New Britain herald., 1919-01-08
DISlkICl CHANGE
School System in Outskirts Negli,
 gent, McDonough Declares


 committee was held last night in city hall. It was the most largely attended and enthusiastic meeting which this committee has held since new charter last meeting there was but one citi- zen present but last night there were about 100 taxpayers from the out skirts of the city who were there to voice their protest to the proposed elimination of the present taxing dis tricts and consolidating the city into one district.
 In the absence of Mayor Quigley the meeting was called to order by AL derman Richards at 8:15 D. m. Sena- tor George w. klett and Representa- tives Edward Hall and Richard Covert were not present. The remain ing members of the committee voted to take up for discussion the elimina- ton of the taxing districts. This was done because of the 100 taxpayers present, the majority wanted to be heard on the subject These men represented Stanley Quarter, Osgood Hill district, BarnesdaIe and other outlying districts.
 Opposes Zone Changes.
 The first to address the meeting was E, o. Kilbourne 8 resident in the Stanley Quarter district. He was formerly a member of the board of assessors and gave detailed figures proving that the taxpayers in the first district are bearing the burden Of tax ation. MT. Kilbourne gave a brief re- z F0 I year of consolidation, the first district paid mills and the second district paid mills. In 1918 the rate in the first district was $ 1-2 mills and in the second district 1t was mills That shows that the first district is paying the burden of taxation in proportion and far in excess of tho benefits 1t receives, he said. When first consoli- dated, MT. Kilbourne stated, the first district paid taxes on $500 and now they are paying on $98.457.57. He fur ther gave to the men present 8 state ment of conditions existing in regard to taxation. The mem bers of the first district he said, pay taxes for police protection but never see a policeman or the protection. It also pays taxes on sewers but has none. Mr. kiIbourne said he was a member of the commit tee which drafted the original city charter but it has been so amended that one would not recognize it. MT. kilbourne was asked by Q. F. Curtis the amount of taxable property in the outlying district. He was informed that the amount is about $1,400,0O0.
 Probably one of the most compre- hensive talks ever given on the council floor was that given by Attorney P. F. McDonough. If he talked from a selfish Standp0int MT. McDonOugh would favor the elimination of the two districts, he said, for he has much more property in the second district and would benefit by the, change. He talked, however, from the standpoint of principle and the good of the city which would be doing an injustice to the outside taxpayers to consolidate the two districts. On seeing the large number of men present last night and thinking that he was the only taxpayer before the committee at it's last meet ing, MT. McDonough said it evidently pays to advertise. MT McDonOugh then went into detail to point out to the members of the charter revision committee the injustice which the change would be, There were several  made which were strong but he placed himself upon the basis of facts re- gardless of how the facts revealed things.
 Critiuizes School System.
 Speaking of the police protection which the outsiders pay for, he said, they receive none. The onlyy protc- ton they have is a motorcycle police man in the summer time. As far as he knew there is not one police beat in the city which Includes even one street in the outlying districts. Mr. Curtis interrupted him to ask him if it wasn't true that there are several streets near the center which have not police protection. MT. McDonough WAS speaking of the bonds when he again was interrupted to be asked if he knew that the bonds were school bonds. When pressed for the school question, he stated that conditions as regards schools in the outlying dis tricts are also negligent. For three days last week the Wells street school was without sanitary necessities. MT.