Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-03-09

Il ne tDb1HbRS <tffs-f-SfftHs4~N tAPt<As3S
itself.
ArSesrs. Ne. March ist, l-sg.
Car. RI. r. BIAsca Arb. Aggasts, Me-
w Dear Sir and comsad~--l sisls to
etef you my hearty congratulations upsn
TIE rssnsss 81 last Biytt's exHeps an ofl5siAi
notice Of which sou will receive in sUe
time from the city committee. II il very
s,tisfae.ors 90 nse thar vas enabled 10 as
.i-t In brisg sbosss the nitfilai ~ we'll q.
the resaIf bat ~ matter Of fact IL vAs
the outcome Of no snxie pwrsoasi effort
bnt the spontaneous yofee Of the cool Re-
tablleans Of Augusta ard ia mxaiax ysa
fbeir ch ice a. standard bearer 10 the nun
e1pal contest close At hand, they have an
asobtetIiy bat soitea the prevailing seali-
mest Of all our citizens, tiiat a closer econ
ong should govern the expenditures Of the
city in the future.
no such opportunity has been offered in
The last decade az now presents ifseif, for
+. csssfal revision Of the methods that gov
en- the financial policy of our city govern
nent.
The large expenditures that have been
made for permanent public improvements,
vile only In keeping v It'll the rapid growth
Of he busioess interests of the city, are be-
ing ased by our enemies in an unfair and
dnloysi manner TO ALLEVIATE the support of
the rural wards from the Republican party,
those policy has always been progressive
possibly little too much so)- Your past
experience 10 city affairs, complete indie
pendence of corporation interests, and thor
0agh business reputation. must make you
very strong with this cisss, as aIso with all
Of our citizens who are now calling for
systematic and careful expenditure of the
money entrusted to the city government for
the benefit OF all its citizens. Believing
that you represent this sentiment, and that
II elected will bend every energy To the
carrying out of such policy, beg leave
To offer you my hearty support and well
wishes for your success.
Very truly yours,
A. y. BAsss.
INT. A. g. Bdags, Chairman Of The Re-
pnbiicaR Caucus,
DEAR CoL0SEL IL have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of your letter and
certificate, notifying me Of my nomination |
for the office of mayor, and therefore take 4
this opportunity to thank you for the kind |
expression Of your good wishes and your
approval Of the opinions | hold with regard /
10 our municipal affairs and particularly /
with reference to our present bur1ensome I
taxation. While there are various |
other matters Of importance in which our
citizens feel an interest and which in
measure are depe upon the result of |
the approaching municipal election, yet, |
paramount to all other considerations Is the |
question of taxation AMI the policy neees-
ssry to be adopted in order to tighten the I
burdens of the taxpayer, and by obtaining I
more equitable assessment On the |
property of our corporations and upon GER |
tain unproductise but valuable real estate
situated within the limits of the city proper.
This real estate, by reason of its being !
greatly undervalued, it being rated as
"farm property" by the assessors, ieavts |
the owner To hold it for spec ulative pur- /
poses at merely nominal tax, thus keep !
ing it out OF the market and preventing it |
from being sold for house lots or other |
purposes, as would be the case were |
proper tax placed upon it in proportion to |
its actual value. II is manifest |
that such course retards the |
city's growth and prosperity the
poor working man who buys small lot of |
land for the purpose of building him home |
Is taxed To the last penny of its value and |
at time, too, when he is paying interest on |
the purchase money. This Is manifestiy |
unjust.
During the years which have elapsed |
since was connected with the city |
government and became somewhat |
familiar with municipal affairs, the
rate of taxation has gradually increased
from Is or 10 mills to q mills within the |
limits of the village district, and to about |
2 mills in the outsiie districts. There is
no pretebce or insinuation on the part of /
any one that the expenditures of the city |
government have not been strictly in ac-
cordance with law and the ordinances of
the city, nor that the city has not had value |
received for every dollar put cut in
permanent improvements. While we |
have the improvements and have in |
Cured the debt it is doubtful il /
any man of business would say today, with |
nil the increased taxation which they have |
brought upon us, that they are not worth |
all they have cost But the time has come |
when the policy of large expenditures for
permanent Improvements should change |
The time has come when we must follow |
out more economical method.-making no |
further Improvements than actual necessity |
demands and until taxation shall be reduced |
to ~ mills at the most, where 1t was only |
eight or ten years ago. L am quite WtH |
aware that for the year just past
small portion of the increase |
of taxation is the result of the State valua-
ton as fixed by the State valuation COM
mission, in excess of the amount of the val |
uation made by our assessors, thereby in |
cressing our State ami county taxes some
what. will only say that should the nom
nation of the party made. by such a hat |
terng vote, be ratified at the polls shall |
cndeavor to bring about the desired results |
and know | shall have the heart, support !
of the entire city council.
was IN no wise candidate for the office |
and never expressed desire to be. Many /
of my friends and prominent business men /
of our city and among the number were
three ex-mayors) knowing my opinion rela- |
tive to taxation and the unusual
expenditures for permanent improvements. |
urged me to allow the use of my name |
assuring me that all good citizens would |
sustain me in accomplishing the needed re-
suit. This if elected. propose to do, if |
succeed in accomplishing nothing else |
worthy OF official remembrance. Thinking |
you once more for your kind congratula-
tons and expressions of approval,
am, very respectfully yours.