The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1884-02-14
The County Finances.

The Prog. Age, as a matter of course, comes
to the rescue of its fusion friends in the matter
of the county finances. but the weakness of its
defence is surprising. few bubbles, much
ado over unimportant details, and the assump-
ton of superior wisdom and knowledge pecul-
lar TO our contemporary. are all that is offered
in controyertion of facts and figures taken from
I the report of the county treasurer and easily
accessible to every one. Whether the county
expenses III past years were greater or less than
now is entirely beside the question. We m
not rectify past abuses, if any existed 1t is
present evils that are under consideration and
the question is Shall they be allowed to con-
tinue to plunge the county deeper and deeper
in debt and to lay still heavier burdens upon
the taxpayers?
In this connection the relative proportion of
the county taxes paid by the city of Belfast is
of no Importance, although the correction call
ed for by the Age was made in these columns
last week. If Belfast pays less than first stated,
the county outside pays more, of course. and has
therefore the greater reason TO complain. The
fact is that this matter affects all the taX-pay-
ers of the county, and all are alike interested in
putting stop to abuses that nearly concern
their pockets. Not only are the taxpayers rob
bed. but the good name of our people is assa-
ed by such figures as those find in the last
report of the county treasurer. We have a
peaceful. law-abiding population, mainly de-
voted to agriculture, and containing but small
percentage of transients or foreigners. Yet the
fact goes on record that about s. 900, or nearly
half the county expenses, are chargeable to
crime. 1t Is monstrous, and we very much
mistake the temper of the people of Waldo
county if they do not take the first opportunity
that offers 10 protect their regulations and their
pockets.
1t is bad enough to be robbed under cover Of
the law, and to have to go without needed inn
provements because of such robbery, but when
it is charged up against the morals of the peo-
pie, insult is added to injury The victims are
not all of one PARTY. The Republican, the
/ Democrat. the Greenbacker, the Fusionist,
the ProhibitoniSt, every man who pays taxes,
suffers from this condition of things and has
Ike cause for complaint. Reform is demanded,
in the name OF the people, but is opposed by
the organ of the party now in power This
| shows that The first step towards reform must
be i'll the direction of replacing the present
officials by men who will put stop to the eX-
listing evils.
It was stated in the journal. and is not de-
MED by the Age-It could not well deny the
official figures on which the statement was
based-that the expenses last year exceeded the
assessments 1854. Concerning this the Age
says But if tax enough was not assessed the
people have not had the deficit to pay
But they will have it to pay; the county
is Just that much in debt and the debt
must be paid by taxation, sooner or later.
1t is mere triliing to resort to such trans
I parent subterfuge is that adopted by the
Age, and it will deceive no one of Ordin-
AIRY intelligence. A. to what direction reform
shall take. that is matter for the people to
determine i the plan suggested by the Jour
nal Of re-e,tablishing the municipal court meets
their approval, well and good If some other
plan can be thought of better calculated to ac-
compli-h The desired end the journal will sup
port it. But that something should be done to
protect the taxpayers from the unnecessary
expenses To which we have referred will be
admitted by every fair minded person.