Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-07-26
VOICES OF THE PRESS.
The Case at Portland.
portland Pressl.

up its assertion that the State valua-
ton mas been incrdinately increased
III the past twenty years the Water
Vile Sentinel seiZes upon the slightest
crap that 1t thinks will hell. its case.
We supposed it would make a point
OF the annexation Of Deerifg, and IL
tries to do so. 1t says that the an
nexation of Deering with it's $5,0OO.oO0
valuation accounts for One-third of the
increase of valuation which the
Press claims Portland has made
during the treaty years. True, but the
population was annexed at the same
time. and by the Sentiners theory Of
the relation Of population to valuation
that should not disturb the ratio of
people to values. Let us then eliminate
the Deering wards, so far as may be.
and see how it works out. The Senti-
mel is obliged to admit that the valua-
ton Of the old part Of the city has
grown at least $10,OO0,000 in the
period. How is It about the popula-
ton? In 1882 it was about $4,000; in
1902 it was 10000, and it is some
thing over that figure now.
Right here let US digress 20 note that
the Sentinel is disposed to question the
figures of the Press relative to
population, saying that the census OF
1900 gives Portland only 5O,145 popula-
ton. I'VE didn't know that the
Forest City had grown 10000 in two
years." says the Waterville contempt
rary. 1.-The Portland papers failed to
advertise the gain, If it really hap
pened. But perhaps the Press made
a special enumeration of its own tor
the express purpose OF using it in the
present exigency Of political con-
troversy" There are probably many
things the Sentinel does not know.
One of them is that it is the custom
here to make an estimate every year
of the population on the basis of the
school census. According to this. as
given in the annual city reports for
1902, the population was 60,Oe0.
But to return to the mutton. The
population of the two new wards at the
time of annexation was about SVo. Al
lowing them to have gained Loo in the
three years, the population of the old
wards in 1902 was about 5000 In 1857 it
was in round numbers 5000. That would
make gain in twenty years OF l'W3, or
AZ per cent, and a traction. The valua.
ton of the old city was $32OO,uO in round
numbers in 1882; while in 1898. the year
before the annexation. 1t was $59,UV,OOO.
L
a fraction more than Il per cent. Or il
we allow a proportional rate of increase
for the old wards for the three years that
would give them valuation of something
Then We have by this computation an
increase of AZ per cent population and
of % per cent in valuation, and
in one should equal the gain in the other.
1t really proves nothing. but with the
other examples We have given. it goes
.t,.NvU hot h0 Snnf mol tS mic kav
AS an example of the fallacy OF the
pari ,passu theory Of the increase of
that by the building of a mill or rail-
road or the discovery of mineral resources
the wealth of a community might be very
largely increased without anywhere near
d commensurate increase of the pOpula-
ton. The Sentinel replies that Il is i'm
possible to do this without the employ
ment of labor, and that builds up the
population. OF course it does. but not
necessarily at an equal rate. Take Colo
RADIO for example. That state had in 1890
a considerably smaller population than
Maine and a considerably larger assessed
valuation-5391 100 of one to 65.UU.0O0 OF
the other, while Maine had under 7O0.G0
of one to about SS46,OO0,9OO of the other.
In the period from 1880 to 1900 the popula-
ton of Colorado increased three times
and the assessed valuation OF the state in
creased nearly five times That is another
example which goes to prove the falacy
or the part IiaSSu argument.
A Distressing Contingency.
washington Starr
The persiStency with which others are
claiming credit for Judge ParkerS tele-
gram may yet compel him to come for
ward and defend himself against the
charge of plagiarism.
The State Taxes.
cortland Press)
We still maintain, and we can prove
our contention to any reasonable man.
that the increased valuation of ali
property in Maine. beyond a reasona bic
ers. merchants and the laboring men,
for an enhanced valuation for the pur-
pose Of securing a larger amount OF
rate is as reprehensi5le as it is posi-
BILE to conceive-Waterville Sentinel.
We propose to hald the Sentinel to
it is. The quoted paragraph involves
two ASSUMPTIONS. which may be put
in the affirmative form thus: l. The
sonabS This has dons a
the purpose of securing a larger amount
of money from the people on a lower
of the csse 'f for tb nos an unfair
asserts the position. and it goes even be- |
yond Mr.. Davis, whose speech is its text.
1t now defines his position as follows:
Mr.. Davis did not contend that the |
valuation was exorbitant, hut that be- |
cause of its having been increased |
$4,000 900 during the past twenty years |
was four mills the burdens upon the !
farmers of Maine are greater than they |
ever were before This assertion has not |
been cOntroverted either by the Portland |
Press or by the Lewiston Journal |
Very well; but let US attend to the |
Sentinel first. III the valuation has been |
increased unreasonably. that is exorbit- |
antly and fictitiously. for the purpose of |
securing a larger amount OF money from |
the people on a. lower tax rate, that |
means conspiracy. with the State board |
of assessors and the local assessors OF |
some 800 towns and cities as the con- |
spirators. But by the law no more than |
two of the State board can be OF the same
political PARTY. The Democratic party |
has been represented thereon ever since
the board twas established. Again many
OF the local assessors have been Demo-
Gratis. DOES the Sentinel mean to ac-
cuse its own party representatives of hav-
ing been IL the deal or would 1t have it
that they have been hornswoggled? The
increased Valuation of the farm property
has not been made by the State board.
but by the local boards, although the
State assessors in their capacity as a
State board of equalization visit each |
county biebnially and confer with the
locals to fif the State and county valua3
tons Now what proof is there of any)l
such conspiracy? There Is none and the
idea That the valuation has been increasedu
for any such purpose is a Pigment of the II
Imagination II
q 10 he III