Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-07-28
About the Threatened Injunction.

ABOUT Inc threatened INIuUCtlON.
AS prophesied in Saturdays Journal.
the article that morning announcing
the determination of certain ones to
block the work of the new city build
ing commission in the construction of
a city building fell upon the citizens
like a thunderbolt from a clear sky"
OF course there were those who
knew it was coming all the time"
and others who did not know it was
coming but were not surprised. To
the practical man of the world. one
whose senses have often been stunned
by the harsh personalities often in
dulged in by people who have become
aroused to a high degree of indigna-
ton. the conversation on the street
all day Saturday if published would
make interesting reading.
1t is a funny condition Of things to
say the least and the opposition though
so greatly in the minority on the sub
ject of Il municipal building will have
the satisfaction of knowing that they
stirred up a regular hornets nest with
their injunction business.
If you say anything to a friend of
in language Enthusiastically emphatic
and far from religious to Just wait
and see" Here's a prominent bust
hess man on Main street whose con-
tribution to the building fund in the
way of taxes will be $500. who says to
the Journal: IF l was member of
that building commission | would be
in favor of going ahead and let them
bring on their injunction. You can
not tell what can be done until the in
junction is served. The building com
mission have got all the authority that
is necessary to go ahead and they
should do it,
The citizen above quoted is not par
ticularly struck on the building being
started, this year; he personally would
rather wait, but he says as it is the al
most unanimous desire of the people
to build now. go ahead. He is also of
the opinion that the matter will create
a feeling in municipal affairs that will
tend to prevent other necessary i'm
provemants, for those who want the
City building now. if defeated in the
project. Will oppose everything that
the members of the opposition party
may require that will be a direct bene-
fit to them as well as an improvement
to the city. A member of the upper
board of the city council was seen
by the Journal but he had nothing to
say on the matter for publication be-
yond the statement that he cannot see
how the council can recede from the
position it has taken. He said: I'VE
are supposed to represent the people,
and it is very well known that a very
large majority of the citizens want the
City building. If we back down now
We should lose the confidence of the
people,
affairs said:
1T is vident to everybody who has
been here for five years that the OPP
position to the City building was con-
ceived in the Office of certain cor
in this city. 1t is customary
Tor large manufacturing concerns to
to regulate the rate of taxa
ton. Their officers go into politics
head over heels and control if possible,
and they almost always do control,
the vote on all questions of municipal
taxation. They do not care a conti-
mental about city improvements, their
one great desire being to keep their
taxes.down. OF course we do not blame
them for that but there are corpora
tons in this city which, if they paid
tax in proportion to that Ofsthe average
real estate owner. would be Obliged to
pay more than they would be called
upon to pay as their share of taxes
which would go to pay for the City
building. 1t is possible that the city
may&see fit to adjust the tax rate
another year so that the corporations
will not only pay for their property
but it will include a compensation to
the city for some of the humiliation it
receives at the corporations hands"
An article has been published that
conveys the impression that the build
ing commission has abandoned the
project and will stop where they are.
There are two good lawyers in that
commission who will counsel the rest
of the board, and it is safe to bank on
the chances that they will take ad-
of every legal point that will
favor the construction of the building.
and beside, Mayor Webb, in his inter-
view with the Journal, Friday even