Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1857-12-04
For the oS6rl Democrat.
Taxation, Again.

During the period IN which County CON-
missioncrs held their Offices by appointment
Of the Governor and Council. and subject to
rruoral, their duties were, mainly, very sat
isfaetorily discharged. Tho presumption Is
strong that ;hcy acted under due sense Of
responsibility. They know full well that,
IL they were regardless Of their obligations
70 the people and aithlcss 10 their olths Of
Office, rctribution was surc IN follow. Tfno
higher or noblcr motive controlled, tho law
Of .clf.prcoryation was sufficiently cicctual.
Not much cause for complaint Is remember
cd. Oar County Affairs were conducted
with a becoming regard to the principles Of
economy. and what was supposed to be the
just requirements Of the people. No charge
was made against the County Commission.
e. that they sought business, ostcusiLly for
tho benefit Of the public, but really ior their
own private cmolumcnt. Daring that Pc
riod our County tax did not average moro
than Frs thousand dollars Per annum, and
the yearly compensation to County Com.
misioners did not, probably, on an average
exceed $3.50 10 each. Whenever applca-
tions Tor new roads or Tor the alteration or
dscontinuanco Of old ones, were under con.
sideration, somewhat rigid scrutiny was
instituted as to the necessity AMI eIp'dicncy
Of the proposed measure. 4 pumd fa1s case
WIS required to be made out, and unless
that was done, no further action was had,
and the County incurred no expense.
In 1850 the legislature provided by law,
Tor the election of County Commissioners by
the people Tho first election under that
law was in September OF the same year.
Tho persons elected entered upon the duties
Of Office on the fr', Monday Of January fol.
lowing, and were 10 continue in Office three
year'. No power was reserved 70 the poo.
plo or 70 the State Executive, by which eth.
cr could interfere, in any manner, with
Commissioners 20 elected In their official
conduct they were accountable to nobody
they were as independent a' "tho Kinr,who
can do no wrong" In fact. they could do
just what Go use an iuclcsint hut express
i,r phnsc,) "they DIN please, saving, al
ways, a regard 10 the admonition' Of con.
science.
Now II we look into the practical work.
ing- Of this state OF independence, We shall
find that the County tax Tor the year lsI3,
was only five thousand dollars, and that.
to,, based upon the estimate made by tho
Commissioners Of the preceding year. In
I>ii, the County tax was 'srR thousand
dollars, an increase OF two thousand dollars,
in one year after the elective system went
into operation. We need not stop 10 en-.
Quirc what may have been the tax ior the
intermediate years II known, however,
that ior each Of the years Of lsji-j-Gand :,
the County tax was nine thousand five hun.
drci dollars, (Sg 500 Thcso figures show
conclusivcly that the expenditures Of the
County have been rory marty double since
lsi3. In the meantime, tho area Of tho
County, i'' population and valuation have
h"cn essentially diminished hy the ab-trac.
ton from 10 borders u LiycrmOrc and Tur.
ucr, two Of its most wealthy and populous
towns Il j., moreover, by no means Ger
tam that these sums, amounting in the nc.
grcEtc T. tmRrr.uGnr THOUSAND pothEs,
aud which have been assessed upon, and
paid by, the people, tor the four year. above
mentioned, will b. sufficient TO meet the
drafts on the County Treasury. On the
contrary, 1t /, believed that the end Of this
year will disclose pretty smart d.f1i
The aggregate amount paid County Com
mi,.ioncrs Tor service, in the year 1874, was
S7l2.I9. In 1851, the amount was $780,.
s.. It is barely possible iha. more service
was necessarily required OF the Commission
~. in 1854 than in lsIi, yet It Is difficult
% believe that the excess Of service was equal
90 the excess Of payment, to wit, Sll97, 90.
In future article, the character OF yaTi.
Gus payments from the Treasury, may bO
con'iicrcd,-paymenp having no founda.
ton d" in law, equity or good Conscience
payments made, not only without law. bat
against law-pnyments. the very foundation
Of which would make even GaPhmim blush
with shame. h.