New Britain herald., 1920-02-28
Special Balloting to Take Place On March 9-Both Sides Present Arguments On Budgets.

Following the presentation of budgets by both the board of finance | and taxation and the New Britain l Taxpayers association, and the cX- 1 ,planatOn of items contained therein by members of both groups. Alder man .. F. Curtis presented a resolu- tion for an adjournment to March 9 for vote at the polls on the matter of d taX-rate. A rate Was to have been set last night at d special city meeting called for that purpose but due 10 the fact that the Taxpayers budget was completed only yesterday, and little opportunity had been given taxpayers to examine the several items cut, an agreement was reached by Chairman Fred $. Cham mberiain and Lawyer Michael Sexton of the association. for an adjournment AL derman Curtis resolution was a re- suit of that agreement
 About 1,2O6 Present.
 The attendance at the meeting was about. 1.200. The seating capac city of the auditorium was filled early in the evening and standing room at the back and in the main corridor of the top floor was also taken Apparent ly the crowd favored the lower tax rate as the remarks of spokesman for the Taxpayers association were appfaudcd while those who ques- toned the wisdom of cuts were forced to take their seats amidst laughter and J9ering remarks.
 Following the reading by Col A l.. Thompson of Sehe call for the meet ing. Mayor Quigley spoke q few words urging the gathering to make city meeting rather than a. political meeting oUt of the assembly. The board of finance and taNation, he said, "is bipartisan body and this meeting should not resolvefitself into @ political gathering.'
 Moves For Acceptance.
 Chairman F. $. Chamberlain moved the adoption of the budget prepared by his board and Lawyer M. A. Sexton offered an amendment proposing a tax rate of 1S.4 mills in the first district and 4.3 mills in the second district as against Cham Der lain's proposition of 23.9 in the first district and mills in the second.
 Mir. Chamberlain then requested the speaker to explain how the tax had been based. He said the board of finance and taxation had cut out everything that possibly could be cut. What has tne Taxpayers association done to reduce the expenses of the city and make such rate possible" he asked.
 Lawyer Sexton Speaks.
 Lawyer Sexton explained rhat his association mad made an effort to draw up q budget looking to econo- my. The estimated income has been increased. he said. to inc amount of 1 mill making, the actual cut in the budget of the board of fipance and taxation but 1 mills. The first cut has been made in the consolidated S.n11n q fr,i5 h,- I,a 900. Instead of inp"ir-Ing the eff cheney of the schools. the spokesman argued that the efficiency could be improved with a little cooperation from the school board. Last year. he said. an appropriation was made and in the very first meeting of the school board an effort was made to exceed inc amount
 ''They have an arrogant over-bear- ing manner ;lnr seem to feel that they have no duties toward the peo- pie who furnish the money they spend"
 He went on to explain the changes in the truant officers department which he said cost the city $500 a few years ago and now costs $3.400. That, also, mas been cut in the htIdg- ct.
 Going on to the board of public works he told of how S.37.0O0 had been asked and q cut made To s9i,- 900 in the interests of economy There will be little or no new work for two reasons: Cost of material and cost Of labor.
 Urges Economy.
 ''If we can ccOnOnlizr now" he said, 'later in the period of deprcs- sion which, from the appearance of the times. is bound to come We can have the work done for three-quar- ters of what it would cost now and give employment to many in Addi- tion
 -'They said the city could not be run on {. 21 mill tax last year. They said we would have no fire depart meut. no schools no street depart ment and no health department. True. we have a deficit of $3o 900 but tnat is not due to thu II mill tax but rather 10 tl}e lack Of to-operatiou The tax collecting department was the only de};,rtmunt that ro-oporat- ed. Tax Collector l-oomis collected $SJ,00o in back taxes
 In th" police department We have cut 5000 from the >upcrnumciarN pay roll ard also taken out til" item ot ntH patrohGcn. Last year they told Nou that it." millennium had been reached. Prohibition 'huJ come and We would need no more police force. They HIr now tryin" To in crcl,. Il. The prohibition enforce I"~rt law elDnot :; feet u> as the fed craI government will h2nIIc that.
 lin the fire department We have cut $i4,"I0 including the three ld- 1 ditional men.
 We have, cut from the charity 1 board the items for hoe-ho1gsc and 1