The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-01-06
City's Chief Execu- tive Emphasizes
 Debt Reduction

Ee0UCcu 9tmOSS Y4IvUV,UWW UhmCe l93O, the tax rate has been lowered 10 and One-haM mills In the same period and enc burden of relief has increased almost five times Over--these were among Che salient features Of Mayor Frank Hayes annual message to the board of aldermen delivered this morning. Declaring that he was justied be- cause of conditions, In comparing the accOnipllshItents of 1895 with those of 19SO, Mayor Hayes pointed out that after going through the most pressing times In It's history waterbury stands out today among municipalities of the state for its fine financial rating.
 During the 193O-1935 period the city debt was reduced $3,S62, ,345.19, Che mayor declared. The tax rate was dropped 10 and one-half mills, he pointed out, Gesplte the fact that during the same period the gfand list decreased from S172, 800 to s162,5OO. The approppria- tiOns of the department of public relief increased from $sl, l,4SO, the 193O gure, to $ST2, ,l45.47, the 1885 figure.
 Mayor Hayes paid tribute to the city employees wno without dis sent or protest" voluntarily took cuts in pay Co help the city along during the hardest years of the depression. He also highly praised the Mutual Aid, declaring that no organization, In peace or war, has rendered more nieritOriOus service.
 During 1885, Mayor Hayes de- cIared, the city was free from ma for crimes and the fire loss was re- duced. He pointed to the necessity of intensive study of trafIic ccndi- tions. The work Of the engineering department, the school department and the street, water and sewer departments were also reviewed and praised by the mayor. He also reviewed the city's tencentenary observance. His address follows: The Honorable Board of Alder
 men of the City of Waterbury:
 Tn conformity with the previ- sions of our City Charter, I have the honor to present to you "a general statement of the condi- ton of the city," The language of the charter in this instance is well-chosen, for 1t is obvious that such statement as I can give you here must necessarily be general in character. There are many sub- jects which I would like to dis- cuss with you in greater detail, and there are doubtless many on which you would prefer more specific information than can be obtained in this communication. For that reason, I direct your at tention to the annual reports of the various city departments which now turn over to you. I recommend that they receive your serious attention. They are most informative because they are care- fully drawn and present an accu- rate picture of the present con- ditions of our city affairs.
 Fourth Term
 The present administration, which to-day enters upon It's fourth consecutive term, first came into existence in January, 1880, almost concurrent with the start of the depression. The years between have laid upon all Of us burdens quite above and beyond those which we ordinarily associate with city government. Old fneth- ods have, of necessity, been dis carded to meet the pressing needs which the repeated emergencies of the times have brought.
 Therefore feel justified, in this communication, in using as @ basis of comparison the conditions of to-day as compared with those of January, 1030. I do 50 because I feel that the past six years pre- sent a distinct chapter in our history, a chapter which now ap- pears to be definitely closed. think you will agree with me that the narrowing conditions of the recent past have at last given way to @ renewal of prosperity and to @ promise of better and brighter things to come.
 The feature of any city gov- ernment which is most subject to discussion and which is, conse- quently, of first importance in any report of city activities is that which relates to its finances.
 invite your attention to a brief synopsis of the present financial condition of this city as compared with that of January, 1880.
 Tn 50 doing, I quote from the most recent report of the Certi- fled Public Accountants, dated Oc- tober l, 1895. The figures in that report have not materially chang cd in the past three months.
 Between January 1, 1930 and September 15, 1885 the debt of the city was reduced by the sum of $3,e62, ,345.10.
 This represents a decrease in bonded debt of $i,562,643.90: in temporary loans of $75OOOO. and in mortgages payable of $6l.B20. It also includes the restoration of l,498, ,28l.29 to Bond Funds.
 Bond Sale
 We are now engaged in arrang- ing for the sale of $5OO,OOO in Funding Bonds and $4OO,00O in Improvement Bonds, as author ized by the general assembly of 1D35. If and when this transac- ton is completed, the amount of these bonds will just about off- set the payments on bonded debt which we will make during l936.
 In the same period, we have re. duced the tax rate from 42 mills in 1880 to 3i Ia mills for l936. saving to our taxpayers of 10 1-2 mills.
 A feature of tax reduction vhich has mt rAceivad Oafiaral