Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-05-04
TO Be Made in Taxes oil
lockwood Company.
watervilIe Citizens Upheld De-
c;sion Of Previous Meeting.


Waterville which took place in the Ar
mory, Wednesday night, for the pur-
pose of resembling the vote taken on a
previous evening. April -, TO reduce the
taxation of the Lockwood Co. of this
city from $4,000 to $4,000 per year.
some of the fiercest intellectual battles
which have been contested on Water
Vile ground. We're fought. This is true
because the men who did the fighting
were men who We're capable leaders
and had the power Of stirring up senti-
nients in their hearers, and Of express
ing tehir own convictions in such a way
as to bring out all sides OF question
and to gather to the support of one side
or the other Of every man iii their hear
ing. .... ..........
The Armory was packed to its fullest
sitting and standing room. Harvey D.
Eaton, Esq, was the firs: speaker OF
tile evening, being the gentleman who
was chiefly Instrumental In bringing up
the question for further consideration.
Ply looking in person. over the terri
tory of the state. he produced figures
showing that the tax per 81 indie Of the
Lockwood Co. was far below the aver
age of the other cotton mills in Maine.
the Boston Herald which was written
by the President Of the N. f. Cotton
Manufacturers Union. an argument
that the cotton industries of Maine were
established upon solid foundation and
promised to become an important fac
tor in the future prosperity of the
Northern states.
In spite of the fact that the valua-
ton of the Lockwood plant was lowe
than that of the average of he other
cotton plants of the STATE, he said hat
the citizens had voted 10 plunge their
hands in their pockets to help it pay
it's taxes.
He said that he didn't believe that
the assessors could be rightfully en-
powered to take money from those who
had little and give it to those who had
much. Mr.. Eaton. at the close of his
able speech made the melton to the ef-
feet that the previous vote cast should
be rescinded. but. while the words were
dropping from his lips.
hon. c. F. Johnson took the stand to
give his view of the issua. He referred
at the commencement of his speech to
an insinuation dropped by Mr.. Eaton,
that he was speaking to the people Of
the city as an attorney for the Lock-
wood Co., by saying that when he eX-
peotedspny fer giving advice. collective,
ly or individually. he would give his
hearers proper warning before hand.
Mr. Johnson took the stand that. if the
assessors Of Watervilla should take into
consideration tax the company in the
same proportion as they did the other
property Of the city. meanwhile consid-
ering the relative amount of benefit
which was received by the city from
the cotton industry represented by the
company he did not believe that said
company would be taxed sum equal
to Ia of the entire taxable property of
the city,.
Hon. Cyrus w. Davis rext took the
floor and made the statement that if ne
believed that by reducin:; she tax Of the
Lockwood Co. would add one dollar to
his own taxes. he would vote against
1t. Mr. Davis then took advantage of
his opportunity to enter into disserta-
ton to explain how it happened thai
Mayor Davis could bring from last
years accounts so many bills contracted
for future settlement. After explaining
this in very lengthy way. and show
were surprisingly better than last year
he made the assertion that the city was
much more able to max" this reduction
than ever in the past. and. that If she
expected to keep what industries she
already had. it was time they were fav-
Ored os much as possible.
Hon. 5. ). Brown was the next
speaker and discussed the constitution
atty of the question. mentioning the
fact that one who has shown a par
ticular friendliness for the corporation
would bring out the side of the ques-
ton, which would naturally be in the
corporations interest. He denied that
the city had any legal right to vote
for the reduction. He said that Of the
statute Of the State provided that tax
able property should be taxed accord
ing to its proper valuation. he saw no
justification for extending any other
privileges.
Before the ballots were cast. ex-May-
or Davis and others interested i'm be-
half of the Lockwood Co.. were very
busy passing about the nay votes, be-
ing especially partial to those who
had no clear idea of what the ballot
really meant; in other words, of which
way they were voting.
The result of the counting of the bal
lots showed that the action to rescind
the previous vote was lost by diner
ence Of 13 votes. A total Of 161 ballots
were cast. the vote standing 387 i'm IA
vor Of the previous reduction. against
ga opposed.