Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-03-04
Correspondence.
From a Taxpayer to Tax-Payers.
ELLSWORTH, March 8, 1905.


From a Taxpayer to Tax-Payers.
ELLSWORTH, March 8, 1905.
To the Editor of The American:
Now that the battle is over and the
smoke is cleared away, we are in better
position to understand and appreciate the
results of the contest. Every political
campaign involves certain issues that are
of direct interest to its citizenship, and
this is certainly true Of the one through
which we have just passed. As one who
has had an opportunity to see the working
of city business from the inside, and as
one who is taxpayer, want to make
few suggestions that l hope will be re-
ceived in the spirit that they are given.
First of all, think that am not at all
lonesome when say that it would be a
most desirable thing if we could have a
little less ''mud-slinging" in our political
campaigns. How many of our citizens
have deprecated the vitriol that both par
ties have spattered at each other.
am glad that the committees OF each
party agreed to cut out the use of rum and
money in their electioneering. Why not
go step further and cut out the filings
and the uppercuts that have undignified
this campaign. Personal invective is the
argument Of a bad cause usually, and
sometimes ''cuts more ice" than the sender
intends.
Another suggestion that i am going to
offer concerns the aldermen's room. This
sanctum is where the city fathers meet to
do business and where citizens may come
| to present their petitions in order to get
hearing; in short, it is the business
is well-Eghted, well-heated, well-conven-
fenced, and let me write it large, WELL
TOBACCO-SMOKED the biggest part of
the time that the city fathers are in
counsel. Would any business concern
or house permit its employees to smoke
during the hours of important transac-
ton?
Let me put it in another way. The
spring cannot rise higher than its
source. Surely the men at the head of
the city government ought to set an
example, at least as they meet in ex-
ecutive session, that would tend to uphold
the dignity of their office. do not think
that putting cigar or pipe helps to realize
this ideal. do not think it necessary for
any city business to be done under cloud,
much less cloud of tobacco smoke.
One of the things that impressed me
during my career as alderman was the
attitude Of many who looked on the city
as sort Of grab bag, and who sought the
chance to get q hand in or "hand- out"
according to the new version. There is
the spirit Of plumber stirring in many
men, and the city's finances are tremend-
Ously suggestive to them.
But, Mr.. Taxpayer, remember that be-
fore we can take anything out of the
treasury someone must put something in,
and the paying Of our taxes furnishes the
city with its wherewithai to do business.
It follows that the taxpayer who tries
to s'soak" the city soaks himself in some
proportion. Perhaps this is one reason
also, why our debt is so large. Some have
selfishly put the city affairs last in their
business programme, and the bills were
too heavy to be met, and thus the debt has
rolled up until it has assumed elephantine
proportions. When we get ready to do