The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1920-06-28
TOWN OFFICIALS
 . ARE CRITICISED
,olitics Now HuTnming- Effort Made to Create
 Unrest
ISnacia1 tn The Times.)

heinz made by number of the resi- dents to create a feeling of unrest and dissatisfaction among the voters or the town for members of the Strat- ford Board of Selectren who nave re- cently appointed four deputy resls- trars of voters to ascertain the num- ber of men in town who are eligible to be made voters in time to vote. at coming elections Not only this e1- cuse Is being used which is alleged ID for political purposes but other Just as nonsensical ideas are also pelns pushed to the limit in mad oeslre to defeat certain candidates who are to run for public office at the town election in October. The question or the condition of the streets. the snow storms of last winter. the member ship of certain officials in political clubs the recent judgment Of the Court of Common Pleas given in taVor of Olaf Christensen for the building line. established before the last town election; the question Of appoint ments to the various boards, ana the question of rubbish which was dump ed in some places about town several years ago all are being advanced py one faction or the other in order to bring their favorite candidates across at the coming election. Placing the blame if 1t is anyone's fault for the above conditions does not appear 'o be given consideration and for the benefit of those who are good listen ers The Times at this time taxes pleasure in dealing with the questions t on their merits alone quoting the facts as they really are irrespective of either factions feelings in the mat ter.
 In the first case which involves Mayor Wellington principally reia- tive to districting the town that more systematical method for as certaining the number of new voters to be made was a suggestion or the registrars of voters who presenteo written request to a recent meeting of tbe Board of Selectmen asking that the town be divided into dis tricts and deputies appointed to make a canvass of the districts in order to find out how many eligible 10 pc made voters were living in StratIoro. This matter which was discussed at the meeting when it was presented was after some discussion left to Mavor Wellington to investigate and if in his opinion thought advisable the meeting voted that the recom- mendation be adopted. MaSoH Wellington, after considerable work relative to the matter, must nave thought the recommendations or the registrars of voters advisable as Wi liam Howard Wilcoxson, George F. Ashe James Donahue and F. King were appointed as deputy registrars of voters and assigned to districts as suggested by the registrars of voters. These four men who started theh work some time ago and are no" in the midst of it are being useo as an excuse for criticism for the mayor who has been told that he exceeoeo his authority when he made the ap- pointments. Reinhold Persson who ',s member of the Board of Select r,en and was present at the time the renuest was made of the board that the men be appointed, in dlscusslon with MT. Wellington recently, tolo the mayor that the appointments hao been made illegally and it would De up to his honor to pay these men TOT tneir services The mayor, who showed that he was a real sport told MT. Persson that if, at town meet ing. the voters of the town felt that he had exceeded his authority by ap- pointing the men and that his actlons were illegal, he was just the fellow that could and would compensate the men for their services.
 Criticism over the conditions of the roads and because the heaviest fall or snow since the blizzard of 1888 was not cleaned away as soon as some thought it should be, are questions which also involves the mayor and the other members of the Board Of Seiectmen.
 The question of the roads is one which is admitted by all to be a seri- ous one, especially in the spring and fall, when most of the Stratford s.-eets are ct times irnpasS1fEe for heavy loaded trucks or vehicles
 This condition which has existed for many years is one that was used ana played quite an important part in defeating James Lally last October for the office of first selectman but as matter of fact MT. Lally was nc more responsible for the conditions than are the members of the present board of selectmen who have done all in their power to put the roads in condition for travel. The board oi finance each year recommends that certain sum can be expended for road work and if this amount is not suf1i- cient Gas it never has been) to fix the streets of the town it is only idle talk used for effect to place the blame on the shoulders of the selectmen- The board of finance are not responsible for the conditions either theil recommendations are put before the voters at a town meeting for adop' ton and only last year the voters a a town meeting when the tax rate was laid reduced the rate IS recon mended by the board of finance there by making it quite a problem for the town officials to pay the towns bill: this year without exceeding their ap propriations.
 The appropriations for road worl was exhausted long before the snov came last year and without funds tn selectmen were powerless to repair tn roads. The same conditions existed when the heavens apparently opened last winter and showed everythin' under, with not inches, but feet O snow. Imagine an appropriation 0 s2O0 removing all the snow that fel on the StratforG streets anc sidewalk last winter. More funds has been tn cry of the town officials for years an lower tax rate has been the cry O the taxpayers, the latter who did tn cri.icisine and reducing recommends e