The Portland daily press., 1879-05-23
The State Prison Report.

The State Prison Report.
The Commissioners appointed by the
Governor to appraise the stock and examine
the accounts at the State Prison have re-
| ported. They report the net assets of the
concern to be nearly $4,000. The Novem-
Der statement gave the assets as about $685.
O00. The Commissioners therefore reckon
the "shrinkage" since last Fall at about
$4,000. The difference between this re-
port and that made last Fall is wide, but it
is difference in words only. The Prison
inspectors, Republican and Democratic, put
certain estimate upon the property held by
the institution. The Commissioners put a
much lower estimate upon that property. If
the Commissioners are honest and are not
making their report for partisan advantage
the only question between them and the
Inspectors is one of judgment. There is
nothing which goes to show mismanage-
ment or extravaganza or neglect of
duty while the affairs of the prison
were managed by Warden Rice The
Democratic Inspector, Mr.. Cushing,
believes that the valuation he and his
colleagues have put upon the property is just,
and he. emphatically denies that the Prison
has been mismanaged or extravagantly con-
Quoted.
For days the Commissioners appointed by
Governor Garcelon have been about the
prison, and after making a thorough exam
ination have only to report that they put
lower valuation on the assets than the In
spectors and the former Warden do. And
for the time spent in making this investiga-
tion-wlich was entirely useless, for
thorough investigation was maue not long
ago-the Commissioners draw pay at the
rate of $3.50 day. This is the Democratic
Greenback idea of retrenchment-to pay
five men $3.50 day each, for many days, to
make a re-valuation of untaxable property.
THE town of Wiscasset is in bad way.
1t has debt nearly half as large as its
nominal valuation, and the nominal valuation
is doubtless excessive. The town now finds
itself unable to provide for the full pay
ment of its obligations or for the interest on
its bonds. 1t therefore asks its creditors to
accept fifty per cent. of their claims, and
proposes to issue on that basis new bonds
bearing four per cent interest. BY unani-
nous vote at a town-meeting held this
Spring, the selectmen are authorized to
make this proposition, and these officers
now invite the creditors to visit the place,
examine the records and tax lists and inspect
the property and then make their answer.
Ia dol o
with the exception of about $1,000 bears six
per cent. interest. The total nominal valu-
alton is but S573,S99. The interest charges
and the ordinary expenses of the town gov
ernment compel taxation of the rate of 81
per cent, and this for great number of
years. Under these circumstances, however
much we may condemn the bad Judgment
or folly that led to the contracting of the
debt we must pity the plight which compels
an appeal to creditors like the one from
which the following extracts are taken:
The experience of the past year has demon
strated the impossibility OF collecting even the
excessively high rate of that year any longer.
The most stringent measures for the collection
of taxes were adopted. Various parcels of real
estate were sold for taxes, and a portion of
lHOu NtIo Ulu Ill ny lue lOWn lOf want OF
purchasers, and only two Of the whole number
have been redeemed In other cases, personal
property was distrained and sold; citizens were
arrested and imprisoned; small farmers sold
or mortgaged their only remaining live stock,
while others were obliged to strip the wood and
timber from their farms. While such is the
condition of the middling and poorer classes of
the people, that portion who still have the
means or ability to pay without actual priva-
ton have responded with most ereditable alac-
rity to the demands of taxation and the in
creasing calls for private charity; and the peo-
pie at large have manifested remarkable pa
tience and fortitude, and have striven to the
utmost to meet their obligations. The tax col
lectors have performed their duties with un-
ceasing fidelity and diligence, and yet large
amounts remain uncollected Real estate finds
no purchasers and has no market value. Two
of the undersigned as members of the preced-
ing board of selectmen have contended against
the result which now appears inevitable, and,
having no sympathy with any form of repudia-
ton, determined it should not take place. but
with no further hope of carrying out the orig
inal policy of full and prompt payment, having
become fully acquainted with the weak and
exhausted condition of the town, it is with
deep sense of humiliation that they join in pre-
Senting this appeal in behalf OF discouraged
and impoverished community.
The burdens of which we have spoken have
but begun to be felt, and we sincerely believe
that unless immediate relief is found in the ex-
treme concession which is asked by the town,
the end will be at no distant day the utter de-
population and ruin of the town and the prac-
tical annihilation of your security.
We do not deny that in the series of events
which has led to the present deplorable situa-
tion our people have been unwise and over SAN
guine, but we disclaini for them any dishonest
or dishonorable purpose.