The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-31
THE PORT OF BRIDGEPORT"

HE BILL creating the "Por of Bridgeport for which the Chamber of Commerce is sponsor, and which 1t has hsked Senator George B. Clark introduce to the General As sembly modestly described "tentative bill It might with equal fidelity to the truth be called entaced b There is little in the of novel and unfamiliar forms of power that the measure does not embody.
 The Port Bridgeport being created by giving legal aon the towns of Saord and Bridgeport great powers are conferred upon the corporation raised and each and all o these powers conded to body of nine named in the bill, who constantly themselves They fill any vacan cie from whatever cause arising may their bers.
 There is in other words perpetual corporation which will governed by perpetual self pepeuating commission of nine men, the first of vhom Clifford B. Wilson. He not named mayor, however, but individual.
 The financial powers conferred upon this perpetual poraon exercised by it's perpetual self perpeuang commission vast indeed and exercised without any check or control with exception which will be noted,
 These commissioners empowered to lay tax Of two ens of per cent annually forever upon the grand lists of Straord and Bridgeport which would put into the treasury of the corporation annual revenue 0 S4oOOOO increasing year year with the growth of property values in great city
 The taxing power not alone confided to tem but the privilege well of bending to five cent of the combined grand lists of Srtlord and Bridgeport that an immediate debt of $11,25OO0O may be incurred
 The person who drew this bill did not lack concept Of grandeur He had not failed to study the methods by which monarch longer able to operate by absoum resorted to cever legislation to take the of the from their peope
 This person. drawing prime purpose buy ng and improving four square miles of salt marsh swings 1.-two towns into corporation of form unknown to the public policy of Connecticut and probably to the public policy of the Limited States.
 This strange Frankensten to be raised by incanaon will take it's fe by which will and act from nine ta who may make their wills immortal The living would substitute places the dead those of their minds Their bodies would die, but their wills would live
 Without in inc least attempting to throw cold upon the proposition that Bridgeport should be developed port lit remains say thai plan of development other than the proposed plan will be necessary.
 Bridgeport will confide any nine powers and especially will confide the right tax, the right tO create debt to organization thus constituted.
 The ctV is PFOndp6 To be there is this differences the existing bonds have been largely productive and for waseu unnecessary enterprises scheme for waterways development might be made sefsu porting, profitable
 But the rather considerable powers in the electorate have not ufficed check gross abuses in the municipality though those abuses been under discussion dapprOaion years. How grievous would be the abuses arising corporation exercising power of the purse which very large body would do all the paying and another very small body of men all the supervising
 That fight fought out great many years ago. It will not be necessary fight again Those who pay must control the purse
 Here is the only control of specific and determnabe ure which is confded to the inhabitants of Bridgeport and Straford
 All shall matter record and full minutes shall be kept which shall be open inspection by the Mayor of the City of Bridgeport person to be appointed by the board of aldermen of the City of Bridgeport and person appoint / ed by the selectmen of the town of Stratford"
 The above provision amounts to repeal of rights which any taxpayer would ordinarily have, right inspect public records This right which general proposition between the taxpayer and all public records by implication withdrawn and the right of inspection by three persons sub stted This legislation put darkness place of light