The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-06-24
High Taxes Laid
 to EXC. o. P. Boss
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 Republican organization held Thurs day night at the Stratf1eld, that John T. King again attacked the manufac- turers, claiming that they do not pay their share of the taxes in the city of Bridgeport, and that the mechanic and small home-owner were carrying the burden which ought to be car ried by the manufacturers.
 How much longer are unwarrant ed statements of this kind made by MT. King to go unchallenged? Of course, you know and I know that these statements were made for poli- tical purposes with the idea of throw ing dust in the eyes Of the small prop erty owner to keep him from seeing the true situation.
 The Common Interest.
 As a matter of fact, the interests of the small property owner and the manufacturer are identical, as they have been paying the bills incurred control in Bridgeport until they were thrown out last fall. This same gang now have the effrontery to ask the people to reinstate them, and they are trying to encourage bad feeling between the manufacturers and the other taxpayers, as to who is paying their share of the bills. Isn't it full time that the taxpayers worried little less about the proportioning of the taxes and took more interest in the reduction of the total tax bill?
 Only this week Moody's Investors Service warned investors in munici- pal securities regarding the tenden- cies of certain cities to increase their expenses to dangerous point. Of the group mentioned by them in this class, Bridgeport heads the list.
 Cost of Running City.
 With an increase in the population of only 40@o in the last ten years, the cost of administration has risen 337n and it's bonded debt 491I6. The high o-f ioo in he oc{ 1F1 1f1yir, in July, 1920, which showed 104 F % over the same period in 1914
 'It is possible that MT. King who was the acknowledged head of the administration which raised the cost of running this city 4OO2o in ten years while the cost of living increased but 1OO%o and the population increased but 40I6. can get tlie people who pay the bills quarrellinS over who paid the most.
 Pooling Home Owners.
 If we take the total appropriation for the year ending March 31, 1911, count of the increase in the cost of living, double that amount and then on account of the increase in popuIa- ton, increase that total by 4O46, the amount would be S5,120,000.
 'The total expenditures in 1920 were over S7.644, 1000, or over 5oGh more than they should have been on the above basis. Doesn't MT. King lt1IHh 9Z-0OD,UbV worth aDOutI
 Does he think the small home owner so foolish as to believe that te such tax burden is added to the manufacturers of this city that they are not going to be affected?
 Factories Pay 500 Per Cent More.
 Let us now see whether Mir Kings statement that the manufac- turers are not paying their share of the taxes is true or not. In 1911, the total grand list was s976S30OO and in 1921 it was s24O,1 900. an increase of 146 per cent In 1911 the grand list of the manufa cturers was 5 8, 125,o00, and in 1921, $65.O1 900, an increase of 251 per cent
 Therefore. the total grand list not including the manW acturers, in 1911 was S79, 900 and in 1921, SI75,- S4, 900, an increase of 121 per cent As the tax rate was approximately q doubled, this means that the manu- lecturers are paying 500 per cent. more and the balance of the citv 240 per cent. more.
 'The only possible answer MT. King can make to these figures is that the manufacturers were not paying their share in 1911. However, it can be demonstrated without difficulty tha at that time the manufa cturers in Bridgeport were paying as high or higher taxes than the manufacturers In other cities in the state, and their proportion in comparison to the other
 The manufacturer pays larger taxes on the contents of his build l Ings than he does on the land and | buildings combined. whereas the i as rule, pays nothing on the contents of his home.
 Look Out for Home Town.
 Tt is not generally known that the acturers in this city are paying 1, In local taxes from 25 per cent to i 50 per cent of their net income to l say nothing of State and Federal l axes This is strictly a manufactur- ng city. and an additional burden put | pm the manufacturers will hurt the 1 other interest as much as the manu- lecturers. There are a number of | who are seriously con- 1 sidering moving their plants from Bridgeport on account of the present | tax burden This is true not bunk i
 It seems from a business stand | point that the only course to pursue | Is for all interests to work together i for reduction in the cost of run ming the city - manufacturers mer- chants. homeowners and rent payers
 There is no question but what this | can be done provided the voters will l elect aldermen at this falls election pledged to rescind existing ordinances i, N mich prevent the mayor and others rom accom- pIishing this result
 Ut is likely to be the policy of the | professional politicians to play up .srong the importance of the gover- nor and congressman in order to di- vert the voters attention from the irving needs 70 his home town