The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1904-08-25
Some Democratic Deceptions Unmasked
by the Unadorned Figures
from Official Records.

Ever since Mr.. Davis made his debut
As q candidate for governor he and his
organ have been ringing the changes on
the State valuation. Mr.. Davis and his
organ have repeatedly charged that the
State assessors Of Maine have been
"tacking up the States valuation so as
to secure large revenue without increas-
ing the tax rate.
BUT
Does Mr.. Davis or his organ tell the
people where this 'jacking-up" has been
done?
Does Mr.. Davis or his organ point to .
single town, city or plantation where an
unfair increase has been made!
Does Mr.. Davis or his organ attempt to
support with detailed statement the gen.
eralities Of this charge Of unwarranted
increased
NO!
And Why Motif
Because Mr.. Davis and his organ know
that plain recital Of fact will undermine
their elaborate calculations and send the
iuggled figures lettering to the ground.
Mr.. Davis and his organ knew when
they commenced their assault that the
State valuation is made up by the State
assessors after the returns are received
from the assessors Of cities, towns and
plantations. They knew that the work
of the board Is not only the assessing
of taxes but the equalizing of valuation
SC that no iocelity may be unduly
pressed. They knew that If the valuation
had been increased it was due in large
measure to the higher valuation re-
turned by assessors of cities. towns and
planta tons They knew that if there was
collision to 'jack-up'' the valuation it
must have included as parties thereto
the DEMOCRATIC CHAIRMAN OF
THE BOARD OF STATE ASSESSORS
AND THE ASSESSORS OF NAMES
CITIES, TOWNS ANDPLANTATION
the majority of whom are elected with
out regard to party affiliations.
All this did Mr.. Davis and his organ
know, yet they deliberately told the peo-
ton Of the Pine Tree State is due, not
to growth and prosperity, but to the
sweep of a partisan pen!
Do the people OF Maine believe that
the men whom they have elected to
serve them as their local assessors en-
tered into a conspiracy to Jack up the
valuati ton? Do they believe that the dem
ocratic chairman Of the board of State
assessors was party to such a scheme?
Or do they believe that Mr.. Davis and
his organ have been once more caught
juggling the figures?
If the democratic candidate and his
organ were telling things as they are-in
other words, II the State assessors were
lacking up values-the State valua-
ton figures would be in excess of the
valuation returned by local assessors.
What are the facts in the case
The facts are that from 1890 to 1902 the
valuation placed by local assessors in
creased $50, 231 ,262 while the State valua-
ton on the cities, towns and plantations
went up but $36, $50. Thus it is APP
parent that the State assessors instead
of "jacking-up' values on Names cities
and towns have been CUTTING DOWN
the valuations which the cities and towns
placed upon themselves. During the pc
riod from 1890 to 1902 the local assessors
thought their towns had grown 20 per
cent. but the State assessors made an in
crease of but 121s per cent. On the wild
lands made more valuable by increasing
demand, the State assessors increased
the valuation "a per cent, so that for the
whole State the increase in valuation
since the board of State assessors was
established is but IA per cent. The fol-
lowing figures tell their own story
Cities, towns & State Valuation
Plantations. Cities, Towns
Local Valuation. G. Plantations
Whole State. Whole State
1907 .......... $3oS, 496, 4S5 1926, 94S1H
1880 .......... &5o,265, 233 2S9, 5333, 991
Gain ...... $50, 231 ,262 s36,414130