Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-05-18

1t is more than probable that the
mass meeting of citizens called ior inns
evening. in City hall for the purpose OF
instructins the city council regarding
the matter of city building. VIII be
the largest ever held in this city.
The meeting has been regularly ana
legally called by the mayor and alder
men. through City Marshal McFadden'
and IL is to he %. the town meeting
order where anybody can speak his Ut
tie piece for or against the project L"
build city building.
70 date the only opposition TO the
project has come from those who. ad-
hitting that the building would be
good thing for the city. an ornament
thing Of beauty. oppose II for two
reasons viz: The city is within $4,000
or thsrea bouts OF The debt limit fixed
by law, and that they are heavy tax
payers. The friends OF the project ably
led by sir Frank Redington. who by
the way pays a dollar or two now and
then for taxes. say the money neces-
sary can be raised several different
ways without getting over the limit
line These various ways have been
announced Ia the people In public
meetings and the journal has from
time To time published the statements
OF the gentlemen who are interested
in not only the city building but the
city OF VAUDEVILLE as well none of whom
and all of them are heavy taxpayers
wonl do anything To plunge the city
into debt that would be weari
some burden of years.
Large corporations like the Lock
wood Mills Company. the majority Of
the stock of which is held by non-resi-
dents are always expected to oppose
any scheme that will have q tendency
to Increase the rate Of taxation in the
slightest degree, at least that is what
the projectors of the city building say.
Mr. Redington III treating with the
debt limit says: II presume il is not
generally kncwn that in reckoning
the amount of the limit Of indebted
ness. no account is taken of the public
resources. such as our real estate. our
schools, our lire eXtinguishing appli-
ances. our City hall.our liquor supplies.
the uucolected taxes. nor. for that
matter the taxes collected and in pos
session of the city treasurer. In other
words if | own a piece of real estate
worth 5000 and should mortgage it for
$300e. | should owe $4,000 and have moth,
ing for resources. | find hy investiga-
ton that the following cities in Maine
have exceeded their debt limit: Rock
land has gone over ana above the limit.
SUI. iai.%l. The total debt Of that city
after deductng resources is still above
the limit Slc2 900 Debt per capita,
$4+. Auburn has gone over the limit.
$3o.n10. Bangor is above the mark,
$l,1i1,2Sila. Augusta scales. sal .592 81.
Watervilie's debt limit is S2S3, 40. total
is S22+.a2e. Below the limit. S5S $50.
Total debt after deducting the re-
sources. s2oi ,s63.12, below the limit.
Ssh 900
Continuing Mr. Redington said: Mr.
Boutclle's claim and argument for a
private corporation To build and own
and run the building. receiving all the
benefits ami profits. is an old one and
has been worked in Waterville to our
undoing. We have voted down our
water works. we have allowed a pri-
vate corporation to establish an electric
plant and reap all the benefits and we
pay the taxes. The assembly hail.
Opera house or whatever we choose to
call it. is the water works of the city
building and will help pay the interest
money | have no grievance against
the water company or the electric COM
pany--they are the sharp, shrewd
business men among us, and we are
our own dures. 1t is singular how
many people see the hill of taxation be-
fore them but not the mountain of
benefit Immediately beyond Frequently
we spend more money in d week at the
sea shore the lake or the mountain re-
sort, than all the extra taxation for
would cost in five years"
1t has been suggested on the street
that the opposition to the city building
comes out of well arranged plan on
the part of corporation to defeat the
idea of the city building the structure
and then to build themselves fine
Opera housewife an interior that could
be suitably arranged to accommodate
the city departments and by this means :
receive the profits which would other
wise in two years. or more go into the !
city treasury a similar scheme to
Others that have been worked on the
city