The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-12-07
MAYOR WANTS DEBT LIMIT
 s'-. RAISED

! "I believe. that, the question of sschools is being raised at this time for fthe purpose of distracting attention ffrom the textension of Broad street tand there is no reason why this work Fshould not go along at the same time with the building of schools" said Mayor Wilson Monday night.
 : One is not a substitute for the rother,' he wentnon in his message to sthe Board of Aldermen, making it splain that he, was in favor of both Improvements at the present time; In order to get over the objection Ito the fact that the present indebt- ness of the city was nearly up to the ~5 per cent. allowed by statute, the mayor adyoeated that sthess debt limi- tation be raised from 5 to 10 per cent. pof the grand list.
 The message follows:
 "Geptlemen:--A great deal has been said during the last few weeks by a Few individuals relative to the finances of the city. I am pleased to saya without fear of contradiction, that the finances of Bridgeport are in as good, if not better, condition than those of any other municipality of its size and importance
 ''Weg all realize that the value of the dollar has shrunlxen within the last five years to 50 cents. While directing criticism at the city finances these individuals fail to mention the large increase in the valuation of real estate acquired by the city for which a large portion of the money raised has been expended. The city owns outright two or three times over its value the amount of net indebtedness outstanding:
 we have carefully avoided spend ing any money raised from the issu- ance of bonds for current expenses, but alE this money has been used for betteruients of 9 more or less per- 1nanent nature. As I view it there is mo reason why a fair market value of the real estate holdings of any municipality should not properly be deducted from the outstanding bond cd indebtedness without exceeding the debt lsait as fixed by statute.
 'In Slew of the decrease in value of the dollar as above suggested, many cities Throughout the country have Bcught3and have obtained an increase in the ,debt litigation from 5 to 10 per cent. This is perfectly fair and could be done here. and l believe would be reccivSN fayorably by those dealing fin finaAciaI commitments of munich tpaIitie% I recommend this procedure and adyocate such change before the next legislature.
 the riGht track when 1t inquiries into the school facilities. No one in the city ofSBridgeport has been more so- 1icitous, to provide for the proper housing of the school children than ] have been during my term of office All otlisr departments have been pro 'yided for and the schools have re. eeivod Fqual, If not superior; consid, 1s q department entirely apart from the cit a administration. It Is answer able to no one, is law unto itsel1 and has vet to make in my term q: mayor, a full and complete report ol Its firaScial doinss, to your honorable body. Tl1c board Is unwiaidly in sizt and shFuld be made amenable to some one Two years ago l advocated { changosin this board from It's presen size to Hive members, to be appointed by tho mayor and ar1swerable to him and I repeat this recommendation a this tirs.c. I am glad to. note that n the lasE election n woman was elect cd to this board. There is no one clos or to E,c child or more conversan with ff6 educational needs than wom sn, and we gre particularly fortunat In having Mrs. Cutting, Il forms school Teacher, active in the coun eiia of abe educational department O
 'Uhises the Chamber of Commere AHd ottie5ss, Wfe have given cursor epnsidssat ti6n ta the school needs give ninTe than they apparently nov % lar ehSrf ct thes# opportunity. re krst vasy ;.4uatf that the board of edu tntisn did ret follow the suggestion which made years ago in referenc fe tha RiandaFdisiAg of their plan for ~eehhsihauses and appointing
 Supervisor of construction who woul have charge of the physical propert Of All S5H6SIS. ' peneFe tHdt SlVo,VO' 1sf ff6rs; sysHId have been saved ha fbis baeil dssia. In the one item alon of afe6itae<aFe, fees approximatin 8t66, ,eSa would have been saved ha fAa Bi8sas I5eea staRdardized and it hard fh estimate tfae savings Whic eyDHfd 4fa+e come from repairs t tHiIdisgs. ete,
 fsTf H tateEesting ta aote ta pass asas fhak 13ends s1nounftng to $z,01a 065 havB besa sssasd for sche'
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