The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1919-01-28
rowed of S9O,O60, and yet the bridge is not complete.

is not complete.
 The Grand Street Bridge.
 In the case of the Grand street bridge S200,000 worth of bonds were sold on January 1916, payable s1O,O00 yearly with interest of 4 1-2 per cent. Already the S200,G00 has been expeud- ed and If l am corrercly informe'd Sl0000o more has been appropriated to the same purpose, making g. total of S30O,o00 already put into this project which was originally to cost approxi- mately s20O,000 and yet we are now asked to bond the city for s200.O00 more, which vii make a. total of prac- tically S525,000 to do a job which was originally to cost approximately S2o0,- OOOl
 Furthermore we have already paid on the principal of these bonds out of the money obtained from the sale of the bonds the sum of 80, 900 and the sum of s25,650 in interest, making total of s55,650 paid for nothing.
 Why Not Sue on Bond.
 It would be interesting to know where all this money has gone We are told that H. Devoe- ThomphinS Co. defauited in their performance of the contract, but from what I heard of the testimony there was much evil dence of the city's default but if it be true that H. DevOe- -Thompkins Co. did default why has not H. Devoe- -Thomp- kins Co. been sued, and why has II. DevoeT Thompkins company been per mitted to sue the ci;y without the city making a cOunter-t ,aim? A rather strange situation.
 I Worse Spectacle. In the case of the East Washington avenue bridge an even worse specta- Icla is presented. On January l, 1916, the city sold Sl30.OO0 worth of bonds to construct this bridge. That is now three years ago and absolutely noth- i ing has been done in the way of car rying forward this project In the meantime while nothing is being done we have paid on the principal of these l.bondS the sum of $15, ,G09 and in in terest we have paid the sum of ST. lS0, making total of $32 1SU, which has been expended for absolutely nothing. There is on deposit in banks the proceeds of that bond sale fer which the city pa.s ! II per cen. interest and received only per cent. Even if the East Washington ave- ! nue bridge had been proceeded with immediately when the bonds are re- tired We will find that We have paid $14,230 in interest making total cost about 50 per cent. more Jhl: ;he i bridge should cost.
 If we take into consideration the 1 interest to be paid on all bond issues of this city We will find that in the end that for the construction Of our 1 school houses, our clinic building. po- | lice and fire department building, and all other buildings. street paving and street extensions constructed from money obtained through the l sale of bonds, $2.646,S69 was expend- i ed-more than the Improvements | should have cost.
 1 Referendum vs. Bankruptcy. 1 To go more in detail into the great l ramitications of eNr:avagant misap- i propriation and expenditures of a 1 kind almost akin to embezzlemen i would take too long.
 i The facts cited show beyond any 1 doubt that the administration has wantonIy mishandled the funds com 1 mitted to it and has embarked on q i financial career which can have nc | logical end hut baDkrunlry
 1 The figures show that each suc- I ceeding year q pro9or5iona.ely great i CT share of the revenues Cf ,he city l and consequently of the tax rate ,lavc | been needed to deGr~y .-s.&Iimen,. i and principal on bond issues.
 tir, tho of .--,.-',- ,,., cent. of the tax rate Was necessary tc
 do this. If the ,'-y is to be fur her | bonded il is apparent hal q further 1 share of the city's revenue vii ba re- 1 quired next year and lhe succeeding years to pay on this. boaHel ind 4bted, i ness. the result Of which will uIr;m. ! ately be that throG&h the Gctic.OHs
 raising of the grand list and the uttel 1 exhaustion Of it as he principal as
 set of this city. there VI re nc
 source to which the city may look tt pay it's indebtedness. and we wi | find ourselves in position where even current and needfuI improve. ments will have to be deferred fer [ 1 period of from 2 10 II years unti i the city emerges from i,- present bur. | den of bondage.
 To ask the legisia:ur@ to give tsss Common Council authOr:ty 10 issut
 further bonds without submission
 of the question to tiRe people by refer
 endum is not only insoIeEtIy arbitrary
 but absolutely criminal under tn,
 conditions for you know that if tn,
 people of the city had an opportun
 ity to vote upon the matter ther,
 wouldn't be another bond issue.