Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-03-14
oTrYAND TOWN EcoNonI.

about this time settling their accounts ior
the last year, and preparing for another
years municipal labor and expenses.
There is q great deal said in the papers
about State and National taxation and
economy, and the measures of Congress
are carefully scrutinized and loudly de-
nounced if any of them seem to be eX-
trayagant or wasteful Of the public money,
but neither Congress nor the Legislature
exerts so great an influence over the
pockets and immediate interests Of the
people as the town and city officers elected
from year to year While the State taxes
a fraction of mill the town authorities
tax from two to three per cent, and while |
Congress takes dime they exact an eagle. !
The expenditures Of all the towns and
cities In the United States for single year
make an enormous aggregate; their in
debtedness at the present time dwarfs the
national debt into insigniiicancc. The
stealings of Tweed and his confedeiates
from the single city of New York probab
~ amount to more than the sum it will re-
quire this year to pay the entire civil cx-
penses Of the general government.
The men who were elected to town and
city Offices should have the best interest of
the community at heart. They should use
the power which is entrusted to them hon
estly and according to their best Judgment
Tor the good of those who elected them.
The welfare of the municipalities is large
IL in their hands for the time being Upon
them depend our schools, roads, fire de-
partments, police. and other matters di-
rectly affecting Our everyday life, safety
and happiness. No greater trusts than
these do VIC commit to the hands of any
class Of men. Their Importance we think is
generally er-estimated in communities,
TOO often we fear not appreciated by Off
GERS themselves. Some officers seek
honor for themselves and care little about
the honor of the town; others think ii q
kind Of a holiday business to be selectman
or member of the city council, knowing
and doing little Of the real labor required
and yet others are faithful. laborious,
pains-taking servants, worth their weight
in gold to the town CT city, but often
obliged to take their pay chiefly in fault
finding and abuse from their neiohbors
and townsmon.
But the officers for this year are genci-
ally elected We advise them to think
well Of the responsibilities which they
have assumed, not rating the dignity Of
their positions below what they are, nor
regarding lightly the duties which shey are
10 perform. While they should be gener-
ous towards ali measures for the promotion
ofthe public good whichaheS may he called
upon to consider, such as for schools,
roads, police, safety against fire. let them
guard against extravagant and wasteful
expenditures, and the increase Of debts.
Economy in town affairs is comniendable
1t may run to niggardiness, which is its
abuse, but nevertheless prudence in expen-
diture, judieious watching of the treasury,
Il sharp eye to keep the balance on the
right side OF the page, are among the best
qualifications that town and city officers
can have. During the war town expenses
necessarily increased, creating debts heavy
to be borne, with which we have had to
struggle. but from which we are gradu-
ally and surely working clear. Many
towns report themselves out of debt, all
seem TO be tending that way. This
is encouraging. Freedom from debt
is as happy condition for town as an
individual. 1t should be the aim Of every
town to keep as clear of debt as possible.
There are expenditures, such as those for
building railroads, and other legitimate
and expensive enterprises in which towns
engage to promote their growth and pros
perity, that are burdensome, and yet so
necessary that the taxpayers do not hcsi-
tate TO assume them. These need to be
looked after carefully. that no neglect in
such cases may iniuriously affect the town
or city interested. We trust none of our
towns have made investments in aid of
railroad or other enterprises which were
not well considered, and from which they
will not reap profit rather thau loss, but
they Increase the responsibility OF munic-
qualities very largely. Such burdens as
these, as we'll as the debts contracted in
the war, call upon all our towns to oxcr-
else the greatest economy. We should
be liberal with our schools; more liberal
than We have been. but every doubtful
expenditure should be Topped oil and our
debts be paid as closely rs chr circum-
stances will admit. We hope the munic-
ipal year upon which We are entering
will be marked by economy in or town
affairs, SO that when elections occur next
-pring the reports will continue 10 show
reduction of debts and prudent cxpond;-
lures.
MINE CENTRAL OffICES.
The Portland Press intimates il i. does