The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-06


assessors said it was cheap, and when
they came to place valuation on IL 'ney
showed on $50 more than ! pald for 10
81 know of another corporation IN town
that has capital stock OF s5oo.ooo anu
the assessors tax 'em for only s9o'oo"'
Now say that If the assessors wouia
look around little they could ina
enough more to tax so as to bring the rate
down to where it was last year. linen 1he
gentleman from three wouldn't be ac'
cused of extravagan
81 am told that some property In Ward
z has decreased in value lately, and It's
taxes lowered, while property down on
the flats has increased and its taxes been
raised. We oil know that the state asses.
sors have found $4,000, 900 or s.. 600, 900
more than our ASSESSORS can find. The
man who has little home, even If it is
is taxed for all it is worth;
there is no reason why the big corpora
tions should not stand their full share of
taxation.
"Now that am wound up as the
gentleman from five says Of me In his
paper, will say, for the benefit of the
that we realized quite sum
last year from the sale of bonds. We also
got, after good deal of exertion, an ex-
ira dividend on the city's gas stock. We
haven't got any stock dividends or bon DIS
sale to fall back on this year. We also
built q bridge last year which we are
helping to pay for this year. These are
some of the reasons why the taxes are 60
ing ND. But, still claim that ii the as
SCISSORS would look around they could find
enough more property to tax to bring the
rate down to $50. and perhaps lower.
"Perhaps the newspapers are not paying
all they ought. ! see some doctors here
tonight. I can't state positively that they
are not taxed all they ought to be, but l
know they charge US pretty high when
they visit u.s. Here are some grocers
Perhaps they might he taxed
little more. I notice some OF them nave
pretty good teams, with rubber tires on
their carriages.
"The Consolidated Electric Light COM
pany, I understand, is paying taxes on
500, 900 valuation and operating $3.50, 600
or $500, 900 plant This only goes to show
what said, that if the assessors Will
only look around, there will be no need
of raising the tax rate. They tell us that
viii le the real estate of the city was in
creased e5O0, 600 last year. the personal
property fell off about 81, 200, 900. notice
they have three new clerks In the as
SCISSORS office. Three clerks, and, we have
lost track Of 81. ooo. 600 Of property. Per-
haps if they had three more clerks they
would lose it all.
before the tax rate is fixed the asses S.
ors should visit Augusta and look up the
records.
Alderman Mannix next took up the
sudgel. and suggested that the committee
with the assessors department
urge the assessors to use all possible
vigilance to ascertain the valuation OF
in order that this citizens of
Portland will not be obliged to pay more
taxes this year than in former years.
Alderman Dow, chairman Of that COM
mittee, promised to do all he could in the
direction suggested.
CHEAPER ELECTRIC LIGHT.
Manager George W. Brown of the Cum
berland Illuminating company, which
has purchased the charter
rights OF the old Portland Electric Light
company, was present to see what the
aldermanio board would do with his
to give the city cheaper
electric light.
The proposition declared that the COM
pany would install forty lights of sixty
Eve candle power, 1l5 lights of thirty two
candle power and $50 arc lights of 1900
candle power. The price to be paid by
the city for this complete line OF poles
and underground system is sl00, ZOO, or if
it Is desired to use no underground and
have pole line arranged to cover the
same streets, then the price shall be $75,-
200, including all pole lines, lamps and
fixtures complete.
The company agrees to pay an annual
pole rental of five per cent, on the cost Of
The lines 1t further agrees to make a
contract to light the city streets with OIL
lights of 65 candle power, 14S of SO candle
power and 25S arc lights of 1900 candle
power for $40, 800, and to furnish lights
'or all public buildings at ten cents per
1000 watts, with 40 per cent discount
rom meter rates.
Finally, the company aPrees to light the
streets and public buildings, taking last
7ear's bills as basis, for sos, 900, which
s sl5, ia less than the city paid last
year.
This communication was received and
he petition for location of poles and wires
let down for hearing September 20. 81
MINOR N ALTERS.
A petition OF Charles II. Baker for a
billiard hall license and several petitions
or yictualers' licenses were referred to
he license COMMITTEES.
George W. Furlong was given leave to
withdraw his sIS claim for damages
Samuel L. Carleton is to DO paid $50
or the damage TO his cellar, occasioned
oy raising the Washington street grade.
Waltar VI Wtl1iama WAS granted q