The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1921-11-01

Continuing his vigorous attacks on the eXtravagance of the present au- ministration, Fred Atwater last night produced convincing figures to show how Mayor Wilson had neglected the schools of the city while he was law ishly spending money for every other less important purpose. Addressing the Italian-American club of the Sixth and Seventh districts. he was warmly greeted by large gathering.
 Atwater once more pointed out that although the mayor could cite many improvements which had been made during his ten years in office, these Improvements do not mean anything because they are not paid for. In spite of the fact that Bridge port has increased its debt steadily utnu it is now over s12,OOO,OOO, there are many inadequate schools and a large number of children on part time, a situation that did not exist ten years ago.
 The Democratic candidate pointed out that if the s1.O0O,00O spent for the Grand street bridge, which car ries very little traffic, and the S5OO,- 900 spent for the Plaza had been used for permanent school buildings in stead of the portable ones now in use, Bridgeport could have had seven schools costing slightly over $2O0,O0o each.
 Atwater's speech in full was as follows:
 
 men, F'ellow-Citizens:
 In previous speeches throughout the present campaign I have referred to contain facts which to my mind establish beyond doubt that Bridge port, as it is being governed today. is travelling at a rapid pace in the wrong direction. It Is well estab lishled that we are being taxed in this city more heavily than in any other city of the same size in this coun- try. It must be admitted, too, that the debt per person in Bridgeport is likewise heavier than in any other States. We have seen that each year Bridgeport goes further into debt; that almost every department in the municipal government has otied the fatal habit of exceed ing it's appropriations with the result that they evidence deficits of huge amounts. These deficits must be taken care of and paid for in the next suc- ceeding year, and as they have been constantly increasing. they take up a greater share each time of the moneys which ought to be spent for current operating expenses. We are thus approaching a condition where instead of taking care of our ex- penses for a certain year, We must first pay overdue bills for the past year.
 justify this condition, reminds us that Bridgeport has received many Improvements at his hands. But, this is no explanation of the fact | that almost every important depart ment in his city government is being l run at an annual deficit The inn provements which he mentioned have been made from borrowed money. and the money used for such improve. | ments is substantially still owing, as | 1t is represented by the great bonded l indebtedness of the city which fund | ed and temporary, amounts. to S12,- l 29s, ,577.31. His statement, there. I fore, that Rridgeport's ever-increas- | ing debt is entirely due to improve l ments is wrong on it's face for the 1 facts show that the deficits in oper- fating expenses which have been ac- | cumulated every year and have reach | ed their highest point within the last | year, are entirely due to nothing more | than plain inefffciency and poor ad- | minist-ation.
 1 In the Administrations scheme of i'm movements, much attention has | been given to pavements and bridges | but little or nothing, compa ratiyely
 speaking, has been given to one of the most important things in city gov | ernment-namely, schools.
 I find that at the time MT. Wilson assumed office, every child was receiv-
 ing a full education, and in something | better than a portable school. This
 was the period to which MT. Wilson refers as "a black page in Bridgeport municipal history" because we were then a1lotting one mill of our ta, l rate each year for new schools an6
 paying our>way, substantially, as we
 went. History shows that if we had
 only pursued this policy during the