New Britain herald., 1925-05-21

the comptroller the duty of audit Ing the elty's books haVe nc doubt but that this was quite pos sible before the city began its rapiC growth and our governmental sys lem began 10 branch out, but wheI one considers the salary paid tho comptroller It ts apparent that thii no longer can be done. l would sug, gest 10 your honorable body that an appropriation be placed at the disposal Of the comptroller or the board of finance and taxation which could be used to contract with auditors for an annual check. ing up Of our books and accounts.
 Bookkeeping system
 While we are on the subject of business administration there ig an- other matter germane thereto which l would ike to mention. There are departments Of the city government that do not come un- der the direct supervision of the general governments executive of- lice. Because Of their position it is not possible for me 10 insist upon installation Of a modern bookkeep- Ing and filing system, in spite of a very deep feeling Of their impor- lance. Action by the common coun- ell 10 demand In our city offices the same standards Of business as are employed in other big corpora tIons should be taken without further delay.
 Tax Lists
 "l am pleased to report that the past year has witnrsA3d very definite steps in the matter of property list filing laws. Last year asked your honorable body 10 assist in q move r'au. to have the state law requir- ing the filing of property lists be set 6s,(e in the case of this city. The general assembly has, at the request 0, the charter revision committee recommended that lists of personal properties, only, be required Of resi- dents Of this city. The state tax commissioner has given his approval and the matter is now before the governor for approval. This is, 10 my mind, most beneficial piece cf legislation. Property owners as- sessed a penalty for failure to file -ax lists in the past have been for the most part, those least able 70 pay the penalty. Persons who, through ignorance Of the law. fail 10 file lists included recent purchases of property who were required to learn the law at the expense of d heavy penalty.
 "The action of the genera assem- bly in approving the change and that Of the tax commissioner in backing the proposed amendment Ls distinct compliment to the thor oughness of our present assessment system, this fact alone having prompted the legislative body and commissioner to agree.
 School Department
 AS is the case in almost every progressive city, our school expenses continue 10 be greater than the con- bined expense Of the other items Of government costs. While it is do- sirable to keep eXpenditurs at a minimum in this as well as every other department believe you have adopted wise policy in ap- proving the extensive building pro- grams that have been submitted to you in recent years,
 A tabulation or the increase in school population during the past 10 years shows an average increase Of $50 pupils year, and the increase o' this year over last Is &SS This emphasizes the necessity Of clabor- al" school building rrograns. The value of education cannot he csti- mated in dollars and cents; if is Our duty 70 the coming generation, and it Is decidedly beneficial to our gov srnmont to train the citizens of to- morrow along the proper lines Of education.
 ParoChiaI Schools
 While on the subject of cduca- tlon 1t seems Co me that official recognition should be made of the great amount Of good that is being done in our city by The four paro- chal schools. Although they are not connected with our city government or under supervision Of our educa- tional department our educators lave had opportunity to observe their work and I am informed that most pleasing results are being ob- taned.
 "The parochial school enrolment totals S,454, a.s follows: Sacred Heart school, 1,SOO; St. Mary's school, L. eco; St. Josoph's school 800; St. Matthew's school, l54.
 To demonstrate the financial i'm portance of the rarochial school sit uatisn, lot me furnish a few statis- tics: For the fiscal year 1925-1926. the city has made appropriations 10 the school department which total S117S,$6o. as follows: Regular ap- propriation. si,oO7.OQ7; appropria- ton for interest and discount on school bonds. $S3,353.7j; appropria- ton for payment on principal of school bonds, sSS,000.
 Some time ago a school survey committee estimated the cost -of school rooms under the system em- ployed by this city to be sl5,000 for q room having recommendation for 30 pupils, or $500 pupil. If the city were to undertake the educa- ton Of the pupils now enrolled in the parochiaI schools, an initial ex- ron1tture of sl,72LoOO for school buildings would be necessitatcd.
 The school enrolment as of March 5. 1925 was ll,+2o. Figured on the total appropriations for next year, it will cost sl0S.27 per pupil to run the public schools. The cost of accommodating the S,454 paro-