The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1891-05-14

To THE EDITOR OF THE Journal: Truly con
sistency is Jewel of the brightest water. We see
a manifest illustration of this smile in recent
act Of our newly elected board of aldermen. This
board and their cc-workers of the council owed
their election by great majority of the votes of
our citizens entirely to a o-caed raid ON the city
treasury, made by their predecessors in office in
the interest of the "moncy kings owning the
Crosby Inn the leading hotel of our city In other
words, two years taxes against this hotel corpora
ton, which had been duly assessed and were due
tne city, were abated by them ON the petition Of
certain of most influential citizens. Their
grounds for asking it. and the principal reasons
for granting the request, that the stockhold-
ers had already sunk their stock fully of sight,
that the hotel was not an investment but public
benefit and deserved this amount of assistance
from the public funds This action might have
been Warranted by the facts might not have been
1t was an unpopular move at least and caused an
ovelurn of the city fathers the succeeding elec-
ton Although those who were instrumental in
passing this abatement order We're condemned,
ri'tIruled and driven ont Of office by cyclone,
think, Mr.. Editor, that no one charged that any
member OF the board was benefited to the amount
OF enc cent, personally, 10y 50 doing, or received
any reward whatsoever for his vote.
But the people, who are apt TO he rather harsh
N criticisms of their public servants at times put
their seal Of condemnation on this act amt elect
cd in their places a very excellent set Of men,
hat who obliged from the various circum-
stances leading to their election, to stand as re
formers, and especially, like watch dogs to guard
the public treasury that their predecessors had
a a nf Ii1f
SIC may look for Reform in earnest. Now the
poor taxpayer safely sleep o'nights not fear
Ing that he snail wake in the morning to find him
-cif paving the taxes Of rich corporations. I'm
modiately on their accession to office there comes
to tle front another abuse of the peoples trust
that calls for remedy and when could more
opportune time he found or set of officials with
strjeter impIiedl pledges to guard the payers
interests The board Of aldermen. who are pre-
suncd to serve without pay, have been for years
cNiorting from travelling shows and local
managers free tickets for themselves and families
an amuSements not of local nature in place OF
q cash tax which should 20 into the city treasury
t" reduce taxation This j. q custom which is il
vogue IN no other city in the state, except
in rare instances where town halls are used fol
public entertainments. It is custom which should
not only be outawed, and las been elsewhere, but
is method OF settling the salaries OF city OIL ial,
at Iart city ana part private expense which is not
generally known and understood. 1t is true the
clty's loss is smali-not over So to $50 wear but
the principle is one which, on analysis, is shown
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