Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-31
For County Treasurer.
HOW TAXATTON rs REDUCED.

There are some democrats who persist
in harping upon the burdens of taxation,
as though they had not been reduced.
They are either profoundly ignorant them
selves of what has been done to reduce
taxes, or if they know they presume upon
the ignorance of their hearers and readers
for success in relating their falsehoods.
As an example of what has been done in
the way of reducing taxation, we take the
first collection district of this State.
And in order that our authority may pass
undisputed among democrats, we take the
facts below as we find them published in
the columns of the Portland Argus. The
following article was published in the
editorial columns of the Argus, May
10Th.
The assessments of internal revenue in the
first collection district for the year 1871,
amounts to $17,780. Of this amount 81, 727
is assessed in the LIST division comprising the
towns of Biddeford, Saco Kennebunk, Ken
nebunkport, Kittery, Weld, Elliot South Ber-
wick North Berwick, Cape Elizabeth and
Scarborough. The second division which
consists of the city of Portland only, pays
$lI, 453.07. TheIthird district comprising the
towns of Alfred, Parsonsfield, Limerick,
Limington, Buxton, Hollis, Cornish, West
brook, Deering, WATERFORD, Lyman, San
ford, Dayton, Lebanon, Berwick Acton, Bald
win, Gorham, Bridgton, Naples, Shapleigh,
Sebago and Newfeld is assessed So POS. TO-
the towns Of Freeport, Brunswick, Bowdoin-
ham, Harpswell, Falmouth, Pownal, Harri-
son, Raymond, Otisfeld, Yarmouth, Gray,
Casco and New Gloucester, comprising the
fourth district, are assessed 81, 39l.4 40.
Last year the total amount assessed in the
the present years assessment of S92. 81. 80
The amount assessed in Portland last wear
was SsO, 066.3I, an excess over the assess
ment for the present year of 500, 1881.
York county paid last year Sl5, ll4S0. The
great reduction from last year results from
the increase of the income exemption from
$1,000 to $1,000, and the reduction of the rate
from l-2 to 1-5 per cent on incomes, bank
railroad, and corporation dividends the aboli
ton OF special taxes, except in connection
with the manufacture and sale of liquor anC
cigars, and removal of the taxes on success
sions and legacies, en- gross receipts, manu-.
facturers' and dealers sales, insurance, en-.
tertainments, carriages, gold and silver plate
and billiard tables.
This shows great reduction of taxa.
ton.
1t stands thus with the first district.
Tax in 1870, sllo,s5l.s5
1871, 17,7S0.00
Reduction in 1871, 92.57l35
Thus in single year more than six
seventies of the whole tax was swept off
and remember the Argus says so. Ii
Portland the reduction was s63,5l3.3l
ana yet Mr.. Kimball talks as though take
haa not been reduced, while the abov
lndisputabie fact is published in the demo
cratic paper under his very nose.
The citizens of Swampscott held meetin
Monday evening in relation to the late raj
road slaughter. 1t was largely ATTENDED
Resolutions of censure upon the managemel
of the Eastern Railroad were passed. In IL
series adopted was the following:
That a committee of five be appointe
whose business ii shall be to confer with Il
Railroad Commissioners or other legal a
thorities to devise measures to prevent I
recurrence OF such horrors, and especially
suggest whether the vastly increased numb
of railway passengers does not require ii
our railways adopt the system OF runnil
their trains by the telegraph system. No ira
TO leave station until the train ahead is +
ported as having passed the station ahea'
and If necessary, express trains shall mo-
on separate tracks, failing which, railwa.
shall be forbidden to allow any trains to lea'
q central sation AFTER the time announced
its time table.