Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1879-08-12
COUNTY FINANCES.

Mr.. PlllSbury SAID at Norway, on Mon
day. Aug. Attn, that the County tax for
Oxford in 1856, when the Democrats had
control of the county, was S9,5OO.OO.
He said that the tax in 1873, under the
Republicans, was Sl3, 200. 90. Both
statements were exactly true.
In another portion Of Mr., Pillsbury 5
speech on the same occasion, he SAID the
Republicans had passed a law making the
Counties pay all criminal bills, which were
paid by the State under Democratic adj
miniStratiou. This Is also true.
Mr. Pillsbury did not say, however, as
a candid man should, that in 1856, under
Democratic administration, the County
tax was -, 10000, and the State bore
the expenses of criminal prosecutions;
while in 1873, under Republicans rule, the
County tax was Sl5.0O0.00, and the
County paid the expenses Of criminal
prosecutions.
In 1856 the tax was S9,5OO.OO, and
the State paid criminal bills for this Coun-
" amounting to S2,2SS.22. making the
sum of Sll,7SS.22.
In 1873 the tax was Sl3,000.00-a
sum larger than has been assessed before,
under Republican administration The
County paid criminal bills amounting to
81. 99S.Sl, which deducted from the tax
Of SlS,0OO.OO as it would have been
paid bv the State in 1856, leaves the
tax SlI,O0l.I9 The tax was thus large
In 1873. tor TWO reasons. The County
was obliged by law TO re-indeN the Reg
i>try of Deeds. which was done at a hg-
ure not less than 100000. Then the
people of Oxford County demanded that
their County buildings should be put in
repair. This was done at an expense of
a. least $4,000 These two items,
amounting 20 81 10000 of extraordinary
suus.s, account for the seeming discrcp-
aucy agains, the Republican adminiStra-
ton. If that sum be deducted from the
SlLOOll9 remaining after the criminal
bills were paid. We shall have balance
Of S9.20ll9, or S39S.SI less than the
tax assessed in 1856.
In 1877 the County tax was Sl2,-
10000. and the County paid criminal
bills amounting % SS,95L99. Ii this
sum had been paid BY the State as it
would have been, in 1856. our tax would
have been SS,06S.Ol, or Sl,43l.99 tess
Hal, 90, joost,d tar Of 1896, when the
Democrats had full control OF County
affairs.
Mr.. Pillsbury took 1878, an exception
al year, for the purpose Of making a
showing against Us. We have taken
IS77. an exceptional year, for the pur-
pose of showing against his party. In
1877. we had murder trial, and paid
very heavy bills for capturing and main
tanning criminals. These bills were most
Is allowed by the Supreme Judicial Court.
Neither OF these figures show anything
conclusive; but an averaging Of expend-
imre> proves that the Republican admin
i,tration has been the more economical.
For SIX years ,lS64, and from 1866 to
.lSzO. inclusive, the County tax was
only 100000, or $4,000 per year less
than In the boosted Democratic year OF
1856, and the County paid Its own GRIM
inal bills. In addition to this, we should
bear in mind that these years were years
of initiation and extravaganza.
The average County tax for twenty
one years, from 1858 to 1873, inclusive,
has been SlO,7S5.0O per year. The
average amount of criminal bills paid by
the State for Oxtord County during three
wears preceding 1857 was l,9Sl.52. II
tins sum be taken from our average an
nual tax Of SlO,7S5.OO it would leave
our annual expenses at SS,S0S.4S, OF
S696.j2 less than those Of the boosted
Democratic gear Of 1856. A saving OF
S696.52 per year for twenty-one years,
amounts to SI4,626.92, which the Re
publicans have saved the people of Ok
ford County.
Mr.. Pillsbury's statements were sub
stantialy true: but he did not seek to
give US the exact facts, and so arranged
his figures as 10 make them do his lying