New Britain herald., 1919-03-19
TAXPAYERS DECIDE
TO ATTEND COUNCIL
CONTINUED from First Page
tional Bank people agreeing to pay
SO, 1000 more in taxes.
Protection. Not EXtOftion.


Protection, Not Extortion.
Mr.. Sullivan said that the war bu-
association should be to prevent ex-
tortion from the small taxpayer by
the landlord. and the protection of
the landlord against waste of money
! bv the administration. He said that
| there must be taxation when high sal
| aries are paid to men for their
| shape" or because they are good fell
| lows
! "Ouiglev has said that the assess
| ors are a Joke but he has re-appoint-
! ed them, and the chairman has been
recommended for a 5000 increase in
! salary" said Mr.. Sullivan. Continu-
ing in this vein, the speaker said that
| much is heard in praise of the local
| schools but when it comes to hiring
| principals or teachers, the school
| board usually goes out Of town to Sc
cure them. MI Sullivan said that he
! read in the press recently that w. l..
Hatch is to retire from the school
| board and in issuing this staten ent
! he said that he had sold some insur-
| ance on the local schools. But he
| didn't tell you that he sold most Of
the insurance. was Mr.. Sullivans re-
mark The speaker said that he could
such a strong effort to be elected to
some of the berths. In olden times it
was a case where the office usually
| sought the man. but times bring
| changes, he said. Mr.. Sullivan said
| that voters can usually control situa-
tons, and politicians should be made
| to know what they must do. "It was
| easy to see who favored the 25-mill
| tax at the recent election, and those
| who stood out for high salaries,' said
| Mr.. Sullivan. Touching on the Amer
| icanization plan, Mr.. Sullivan said
| that economy in transacting city
| business, would be a good brand of
| Am aricansm to teach.
Knows of No Graft.
| P. S. Mcmahon said if the city is run
! right no one would have reason to
| complain of heavy assessments. The
| assessor ent plan is one that must be
! run right, and it is the aim of the
| Taxpayers association to see that 1t
| is, said Mcmahon. I'VE can give two
men for the board on the 81 a year
| PLAN said McMahon. The chairman
| said it was only since the city was
| consolidated that the excessive tax
alton was felt. He told of the old
system of conducting the building in
! spector's office and the health de-
! partment at $500 year. and now it
| costs about $1,000. ''The board of
| public works has not done a thing
in two years. Last year they were
| handicapped by the war, and they VIII
| not do very much this year, he said.
| Mcmahon also said the common coun~
| Gil was so one-sided that no one paid
much attention to it, In speaking of
hof ri ho
| conducted, Mcmahon said that he did
! not know of an official that ever got
| any graft money, but since George
| NJ Ixanders put over the conSollda-
! ton plan, the city has run wild. He
| also claimed that the school board
has been allowed to do as it pleased.
and "dubbed'' the characterization
plan a freak. Mcmahon said that the
school board is getting ready to ask
for more money for the erection of
a school, and they have rot bought
land for it yet.
LOOMS Receives Slap.
One of the other members touched
: on the statement of Tax Collector
LOOMS that he will continue in office
if he receives $4,000 year and the
unanimous vote of the common eoun-
Gil. Mcmahon broke in at this juno
| t1re with ives YOU would think he is
the only man in town for the place.
> Mr.. Sullivan said that while he has
, never worked in any local Factories
, he has seen other manufacturing
concerns have their properties and
contents inventoried by experts, and
with this plan a fair tax assessment
was levied.
I Would Watch Candidates.
Joseph H. Beloin spoke of giving
t attention to the various candidates
l for the common council at the COM
ing election. He also said that the
Taxpayers' association should solicit
| the support of the rentpayer. He
criticized the board Of assessors for
J. increasing the small taxpayers while
the heavy taxpayer was let off light
| ly.
: | Mr., McMahon said that the asso-
citation should strive to keep out OF
| politics, but to work for the best in
terests of the city. He told of a
statement made at the recent forum,
where q member of the comn1on
council had said that he learned more
! in 90 minutes than he did in two
wears at the council meetings.
DIR. Volkenheim then spoke on the
school board situation, and his motion
that the association be represented at
| the hearing on the Hazen bill March
t 25 was unanimously adopted.
Criticizes Cooper.
Mr.. Mcmahon also spoke of the re-
cent mendn1ent drawn by Corpora
: ton Counsel Cooper in reference to
the city meeting and providing to re-
- fer the tax rate to a referendum vote
e after the signing of a petition by 500
= voters Mr.. Mcmahon styled this
= amendment a "cod- blooded affair, -
S and continuing he said he would like
DO on