The Connecticut labor press., 1920-03-06
NEW CITY HALL
 NOT FAVORED BY SMALL TAX PAYERS
Do Not Believe Time Proper Now to Build a New
 Building.
FAVOR A NEW SITE
If Gone Ahead With Church Street Should Be
 Open.

The need of new city hall and a site for 1t seems to be arouSing strong feel ing among the small taxpayers who ap- peared in unusual numbers at the hear ing before the aldermanic committee on the subject last week. Mayor FitzGer- aid asked for an expression of senti- ment oIi the matter and 1t certainly was voiced at the meeting.
 Aside from the interested real estate holders and those who spoke for them the number of citizens who attended the meeting in the fear that additional tax burdens were about to be imposed left no doubt that the state of real pub lie opinion was against erecting a new city hall on the present site. They fear ed burdensome taxes and consequent higher rents if the high prices asked for adjoining property were to be paid. They feared that If building was un- dertaken at this time the excessive cost of getting material and men for the job would have an oppressive load of taxes for generations to come.
 One speaker said 1t would be madness to undertake building project of this kind when men in business could not get the material necessary to keep their establishments going.
 Almost without exception the citizens present of small means went on record as opposed to the present location By far the greater number wanted the site on the corner of Elm and Temple or the site on the corner of Elm and Church streets purchased at once so that when normal conditions were restored con- struction could be undertaken. It was estimated the best bargain for the tax payers would be the purchase of the whole block bounded by Elm, Church. Wall and Orange streets, while the best site would be the block bounded by Temple, Elm, College and Wall streets This block would probably cost twice as much as the former, but 1t was thought 10 be the best site because it faced the Green for the whole Elm street side President Hadley of Yale stated during the week that the University would CO., operate with the city if it wanted that site. As 1t IS now or soon will be off the city tax list as Yale possession, the placing of the city hall there would be an advantageous move in that par ticular.
 It was figured by the mayor that the. erection of new city hall could be Accomplished on either Elm street site without any expense whatever to the taxpayers owing to the high price the city would get for the present site.
 All business and tax considerations seemed to point to the Elm street sites, but, of course, some were present to advocate the use of the present site and 1t should beetated the charges of graft and prohteering against them were in the opinion of fair-minded persons pres ent as too strong an arraignment
 Of course any real estate man would be glad of profit, but such citizens as Mir. Notkins of the Grand Hotel, DeBussey and Kusterer of the old Mcdonald stables; MT. Powell of the Metzger building, and MT. Rubin of the Law Chambers, can hardly be charged with a desire to get an abnormal profit from the city. They are too closely identified with the business life of New Haven to have charges of this kind stick to them.
 However, the site committee by the Board of Aldermen have decided to dis. continue public hearings on the mat ter and to make a report Monday night It is thought they are now convinced the trend Is all one way for the Elm street sites with the saving of the city's money by more than $5,00O,000 in the interest of economy and an outlook for the city's development.