The New Haven Union

MORE TERRITORY
Henney Wants a Greater Hartford.

PLEA TO BUSINESS MEN
Eastern District Should be Annexed.

Hartford, Jan. 16.—Mayor Henney, in an address last evening, before the Business Men's association, closed with a plea for a consolidation of East Hartford with the city, and said:

"Let me close by giving you this sentiment: East Hartford and Hartford divided by a river, united by a bridge; may they realize in union a future of prosperity and glory and strength."

In the course of his address he said:

"I know from personal experience how much the tone and character of a community depend upon the standard of its business men. They can have just such a municipal government as they want, and they are awake to the fact today that they want the best as a simple business proposition; and so I say to you that while you are discussing business methods and the steps to be taken to bring new enterprises to your community, you see to it that the affairs of that community are managed on business principles. This means that the community is getting value for the money it expends, and that your town is being made attractive and available at a reasonable expense and upon a moderate tax rate. The necessity of economy is one that confronts every modern city and town. The public demand so much, and modern conditions demand so much, and there are so many new and unprecedented problems arising, that only by a competent business administration of its affairs can any municipal government hope to meet modern needs without imposing a burdensome taxation upon the community. One of the first steps we have taken to meet this modern necessity in Connecticut is to abolish superfluous government, and where practicable to consolidate city and town governments into one. The purpose of this is to prevent waste, and it has resulted and must result inevitably, under competent management, in great economy in the matter of municipal expense.

"This brings me to a suggestion to which I hope you will give earnest attention while we are awaiting the completion of the bridge across the river. Hartford and East Hartford should be united in a single municipality. Everything points in this direction, and the town and city seem to be divided simply by a name. The street car lines are common to both towns. Many of the workmen who live in East Hartford are to be found at work in the daytime in Hartford shops; many of the employees of our stores and many of our business men, and some of the bright particular ornaments of our bar do business in Hartford and reside in East Hartford, thus lending their intellect to the uses of the city and the charm of their social culture to the town across the river.

"I would like to have you business men look carefully into the feasibility of uniting the city and town into one. When the new bridge is completed such a proposition is sure to be pressed. It is expected to dedicate the bridge July 4, 1907. This will afford ample time to get together the data, and see just how a consolidation of the two governments would affect the one and the other. I think it is up to the business men to do this, and in doing this they will render a real service to their community for they will make it certain that when action is taken it will be intelligent action. My own view is that consolidation would be a fine thing for both Hartford and East Hartford. It would give to East Hartford all the modern facilities and improvements of a first-class city, and it would add to the population of Hartford a large and intelligent group of first-class citizens. My hope is that, when the new bridge shall have annihilated all that divides us and shall have connected the two communities together by a splendid and commodious highway, the two communities will abolish the waste of a dual government and will consolidate into a strong and progressive and beautiful modern city."