The Newtown bee., 1903-02-13
and many new members have been added to the church.
 THE BURDEN OF TAXATION.
BY 0. o. WRIGHT

Are the taxpayers of NeWtOWn bur- dened by taxation? Let us see. We will first consider the rate, which is l2 mills. l will take the statistics of the State Register and Manual of 1901, and make comparison. These figures were, of course, made several years ago, but are the latest we have at hand, for the whole state.
 Connecticut has l6S towns, of which towns in which the rate of taxation was I2 mills, the same as in our own town, was 2l; the number in which the rate was less than 12 mills was 40: and the number of towns in which the rate was more than l2 mills, was 1O1.
 In Il towns the rate was l5 mills: aud in 2l towns the rate was over 1o mills. i he lowest rate was seven mills, in Darien: and the highest rate was ? mills. in Union: while in eight it was 20 mills or more.
 For Fairfield County alone, D towns, the average rate was about F mills.
 The average for the whole State, at that time, WAS at the rate of l3 mills and d fraction.
 By this comparison. then, with the 161 other towns in the commonwealth, we are not burdened with taxation. Our rate is less than the average.
 And still our taxes may be burden some to us, for various reasons. We may be taxed out of proportion to the real value of our property. We may be unfairly or uneQually assessed. But there are legal and moral remedies for all such abuses.
 Again we may be taxed out of pro- portion to the prOductivcneSS, or in- come from our properties. But the town cannot help that: may be our own fault. We should improve our farms, and make them pay: we should be more enterprising and increase our income: not only for our own sake, but for the interest of the town.
 Our taxes are a burden and an inn position when the funds are miSSpent and the public receives no just equiv alent for them. We spend enough to have good roads, but we do not get them, because the appropriations are not wisely applied to the purpose. 1t takes brains and skill to make good roads, and it is bad politics that de feats the purpose for which we are taxed. We pay enough to have good schools, but we do not get them, be- cause the money is not spent for the general public good. We are taxed enough to have good government in all matters of common welfare, but we do not get it.
 NeWtown is like a man who has been wasting his substance in riotOuS living. His farm is run down, and farming does not pay him. He cannot produce much anyway. He has no capital, and his credit is impaired. In fact d debt stares him in the face. Taxes are d burden of course. He can barely sup ply the necessities of life to his despair ing wife and neglected children. Meanwhile his property is surely de- | preciating.
 Now what shall be done in such Il case to redeem and build up the man, or the town: Clearly, we must stop wasting money and begin to spend it to good purpose. We must improve our condition, and increase the valu- ation. People do not move out because they are taxed so much, but because even what they pay for. People go where they can get what they want, and are willing to pay for it. People will come into our town, and buy farms, and make homes, and increase the grand list, and so reduce the rate, and pay the debt, and make improve mentS, and take away the social curse that sits upon us. just so sure as we help ourselves by making good roads: good schools: good government Tn gen. eral; free public library: and such other modern cOnvenienceS as are now common in every civilized com munity.
 Just at this time the citizens of this town have a rare opportunity to dl themselves good, at very little eN penSe $500 at most. per year.: by adopting the Newtown Library ASso citation library and making it free, anc open to all the inhabitants of the town. The plant has already beer provided for us, complete, and without any public expense. We have only t( accept it, subject to the control of the corporation which holds it in trust for the use of the public. It it not ; luxury, but q common necessity. Shal we be wise in this matter?
 Grand Master Leon NJ. Woodfnrd O the grand lodge of Connecticut, F. ant A. M., has appointed Past Grand Mas ter Arthur C. Wheeler of NOrwalk Henry o. Warner of New Milford, an( Frank w. IIavenS of Hartford, as tht special committee on the division O.