The Somerset reporter., 1902-07-10
Town Affairs

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all departments of the municipal govern
ment, and that all property holders, TAX
ing all departments into account, will
be benefited and convened substantially
alike. But It will not do for any one
person or any number of persons to
single out some one department and re-
fuse to support that, because he or they
are not benefited by 1t 40 much as
some others. Trait frequently hap
pens. One man has large amount
of taxable property and pays large tax
for the support of schools but he has
not child nor a scholar TO be educated,
and the schools are of no benefit to him,
save that which is common to all. An
other person has but very little taxable
property and pays but small tax, but
has a large number of children to be ed
ucated and the public schools, in addi-
ton to that benefit common TO all, are of
very great value to him. Viewing the
problem from that standpoint, there is
no correspondence between the tax paid
and benefit received, in either case. But
the man who pays the large tax has
large amount of property to be protect
ed. and is benefited 10 many ways that
the other man is not, and when we take
all departments of the municipal govern
ment into account, and view the ques-
ton fairly from all standpoints, 1t will
be found, not only that the true theory
is as above stated, but that in practice it
is right and just.
But In Skowhegan, property is not
equally assessed, there Is no pretense
that it is, in fact the village corporation
renders it impossible. In 1901 property
within the limits of the corporation was
assessed 1920 on $1,000, while that
outside of the corporation was assessed
only l4.40 on q $1,000. Now why this
inequality? By what rule of ethics can
it be justified? Skowhegan is situated
not unlike every city in this State, and
nearly every city in the United States,
with densely populated village aud a
large rural population. But in no one
of them is village corporation To be
found and in every one OF them all prop.
erty is assessed alike according to its
value. L. that right and just or are all
these cities committing an outrage upon
the rural population!
The simple fact that the municipality
is city makes not the slightest differ
enee. IL unequal taxation in Skowhegan
can be justified now, 1t could be defended
equally as we'll and for the same reasons
If Skowhegan WAS city. But in Justice
and reason it cannot be defended at all.
The truth is Skowhegan village corpora
ton never existed because it was right,
but because it was a necessity. During
the last half century conditions in Show
hogan have changed very materially. In
1852 when the corporation was organized
Skowhegan village was small place.
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ly at the village and Haskelfs Corner.
The voters in the rural portion of the
town predominated and refused to do
anything to protect the village against
fire. Hence the necessity of the corpor-
alton. The village assumed the burden
and has carried il so long, that many in
the corporation have come to think it
right. Let US see about that. The
greater part of the expense of running
the corporation may properly be casseu
under the police and fire departments.
1t is claimed by some that the police is
for the benefit of the village alone and
that those outside of the corporation are
in no way benefited by it, and ought
not TO be obliged to help support il.
Ii is admitted that the work of the police
is confined chiefly within the village.
So macadamized streets and concrete
walks at the expense of the town are
found only In the village.
But il will not do TO reason from that
fact that they are for the exclusive ben
eft of the village. They are for the ben
eft Of the public, for every one who may
have occasion to use them. And it is
precisely so with the police. The class Of
people that the police deal with are very
largely non-residents and that they are
taken care of is for the benefit, comfort
and convenience of every one who lives
in, or visits the town. Has the farmer
no interest In having an orderly and
well-governed town in which to do his
business? Every person in town is ben
Gifted more or less by the police and
should help support 1t, But there is an
other reason why every taxpayer in
town is, or should be, interested in hav-
ing at the village an efficient police. The
law makes the town an insurer of all
taxable property in town when destroy
ed by violence. Chapter l25 of the r..
s., after providing for the punishment
of persons engaged in riots and unlawful
assemblies, says, "Wheu the injury TO
: any property described IN the preceding
section amounts to fifty dollars or more
the Town where such property is stu
ated shall indemnify the owner thereof
for three fourths of the value Of such in
jury.
II the town is bound to indemnify,
most certainly 1t should have voice in
, the police regulations whereby riots and
mobs may be suppressed and those lv-
ing outside of the corporation being now
deprived Of that right, may justly COM
plain of taxation without representation,
, one of the grievous wrong against which
our fathers rebelled. Clearly it was the
purpose of the law, not only to indemnify
the loses of property destroyed by
violence, but to interest every taxpayer
in town In the maintenance of good order
ard the support of an efficient police.
But some one says, 81 live in the south
east corner of the town, miles from the
fire department and 1t is Of no benefit to
me and why should be obliged to con-
tribute to its support | am fearful
that is a hasty conclusion. Let US con-
slider the question few minutes. Sup
pose that after our last annual March
meeting and before the first day of April
last, Skowhegan had been visited by
some great CONGREGATIONS, such as we
sometimes read Of and which had des-
troyed-wiped out, one.half of the tax
able property In town. How would that
have affected the taxes on the remaining
property In town? They would have
been doubled. Any one can see that.
And in case of a small fire it operates in
the same way. just in proportion as
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