Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-17
Offered by Edwards Co.
to tho City Of Augusta
With View to Ending Litigation
IN Pending Tax Case.
Matter VIII Be Settled BY Popular Vote,
Monday Evening. Nov. II.

At the meeting Of the mayor and
board of aldermen, Wednesday even
ing, which was held for the purpose OF
consideration of pending tax cases, Da-
vid w. Snow, Of the Portland law firm
of Symonds. Snow, Cook & Hutcnin-
son, who, with City Solicitor Fisher,
have been engaged to look after the in
terests of the city in the pending suit
against the Edwards Manufacturing
Co., In consequence of the company's
appeal from the decision Of the asses
sors in the amount assessed against
its property for the year 1904, was
present and presented to the meeting
a. proposal from the Edwards co. as
basis of settlement upon which the at
torney for the. company and those for
the city had agreed and which the lat
ter recommended to the city.
The recommendation Of the counsei
= was accepted, the matter was thor
, oughIy discussed by the different menu
beers of the board and an order was
pissed directing that meeting OF the
citizens of Augusta should be called for
Monday evening, Nov. n, at City nall,
for the purpose of reaching decision
of the matter by a popular vote. The
text Of the offer is as follows:
Shall the municipal officers of the
CITY of Augusta be authorized to con-
tract with the Edwards Manufacturing
Co. to fix, for purposes of taxation. the
annual valuation Of said company's
entire property at one million dollars
(sl, 900, O0O), for the term of 10 years.
beginning with the municipal year 1905,
the same to include all additions or i'm
provements which may be made by
said company, to its mills or property
necessarily used in connection there
with, within said period; provided. and
In consideration that said company
will abandon its appeal to the supreme
judicial court from the valuation and
tax of 1904, and will pay said tax in
full as assessed with interest.
The coming meeting will constitute
the second occasion on which the citi-
zenS have been called to vote upon the
Edwards Co. tax matter. Tuesday
evening, Jan. 81, a meeting was held at
City hall, for the same purpose. that
of accepting or rejecting proposal
from the above named company, and
the proposal was rejected by vote of
1872 to 145 The proposal on that occa-
sion was as follows:
Shall the municipal officers of the
city of Augusta be authorized to con-
tract with the Edwards Manufacturing
Co., to fix, for the purpose OF taxation
of said company's entire property of
81, OOO, 900 for the term of 10 years be-
ginning with the municipal year 1905.
same to include all changes. additions
or improvements which may be made
within said period. said valuation to be
in consideration that the Edwards
Manufacturing Co, on it's part will dis
continue it's present appeal from the
valuation and tax filed by the city as
SCISSORS for the year 1904, and all rights
to abatement of the same and will pay,
in full, the tax Of 1904, as assessed,
with interest at per cent. from date
of payment.
1t will be seen that the text of the
two proposals for settlement of the
case. from the Edwards Co. are prac-
tically the same, with the exception
that in the one which was presented
by Mr.. Snow, Wednesday evening,
there has been inserted the words:
''by said company. to it's mills or prop
erty necessarily used in connection
Herewith" which was done at the
suggestion of Mr.. Fisher, the object be-
ing to make the terms more specific.
1t Is upon this proposal that the citi-
Zens will vote at the coming meeting
Monday evening. Nov. q, and by their
vote decide whether they will accept
the offer of the Edwards Co.. or leave
the matter TO be decided by the SUI
preme court.