Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-08-22
OVER THE VETO.
City Council Passes City Building
Order Without Dissent.
Five Aldermen aud Twelve Common Council.
men Present-0psn Letter.

At the adjourned meeting of the city
council, Wednesday evening, to act upon
the mayors veto of the recent orde. relat-
ing to signing the city building contract,
there was large attendance and quite a
number of the citizens were present
At the opening of the meeting in the
aldermen S room, Alderman Dudley read
an open letter, the full text of which is as
follows:
Hon. Chas. A. Milliken, Mayor, Augusta,
Maine:
Mr. Mayor: have read with interest
your veto message to the city council Of
Aug. 20.
AS you use the offer Of London syndi-
cate to relinquish the principal on pay
ment OF per cent. for 90 years, and ap
plying that principle to ordinary NUM-
opal affairs. ask you If you have con-
sidered what the result would be? And
first ask you to look at the transactions
of the past year which you approved.
You approved the issue of bonds pay
able in 25 years, amounting to s65, ,O0O
With this you paid s51 900 city demand
notes and $4,000 floating debt bearing
no interest. In 25 years the city will pay
in interest 500, 900. The city would have
paid on the notes if they remained out
standing, $63, $50. You invested $14, 900
in road improvements and road machines
and road roller. Applying your London
syndicate rule, in 90 years this sum will
amount to s37, 500; and your S65, 900 will
have cost in interest, 800, y09.25. The in
terest on your Sl4 900 invested in high
ways would amount in 100 years to $654,-
GAL
1t has been your expressed wish to con-
tlnue the same line of highway improve
ments The number of roads improved
the past year are not Tooth part of what
should be improved but from your reason
ing the cost would aggregate in 100 years,
sos, 493, 100.
If your reasoning Is correct, did not the
city council wisely halt In the work?
The Sprague purchase in 1867 cost the
city $3.50. 900. The city has already paid
in interest over $3.50, 900. Mr.. Mayor, do
you hold that Investment to have been
unwise? l do not. was member of
the city council at the time. l voted for
1t and have never regretted 1t.
Applying your syndicate reasoning, the
interest already amounts to rising $780,
600, and in 100 years will wipe out the
entire city valuation.
If your reasoning Is sound should not
the rule be applied In all business affairs?
Are you aware that the tax of $31, 500
assessed in 1857 would in 80 years under
your rule, amount to more than the en-
1t .f %Ia <tf nd xhnk
which was SO, 500, 900.
/ have not considered the cost of annual
repairs, in these figures, but what will
you have to show for your $4,000 at the
end of 25 years, with its accumulated in
terest amounting to over S37, 900, unless
large annual expenses for repairs are
made? Witness Grove street and Water
street. and will your road roller be any
thing but old ironP
l might multiply cases without limit
from the city's records, bnt 1t seems to
me enough has been given to show the
absurdity of the reasoning, on the hereto
fore wanton waste of the peoples money
from the beginning of the city.
Very respectfully,
Samuel W. Lane.
The aldermen then passed the order over
the veto by unanimous vote, five pre-
sent, as did the common council 12 mem
bers of which were in their seats, voting for
the passage of the order.
A previous order relative to moving the
hydrant on Willow street, was repealed,
and the matter was left with the commit
tee on fire department, with power to act
The stand pipe near DR.. Brlckett's S
house on State street was ordered moved
to location near the Grammar school
building, to be determined by the high
way committee.
A petition for an electric light at the
corner of johnson and Green streets, was
read and referred.
An order of adjournment to Saturday,
Aug "a, at 7.30 P. NJ, was passed.