Middletown transcript., 1906-02-24
Communicated.
WHERE THE PEOPLES MONEY GOES

The question has often been asked as
to where all the money goes that is COL
lected by the town. A careful perusal OF
the reports of the Town Commissioners
and the Light and Water Commission
will show, as follows: Total Town Re-
ceipts from all sources for the years 1904
and 19O4-5, to be $lS,03S.2S. Of this
amount the Light and Water Commission
received ii 1904, So, ,351. .O4; in 1904-5,
1885. 80, making $7,2S6.43. The town
has never received one cent rebate or re-
turn from the Light and Water Commits
sion, and is not likely to under existing
conditions.
The said Commission in its reports en-
tirely ignores the interests paid by the
town. Is that right2 1t is true the town
is responsible for the bonds and interest,
but the Light and Water Commission is
conducting business on borrowed capi.
tai, and what business man would. or
could, ignore the interest on his capital
as liability to be provided for. This
interest on our bonds should be charged
to the account of the Light and Water
Commission. The town is charged with
an expense Of $3.50 year for interest
and it pays it; the Light and Water Com
mission has never paid cent of it, Justly
we can say for the two years So, 100, has
gone to the Light and Water Commission,
and then we find an item of s., ,OO0-notes
paid by the town, for the debt thrown
upon it by the demands of the Light and
Water Commission, and also that note
of $1,000, is yet unpaid. Now, reader,
add up these amounts and see for yourself
that the Light and Water Commissioners
have had, directly or indirectly, $l8,-
3S6.43 from the town in two years. Now
take these figures, $l3, 1886. 43, from the |
total receipts of the town for the two |
years, viz I: $l8,038.28, and you have
balance of $4,661.S5. Now subtract the
balance on hand, $566.O2, and you will /
see that the actual just expenses Of tile
town for two years we're 81 ,085 SO. Can
you wonder that the taxes are excessive
when you consider all the above figures
imply? You can verify them easily.
You will see that the Town Commission
ers have been compelled to lay a high
tax rate to come anywhere near paying
their bills. The Town Commissioners
have it in their power however, to reduce
some expenses. They are paying two
bailiffs when one is sufficient. They
pay one of them 5000 year-he is sup
posed to preserve order and do the town
hauling. If the entry Of work on streets
was itemized it would no doubt show
moneys paid for hauling when tile bail
iff's horse was standing in the stable.
Let them pay him fee for arrests and
pay him by the day or load for what
hauling he may do, and more corner
loafers and buns would be run in and
better order preserved. Another plan is
suggested also, in relation to the collec-
ton of taxes, etc. Let the three boards I
get together and appoint one man at
reasonable salary to collect both town
and school taxes and the Light and Water
rents. and reduction of nearly, if not
quite, 30 per cent. would be saved in that
direction. The school tax is excessive
and that board should seek to reduce,
rather than increase their expenses, as
they have been doing, and the people
ought to watch that matter little mere /
closely than they have in the past. 1t is
town talk that the members of the Light /
and Water Commission are not charged
for their use OF Light and Water. Is /;
that true? II it is, it is robbing every
tax payer and renders them .liable 10
more than cefsure. There is great room, ]
Tor improvement in the conduct OF town a
affairs. With low tax rates la other :
owns with no industrial Inducements
ior people to come here high tax rates
% discourage investors, it is high time a
ellow citizens, that something was done n
% change the condition of affairs Wake !.
ip and look to your interests 1t il ais, .
that Town Commissioner has
aid that the tax rate would be int as v
ligll the coming year. Perhaps it would (,
,e beneficial TO your interests 10 give i,
ONE attention to the election Of Town .
which soon takes place. o
II has been suggested that some Of our =
Influential iAer-men OF property-cal II
ID oidfasLiomed town meeting, and these 4
afious matters talked over. | believe it
lould be beneficial Weare all, orsIiould p
Z, interested for the good Of onr town.
GiTTzEx.