Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-02-27

The exceptional reduction rom 1905 10 loo'
was enabled by the reimbursement to the city
by the State of its war debt, which was applied
to the extinguishment of the city debt The
above figures show that during the past nine
years, the city debt was reduced S20,52l.45,
notwithstanding the large amount of interest
raised to meet the coupons of the Improve
ments Bonds, and also for permanent inn
provements, such for instance rs the heavy
granite bank walls at Lancey's Block and at the
Engine House; also the walls on Commercial
street and on Northern Avenue; on Wash
ington street, on State street and on Rines
Hill; also the extension Of Sewall street, the
raising of the South Belfast road the public
receiving tomb. the naphtha lamps, the fire
hy,lrants and several reservoirs. the remodel
ing of the Engine Honse, many granite cul-
verts including the Mansion House drain, the
widening of Water street, and several miles
of new sidewalks. Our present City Treas
urer was Auditor for six or seven of the years
named, and the showing of a reduction of
$40, 52l.4 Is is based principally upon his Off
cial reports.
Something has been said about ''unreported'
bills of 1878 amounting to Ss,30G.2s, as
having been paid this year. This is moth
ing new the amount named is no larger
than the average amount of ''unreportsd'
bills which every administration bequeaths
to its successor. To indicate the in
nocent nature of these ''unreported" bills it
NAV be said that more than 81, 200 Of them
were firemen's salaries which under the ordi-
nance did not become payable until April or
May. after the new city government had en-
tered upon its duties; 81 ,626.0l went for sal
aries which officers neglected to draw until
after the close of the municipal year; S4ll.02
went for highway or snow bills which survey
ers had been unable to present sooner, or
had neglected to present. Every other item
entering into the unreported SS,306.2S was as
legitimate and as explainable as the three
we have mentioned. There must Of necessi-
ty be 'unreported' liabilities at the end Of
every municipal year, yet as they are nearly
the same in amount each year, their exist
ence has been ignored by the Auditors when
striking their annual balances, and reference
to Mr.. Lanes many reports will prove the
truth of this statement 1t being fact that
there were just about the same ''unreported"
liabilities last March as in 1871 and the same
in 1871 as in 1876, and so back for decade
under different political parties, it follows
that there is no occasion to suppose the last
city government recklessly squandered the
sum of ss,30j.2s, or that Auditor Robinson
carccssly or purposcly falsified his report.
The fact that there was reduction of
$50, 52l .45 in our ciiy's liabilities during the
last nine years, notwithstanding the large
number of permanent improvements that have
been made, indicates that the city is in good
condition. 1t is true economy when expend-
ing money, to so expend it that the work will
not soon need to be done over again. In re-
gard to all city expenses, it is proper for the
taxpayer to ask-IIas the money been hon
estly and judiciously expended for necessary
purposes, and has the city something to show
for it in the form of good government, and
permanent improvements? The people of
our city are intelligent and observant, and
can answer these questions quite as well as,
Yours truly,