0 now before khe legislature" added Mir. Gallagher 1 John Flood, who had come proposed to fight for referendum, said the op- position in advocating placing the matter before the people had robbed him of what he intended to say. He l did say, however, that under the pres ent measure Stratford was going tc reap nine-tenths of the benefits from the improvements and Bridgeport was going to pay nine-tenths of the cost engineered by a commission responsi- ble to no one and who would contin- ually succeed itself.
 | Ferdinand C. Fox, secretary Of the Taxpayers Association, advocated asking the Federal government fol aid. MT. Fox said the people o1 Brid gep@t had dreamed on many oc- casions and had a sad awakening He wondered whether the next one would be the same as the others. l William Murphy, a real estate man created a near riot when Engineer Bates evaded his questions in regard to the actual cost of the proposition ! This is what he asked the engineer but when he received an evasive re. ply, he jumped to his feet, interrupt ing MT. Bates, and declaring he want ed an answer to his question; that as a taxpayer and voter of Bridgeport he was entitled to have the question answered. He was declared out O.
 order on motion of Alderman Lyons but not before Engineer Bates fae admitted that he did not have tn, exact figures.
 Thomas Biewett also Grew aIpplaus
 and misses when he declared the cit.
 of Bridgeport bankrupt. He aske, MT. Bates what interest the city woul'
 have to pay on the bonds, and MI