Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-02-06

present municipal year, l1,4lV ~. iner
has been collected during the year "a sos So,
leaving 81 sos SO uncollected.
UNPAID TAXES
Then the matter OF unpaid taxes was
taken up. The discussion was continued
until far In the evening, the meeting
being a late one. Mayor Greedy started
the ball a rolling. He said:
Gentlemen Of The Board:
desire 10 m kc brief and plain statement
in relation to taxes due the city and unpaid
AS there has yet been no settlement of the
afrirs of the city for the past year. the amounts
give ar. approximate
There lie legally due the city In taxes-ex
elusive Of tax.deeds and going back not further
than hos -some ss3,ooo. large percentage of
which Is eollectabie
OF the taa levy for the year 1909 there has
been come 10000 collected, leaving balance of
some $4,000 uncoliecied. To ascertain some
what the condition of those uncollected taxes,
the collector was requested to make list OF
those amounting to $50 and upwards. An ex
animation of that list shows that there ifty-
eight persons. firms and corporations owing the
city some $4,000. There are twenty i've per.
sons on the list who are owing some $500.
mentioned who are not amply able to pay fully
and freely, and at almost any time.
There is one feature of the tax question that
IL decidedly unfair and unjust to those Of our
taxpayers who are prompt In paying. In con-
sequence OF NIL taxes not being paid, every In.
coming administration has to make temporary
loan In anticipation of taxes, which makes cost
70 the city In form of interest money which
those who have already paid their taxes are
Obliged to pay In added tlxes, while those who
tave withheld their taxes have money Invested
and drawing interest thereon which rightfully
belongs to the city.
II is unnecessary for me to say to you that the
facts noted are amentabe, II not scandaions
condition of affairs To those of our citizens
who wonc or why it is that the different city
administrations fail In making both ends
meet, and why our city debt docs not decrease,
the statement above l. sufficient answer
An examin ation of the tax collectors books
dlscioses the fact that large share of the taxes
mos, freely and voluntarily paid by those Of
our citizens VINO are commonly supposed to be
| the less weilto.do.
That there some of our citizens SO devoid
of public spirit. and so careless of the welfare.
prosperity and financial well being Of our city
Is Iamentable, and Il they will not pay their
taxes when repeatedly asked to, they must be
compelled.
Alderman Brady addressed the board at
some length, and in even more forcibe
language than the mayor. He said that
in hts three years as member OF the
board and of the committee on streets, he
had listened to many complaints as to
the management OF city affairs and the
condition of streets and sidewalks. He
now found on this list OF delinquent tax
payers many who had been very loud in
making these complaints. He said there
was one man on the list, before whose
buildings the city bad made repairs in
the highway and sidewalks at consider
able expense.
| He saw the name OF another man whose
income was estimated at $4,000 year,
whose unpaid taxes amounted to nearly
| a ,000-one man owing taxes enough to
run the city month.
| "Some who are ioudest In their sugges-
tions as to how affairs OF he city should
be managed" said Mr.. Brady, shave taxes
unpaid for the past three years. i think
1t is about time to call halt; it Is about
| time the public should be enlig htened.
Here are men who ask for good streets,
who ask for street lights and sewers, who
ask for all these luxuries OF municipal
ity, but who are not willing to pay their
proportional part toward them. The poor
men pay the taxes and the rich men howl
for luxuries.
"Here are fifty-eight names of len
owing the city 10000 in taxes, not one
OF them less than $50. Twenty-Five OF
these men owe s6 500. Look back a year,
and you will find many of the same
names among the deIinquents. Look
back two years, and you will still find
| them.
"Some OF these same men ask why we
do not pay something on the city debt.
II they would pay their tax, we would be
able to pay something on the city debt
this year."
Aid. Higgins, Maddocks and Stuart also
expressed themselves emphatically on the
subject. Aid. Maddocks moved that the
treasurer be instructed to issue distress
| warrant for the collectors of 1899 and 1900.
| the motion was not seconded.
The board is considering the advisa bill
ity OF taking possession of some Of the
property against which it holds tax
deeds, and holding it until rentals pay
| the taxes against it.
| The board took recess until Wednes-
day evening at 80.
|