The Portland daily press., 1862-09-17
OFFICIAL.
ASSESSORS, Notice.


NOTICE is hereby given that have been appoint.
~ ed Assessor of Taxes for the First Congressional
District OF the State of Maine under the Act of Con-
gress approved July l, A. ID. 1862 entitled can Act
to provide internal revenue TO support the Govern
ment and to pay interest on the public debt"
In compliance with the provisions OF said Act and
instructions of the COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL
REVENUE, have divided said District into eleven
divisions, and appoint Assistant Assessor in EACH
rs follows:
The LIST division comprises the towns of York,
Wells, kennebunk, kennebunkport and the city of
Biddeford; JOSEPH BRAGDoN, Jr., of York, Assist
ant.
Cd division, the towns of Kittery, Eliot, South
Berwick, Berwick and North Berwick: THEODORE
"A. ROLLINS, of South Berwick, Assistant.
3D. division, the towns of Lebanon, Sanford, Al
fred, Acton, Shaplegh and Newfield; JOHN S. PAR
KER of Lebanon, Assistant
4tb division, the towns of Saco, DAYTON Lyman
and Marlborough; JOHN GAINS, of Saco, Assist
ant.
9Th division, the towns of Buxton, Hollis, Lining
ton, Limerick, Cornish and Parsonsfeld; CHARLES
T. WELD, of Buxton, Assistant.
9Th division. Wards l, 2. and of the city of
Portland; SAMUEL SMALL, of Ward in said city,
Assistant.
nh division, Wards 8, and Of said city of Port
land, AUGUSTUS GERRIsH. of Ward6, in said city,
Assistant.
sth division, the towns of westbrook, Falmouth,
Gorham, Scarborough and Cape Elizabeth; DAVID
ToRREY, of Westbrook, Assistant
9th division, the towns of Bridgton, Sebago, Bald
win, Standish, Naples, Harrison and otisfield LOT
c. NELSON, of Bridgton, Assistant
10th division, the towns of New Gloucester, Gray,
North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Windham, Casco and
Raymond; sEwALL n. GROSS, of New Gloucester,
18th division the towns of Freeport Brunswick,
iarpswell, Pownal and Yarmouth; HEzEKIAH Is.
MEANS, of Freeport, Assistant.
The act under which these assistants appointed
took effect on the LIST day of September instant.
Citizens residing in the large business centres of
this district have doubtless read it, and can hence
form their own conclusions in relation to its provis-
ions; but as there are mafyin the agricultural Sec
tons who may have been unable to obtain copy for
examination, wish to call their attention to some of
its principles.
Soon afer the rebellion broke out, Congress found
It necessary to assess small direct tax on the
al States TO maintain the credit of the country The
States being authorized TO assume the payment of the
sum demanded of them. had the power to assess il
upon all the property within their limits.
Farms and other real estate being, from their ma
ture, more exposed than other objects of taxation
would suffer severely from the constant draft for
money, created in sustaining the government during
this war and they could not long endure the burden
direct tax would impose upon them.
Names proportion Of that tax has been liquidated
and paid In order TO provide in part for the future
expenses of the war, Congress wisely determined to
raise money from the people without State interview
tion and without taxing the producing asses. To
effect this object, and to make the tax equal in every
State they have passed what has been termed an Ex
else Act. Passing by the farmer, the mechanic the
fisherman. the lumberman, and many other pursuits
so essential TO our prosperity as people, this act
leyies its light contributions upon the wealth, the
Injuries the pleasures. and business of the country
1t confines its operations chiefly to the cities, towns
and villages. and gathers its from the chan
nels IN which hoate the money of the country.
II does not tax real estate of any description nor
with very few exceptions, personal property. The
excess ove ~ ounces of silver spoons or plate and
riding carriages of all descriptions. valued with the
harness at SO and upwards must be assessed. With
the exception of these two items there is not prob
ably farmer nor mechanic in this district within
the act These are taxed at sum so inconsiderabie
that il Is to be hoped every citizen who desires the
perpctuity Of his government WILL in this terrible cr
sis of IFS affairs checrfully his proportion of
its necessary burdens. and if he is fortunately the
upon ii which shall bring it within the act. II may
be the only opportunity he will have to contri
butte dollar for the preservation of his government
The professional man - the retail trader whose
sales exceed thousand dollars per yearthe man
ufacturer of any article the sales of which exceed
six hundred dollars per year-the hotel keeper-the
man whose yearly income exceeds six hundred dol
lars and several other empoymens to be assessed
II is presumed all such conyersant with the pro
visions of this act.
would call their attention to sections from six to
eleven. inclusive. and section fIfy-eght
These sections impose the duty upon every person
liable to be assessed for tax license to call imme
dately upon the assistant assessor and make up and
sign their several assessments If they neglect so to
do he is required to their tax fifty per cent,
and discretionary authority is vested in the asss-
tant or the assessor to make any abatement of this
amount. See section ii.
1t will be perceived by a careful examination of
these sections that Congress- relying upon the patri-
oism of the business men of the country proceeded
upon the hypothesis that every one liable to be taxed
would substantially assess himself. and sign the bills
fixing the amount he TO pay. If the act, there
fore complied with. the assistant assessor IL but
recording officer who receives and properly enters
the lists delivered him by the citizen and his duty in
relation TO fixing valuation upon objects iabe 10
taxation, is rather advisory than absolute. In order
however prevent the selfish, the Indifferent or the
traitorous, from escaping their proper proportions of
the public burden Congress has fixed the penalties
for their neglect, prescribed in section H.
Having been intrusted by the President with the
duty of seeing that these tax ats are properly pre-
pared and seasonably delivered to the collector of
this district respectfully request all good citizens
within it to call Immediately upon the assistant
sor of the district where they reside and
deliver him lists required in the sixth section of
the act He will give all persons the necessary in
formation to enable them to comply with its proyis-
ions. and furnish blanks therefor
NATH'L G. MARSHALL.
Assessors Office City Buildings |
Portland, Sept. l, 1862.
scptl0eod3w