The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-01-07
"A Violation Of Penal Code, '' Says
 Mayor I1n Address
Says Department Heads Must Be Held Respon-
 sible to Justice, and Exceed Appropriations at
 Own Peril - Opens Campaign for Municipal Economy
Economy.

Exceeded appropriations by de- partment heads and governing boards will not be countenanced, and Inter denartmentaI transfers will be dis coura ged by the new administration, Mayor Fred Atwater plainly informed the Board of Apportionment ana Taxation yesterday afternoon; Tn outlining his policies. and the duties and responsibilities of the board, ne laid great emphasis on the two essen tials upon which must be based the consid eration of every department re- uuest for fundS-a maximum Of ef1- ciency with minimum expenditure.
 In the strongest terms, he de- nounced the practices Of exceeolng g appropriations. "It Is my firm belief, . he said. "that any department that exceeds its appropriation does so at its own peril. Such an act. l reel Justified in saying, Is a violation or the penal code, and for such an act, department heads must be held re- sponsfble not only to us, but to Jus- tice."
 Mayor Defines Position.
 The mayor clearly set forth his DO dress prior to the opening of the meeting.
 T think it would be appropriate for me to say few words before you in line with what you have heard be- fore, but 1t is new to me anyway, and to at least one of your members. tionment and Taxation the most i'm portant board in the city of Bridge port. It Is the custodian of the wealth of the city. You are the part, you are the parties to say how it is to be spent
 Your power in your line of work business judgment. Good business judgment in all cases should rule your actions. and when you individually have considered each question and when your individual minds are clear on the subject before you, you should work collectively and as whole for the best interests of the city and the
 we are just starting on @ cam paign of economy. and the economical principles should be recognized be- lore all else. You are to carefully scrutfnize each item of every budget. It is the will Of the administration that you do not pare requests to a point to deprive efficiency, but you are to keep within the reasonable bounds of an economical and efficient working organization
 "I have been advised of the work ings of your board for several years past. Some of your actions, and some of your work, has not appealed to me as strictly good business. Such things could not be helped. probably. because of the conditions under which you v ability and my ability I want to eliminate these conditions immediate ly.
 it is my firm belief that any depart ment that exceeds it's appropriation does so at its own peril. Such an act, I feel Justified in saying, is a violation of the penal code. Department heads must be held responsible, not only to us but to Justice.
 There are two departments in the city government that might be elim- mated from the severity of that ruling the Charities and the Health de- partnents. Calamities cannot be fore seen, and emergencies often appear that might justify an exceeded appro- priation In an extreme case.
 ''In making the appropriations for the coming year, I want you to give very careful consideration to every item, and to make appropriations to take care of necessities, the dire pe- cessities of each department. I can tell from conferences I have had with each department head that they will live within their. appropriations and not ask for transfers unless urgently necessary.
 ''I want to have you feel that 1t is my intention to have you deal with rne in all matters that are my concern in dlscharging the duties and respon- abilities of my office. I want you to feel that I can be consulted. and l want to be consulted, in all matters Cildl are OI concern the C1cy, ana want to be thoroughly conversible with all matters that are going on. There is nothing more in that line that I can now suggest
 In charging that exceeded appro- priations are really violations of the penal code, Mayor Atwater based his claims upon the provisions of the city charter, which definitely sets forth that appropriations must not be ex- ceeded and that the Board of An portionment has no power to appro- priate moneys to cover a deficit caus- ed by unauthorized expenditure.
 According to the charter:
 ''The Board of Apportionment and Taxation shall have no power tC make appropriations in excess of the revenues of the city for any year. and in no case shall the expenses of the city exceed it's revenue for any year except in cases and for the purpose: for which the city is authorized by particular act of the General Assem- bly to issue bonds and when bonds are so issued. Any appropriation regular or special, So made. for any specific purpose, shall not be expend ed for any other purpose. NC money, other than that appropriated by the board. shall be expended fol any purpose unless a special appro priation therefore shall first be ap- proved by a two-thirds vote of al members of the Common Council