Putnam patriot., 1925-12-04
BY "MORTLAkE"
Special Correspondence to The Putnam Patrotl

Hartford. Conn. Nov. 80. l925-- The enormous increase in the eNpen- ditures of the state will be appreciat- ed when a comparison of figures are made The expenses for the fiscal year 1925 amounted to S27.i2s,Si2. For the year 1915 they amounted to 1 S7 .930 $50. This was an increase of a little over Si9.000, 900 for the de eade. To say the least this increase 1 is enormous and it certainly suggests l the necessity of checking the ten- dency to extravagance in voting away
 the money of the people of the state. Even when taking into account the additional cost of everything it Is | hard Co reconcile the increase with | policy of economy lt is to be fear ed that the need of such a policy was
 not recognized during the decennial period The temptation Is strong 10 | believe that no attempt was made to curb the tendency to extravaganee. | But it Is now time to call halt, lt 1 Is hoped that the new commission on state departments and institutions will see it's way Co looping of here and there occasions for expenditures that
 are no longer necessary for the pub l lie service. lt Is not questioning the efficiency of any department or of any official to say that sometimes they err in judgment and that department or official pride may tempt them to re- commend expenditures for develop
 ments which others. like the new com-
 mission. cannot readily see the neces- sity for. The committee on appropria- tions has not the time within q ses- sion which is limited, by the consti-
 tuition to five months, to give Go each proposition for an appropriation that close investigation and minute atten- ton which fl should receive. That fact was recognized in the raising of the new commission. Ii IS worthy of note that while the state has an off. cial-the tax eommissioner-and he is a competent one too, to see that the sources of revenue are maintain ed, there is no official vested with authority Co curb the expenditures. The arrangement IS one-sided and itl does not make for relief 10 the tax payers. Since the war the state has contracted the habit of thinking II millions in the matter of eXpenditur es. The need of economy has been overlooked.
 Municipal Elections
 While it cannot bo said that the municipal elections are absolutely re liable indicators Of the trend of the political sentiment of the state. they have their place in the clements which are taken into account in the making of political forecasts. Three import ant cities of the statc-New Haven,
 Bridgeport. and Waterbury have held their local elections, and the re suits make 1t clear that the political sentiment of Connecticut is favorable to tine Republican party. New Haven and Bridgeport elected the Republican candidates and the Democratic major
 ity in Waterbury was substantially reduced. Hartford, which K the sec ond largest city in the state, will have it's city election in the spring and al ready the two leading parties are mak- ing plans for the contest. There does
 pot seem to be any doubt of the re nomination of Mayor Stevens by the
 Republican convention. There IS only one thing that can prevent it and mat is his declination of the nomination. He has not yet said that he desired another term in the mayorality But neither has he said he would not con sent to head the Republican ticket Tor
 second term. It is generally expect
 ed that he will yield to the unanimous wish of his party, and to the hope oi many Democrats. who are satlEiled
 with the manner in which he has iiiled E the office of mayor for two years, by accepting a renomination. The char man of the Republican town commit. fee Mir Patterson, and the member of the committee are favorable to his
 renomination and very much desire IL
 It is true that Hartford has not the
 habit of giving q mayor tNs" sueeess. ,',.'...
 i've terms. IL IS nearly twenty ssa' alt
 since a mayor has been reelected. T ne
 late Richard J kinsella hliea the ol
 fee for two terms, but not suecesstN'
 lv The term of n Republican nas Vi
 intervened Mayor Stevens owes IL t'
 tlta city of Hartford to accept the hail nation of his party for another ter t " He has served the city we'll ne m initiated policies which have made lo inc better government Of haftlefa For the complete development ot thes polieies and to give the nihhisip"i't. inc fun benefit of them it IS neeessar' ... ,hat he should be continued m ofhe tnr % another term. His work Is bu half finished now. This fact is reeog nized by the people of the city, t, Ma; May ar Stevens. who is very capable pasl ,,,ss man will. it is hoped, realize Una nnfnished work would be worse thal s eomnlete failure. The Democrats Q sbe cjty know that he is very popula, with the voters and that he IS unusual 'si lv strong as candidate. They M M~n ssiec, their nominees with great asA sf care IL is believed that when in s,,dget for next year is completed : giil show n reduction in the tax rau ,s,biie. Al the same time, ample plVFai, ~, ;on ,,'' will be made for the efficient aa , ministration of the city goVernhghm' .r.l ,hn It is not an exaggeration to say tns tte renomination Of Mayor stevens
 a necessity.
 Putnam Sets an Example
 srl oi,, of Putnam has set an eN