Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-22
MAINE DISPATCHES.
COLLECTING TAXES.
The Methods Employed oy a ShTewd
Fairfield Man.

FAIRFIELD, Oct. 20.
The growing town of Fairfield has beer
fortunate in having a resident who thorough
ly knows his business and goes about it in a
business-like manner. The collection OF
taxes has always been perplexing question
! and many are the devices which town off
GERS have resorted to in order to save heavy
abatements and secure prompt payments aud
avoid large interest accounts. Under the
old and the usual method three or four years
were required to close up the accounts of a
| single year, and the matter was finally ad-
justed by the town striking off hundreds of
dollars against parties who had either died
moved away or become poor. Another OBJ
lection to the usual method is that it is con
sldered necessary to continue a man three or
I four years as collector in order to close up
accounts, and if deficiency occurs it is well
nigh impossible to fix the year and the
bondsmen go free. Having experienced all
the trials and troubles, Fairfield seized upon
the offer of Hiram +. Tuck, Esq, who in
1876 proposed to collect the taxes in full and
make final settlement with the selectmen on
or be fore the next annual meeting, in con-
sideration of the sum of 3 per cent. of the
amount collected. No one expected he
would be successful, yet before the day ar
/ rived he appeared and made the final pay
mebt, asking only that the errors in the tax
book be corrected. For twelve years this
town has enjoyed the benefit of his labors.
/ During that time the total tax has increased
from sixteen to twenty eight Thousand dol
lars, and the polls from about six hundred
and fifty to between ten and eleven hundred.
/ Fnr several years the work has been done
for two and half per cent. The books
are usually gi-en Mr.. Tuck about the 20th
OF May, and for the first month he devotes
himself to getting in the poll taxes and look
ing after the transients.
| Property holders understand that they are
expected TO pay one half during September
and the balance before the first of January.
Having pleuty of time they are able to govern
themselves accordingly and meet the
tax bill as easily as though they
waited one or two years. During
all these years Mr.. Tuck has never
committed a man to Jail or sold dollars
worth of property. More than this no
abatements have been necessary, only the
natural errors corrected, and no discount
allowed
More than enough is yearly collected from
the floating class, which was formerly abated,
to pay all the expense of collecting.
The town has had the money to do bust
ness with and town orders have been unnec-
essary. No one desires to return to the old
method, for the expenses of the town make
it necessary that it must have all the money
annually in order to do its business.
Asking MIR. Tuck to what he attributed his
remarkable success, his reply was charac-
teristc of the man. al never ask for tax
until want it and people know mean what
| say" Today We have no more popular
man than our tax collector, who prac-
tises all the leniency possible, yet attends
strictly to his business.
For several years final settlements have
been made before the first of January to the
satisfaction of every body. 1t has been the
application of business principles that has
| given success, and if such results can be
realized in Fairfield, why not in every town
in the state. 1t costs no more to pay the
taxes of 1883 during the present year than
during 1889, and the tax collector must be
met every year. Fairfield is fortunate in
having business man for collector, one
who knows his business and impresses his
knowledge upon tax payers.