Worcester daily spy., 1872-05-06
The Sewer Assessment.
Mass Meeting of Citizens im II horticultural
Hall.

The general and widespread dissatisfaction
which became apparent on the publication of
the list of sewer assessments, recently made by
the board of mayor and aldermen, and which
has been growing daily since that time, culmi-
uated on Saturday evening at Il mass meeting of
citizens held in Horticultural hail. to consult to-
gether in regard to the assessment and take
measures to secure more equitable adjustment
of the tax. The meeting was held in accordance
with call issued Il few days since, signed by
many prominent citizens. AT eight O'Clock, the
hour for beginning, The hall was crowded TO its
utmost capacity, all the seats being occupied
and hundreds were standing up in the rear The
audience was composed mostly of influential
citizens and tax payers, and the proceedings
were conducted in manner calculated to i'm
press the gentlemen composing the city govern
ment with good idea of the earnestness of the
people IN regard to the subject under considera-
ton.
The meeting was called to order by Hon Geo. NJ.
Rice, one of the sgnerS OF The call. He briefly ad-
dressed the audience, disclaiming any feeling OF
captousnesS or criticism in regard to the action
OF the city government. He prolessed the pro-
loundest respect for the ability and good faith
of the gentlemen composing the board of mayor
and aldermen, yet he thought it best to take
measures to see whether this assessment had
been levied in a legal and equitable manner
The meeting was then formally organized by
the choice of Hon. W. w. Rice as chairman,
and 3. W. Potter, Esq, as secretary. Mr.. Rice
said, on taking the chair, that up TO the moment
of his nomination he had declined the honor of
serving as presiding officer. This meeting is a
gathering of tax payers, called in the interest of
no party or clique, but TO consult together for
the best interest of the city. The system of
sewerage is one of which our citizens are justly
proud, and there are, or should be, no regrets at
its establishment. The speaker said he did not
come here to indulge in captious or unjust crti-
csm, but to calmly review the action of the city
government. The sewer debt has been gradual
ly increasing for the past few years, and it now
requires great sagacity to deal with it, The at
tempt has been made to grapple with the sub
iect, and made wiGh ability, and in good
faith The plan has been imposed on the
city without warning, and it is almost
universally considered failure. Hardly
a thought had been bestowed by the citizens as
until the plan had been made public, but now it
has been brought to the attention of the people,
almost every one seems to be dissatisfied with it.
This meeting is not held for the purpose of ven-
tilating individual cases of unjust dscrimina-
tion but to consider the whole subject in all its
bearings, and to see if some plan cannot be de-
vised which will enable the city government, in
concert with the people, to take some action
which all will approve. Failing in this it may
be advisable to adopt some utimatum, by
which the legality of the assessment may be
tested.
Hon. Adm Thayer then addressed the chair.
He said that it may be safely assumed that
what has been done by the mayor and alder
men has been done in good faith but great
mistake has been made--a mistake which will
tell injuriously upon the prosperity of the city,
unless something is done TO counteract it, With
view to facilitate this object, Mr.. Thayer offered
the following resolution:
Resolved, that in the Judgment of this meeting
representing the varied interests of the citizens Of
Worcester, the decree of the mayor and aldermen
OF this city, relative to the sewerage Is
not acceptable to said citizens and that the mode OF
making said assessments is in many respects un-
equal and Objectionable and that said decree should
be resclnded and such measures adopted by said
board rs will make more equal distribution Of the
taxes or assessments arising from the construction
of the sewers.
The resolution was seconded by Mr.. William
Dickinson and unanimously adopted
Mr.. Dickinson offered the following resolu-
ton, which was received with applause:
Resolved that committee of twenty-five citi-
zens be appointed, whose duty il shall be to present
the foregoing resolution to the mayor and alder
men, and to take such other measures, rs in their
judgment are expedient, to procure u recOnsidera-
tion by the mayor and aldermen of said decree OF
April 10th, 1872, in relation TO sewerage ASSESS
meDts, and in of their REFUSAL to take the nec-
essary steps TO test the legality OF said decree and
to protect the interests OF those assessed thereby
Mr.. William s. Davis called attention 10 the
fact that some citizens are satisfied with their
assessments and would willingly pay now to Sc.
cure the discount offered, If they could be as.
sured they would be protected in the payment,
and if the assessment is declared illegal they
could receive their money back. He hoped the
committee would consider this matter.
The chair explained that the mayor and al.
dermen would undoubtedly postpone the date of
payment if nothing more, when the action of
this meeting should be brought to their notice,
by the committee.
Mr.. Dckinson's resolution was then unan.
mously adopted, and 1t was voted that the com
mittee should be appointed by the chair
Mr. Rice announced that it would not take
him long to appoint the committee, as he had
found paper upon his desk which he judged
! contained about the requisite number of names.
The following gentlemen were then appointed