New Britain herald., 1920-02-19
27.9 MILLS TO BE
 NEW RATE VOTED ON
Bringing Actual Rate to SO-
 Two Platoon Defeated

A recOmm endat tion of the board of finance and taxation that a tax rate of 27.9 mills be referred to a city meeting was passed last night at the February meeting of the comm on council, and that body crushed a recommendation for $52,OoO appropriation to defray the expenses of two-platoon system in the fire Rdepartment By closer vote the council downed 8 proposition intro duced by Councilman George M. L4an- ders to have a one-half mill tax levied to put the system into operation starting December 1, instead of July 1. The law libraries of Judges Walsh and Meskill were formally accepted and plans made for their upkeep. A report on the/ audit of the Welcome Home celebration committee was ac- cepted following caustic comments on the part of Alderman A. M. Pa onessa on, the management and gen. eral detail of that affair.
 30 Mills Is Actual Rate.
 The new tax represents 23.9 mills for the whole city and 4 additional mills for the second district, that district being the rnore valuable prop critics of the central part of the city. There is 2.1 mill tax already levied which brings the actual rate to 30 mills. Appropriations called for and passed with the report of the board of finance and taxation amount to $1,S92, 922.6O. It has been estimated that the income for the year will be S252977. The 239 mill tax will bring in $1,3S6, ,666.12 and the addi- tional four mills will bring in s22o,- 386.49. The city plans to spend $2,- oO0,00O this year and in addition to that amount the water board will spend $173,150. The finance board has apportioned the city's expenses to the various departments as follows:
 Consolidated school district, $621,- 192; street department, $1S0.00O; street lighting, $34000; street sprink- hng $21, 800; state highway account, s5.0O0: sewer maintenance. $21, 900; police department, $137, 7,496.25; fire department $137.335; board of pub- lie charities, s75,025; health depart ment, $30,O00; special appropriations, s211,300; interest and discount, $112,- 603.75; payment on principal, $223,- 700; incidentals, i$16,s0o; salaries, s66,s7O.
 In reply to a question of Council- man Landers, Chairman F. S. Cham berlain said it would not be possible to spread the expenses of a comfort station over a period of years as that matter would have to come under the head of charter amendments. The chairman explained that the pay ments of S23,000 on principal were made because S5,000 in bond ma lures. A payment of s2,0oe on the Elihu Burritt school deficiency of s12,o0o is to be made.
 Why Taxes Increase.
 Councilman Landers explained the cause of increased taxation. Since 1906 city expenses have increased four and one-half times while the grand list has increased but two and one-half times, he said. The lists in 1906 were s24,00O,0 900 while they are now $5S,0oo,o0o but i've must grin and bear until we can get a proper valuation of all properties" he con- cluded.
 A sum of $500 was transferred from the salary appropriation to special appropriations for Stanley Post. G. A. R. The item has been unintention- ally left out and it was later found that, through an error, the salary item was 1000 in advance of what was absolutely required.
 The matter of the Widows Pension fund was brought up and the need of a change from the present method of distribution was explained. Ed ward C. Connolly was named to take charge of the work and his qualifica- tions explained. The $2,700 item was transferred from the charity depart ment to special appropriations and a $500 item went to the salary budg- ct.
 RaDs Two-Platoon Move.
 Chairman F. s. Chamberlain was asked why a special item for the two- platoon system had not been in cluded in the report of the finance and taxation board, as had been re- quested by the council. He replied that in the opinion of the board, the city was not ready to receive it, the firemen had received substantial raises and it would surely be defeated at a city meeting. In the opinion Of the chairman. the item could not be originated in the common council for reference 10 a city meeting but could come up as an amendment to the report of the board of finance and taxation He said that the, matter would be defeated anyway and it would give the principle of a two- platoon system a black-eye making it difficult to revive at Q, more favor able time.
 LanderS Defends System.
 Councilman I.anders spoke in favor of a plan to start the two-platoon system with 20 additional men, giving the men one day in three off, and later spoke for a one-half mill tax to put the system in operation on De cember 1 instead of July 1. Alder man Curtis was in favor of right or at !" said the addition Of