Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1908-02-25

of the "trust question" may similar wis
dom and courage be directed to the
problems of taxation.
While this discussion and investiga-
ton is going on all around us, what is
being said and done about taxation in
the town of Paris? Are We improving or
retrograding? Let us see.
l. The last five or ten years have
been period of great prosperity; valua-
lions throughout the country have
greatly increased; the state of Maine has
prospered with the rest of the country
and valuations Of woodland, manufacture
ing plants, farms, and general commod-
tiles have increased marvelously. The
report of the state assessors shows a
marked increase in valuation throughout
| the state. Does the town of Paris show
its proportionate increase? No. Then,
why not? Is it because our Paris
assessors have failed to do their sworn
duty, or because our citizens have failed
to give the matter proper attention?
You answer it. And when considering
the answer, it would be well to know if
it is really true that the board of state
assessors did in fact recently criticise
our valuation. For my part | consider
that no one assessor, or board of assess
ors, in the town of Paris is resposible for
our manifeStly careless valuation, but L
blame rather the citizens who have
| allowed the condition to arise. Paris
has certainly prospered we'll enough to
have her valuation compare favorably in
its increase to the rest of the state.
2. In recent years have we heard
anything about the general valuation V
which the law provides shall be made
once in ten years? Formerly we were
accustomed to it, but of late it seems to
have gone out of fashion. Was there
ever time when such general valuation
and readjustment were needed more
than now? Then let's attend to it.
8. None of US have forgotten that our
country was founded upon declaration
for fair and equal taxation, and the
spirit of that declaration ought not to be
allowed to slumber. As a result of this
desire for fair and equitable taxation
which existed among our forefathers,
the Constitution of Maine was made to
declare:-"All taxes upon real and
personal estate shall be ap-
portioned and assessed equally, accord
ing to the just value thereof" How
does our valuation and assessment stand
in the light of that constitutional decla-
ration9 Is our method of taxation any
thing more than slip-shod compliance
with the forms of the law? Is it right
that one man shall pay tax on his full
valuation, while his neighbor shall pay
on only three-fourths or less? Is il
equitable that the little home shall be
taxed, while the real estate records in
the county buildings show thousands OF
dollars of untaxed mortgages in the
town of Paris?
This involves broader question than
the bubble over the discrepancy between
"my" tax and ''neighbor Johns" Who.
ever pays smaller tax than the law ex'
poets him to pay is cheating his own
conscience and robbing his neighboI
who is perchance paying nearer his true
tax.
4. Are the woodlands of Paris valued
at their true worth? Or have we allowed
the old valuation to stand on the town
books while the market has been doub.
led, then tripled, and in some cases,
quadrupled? Have we made any real
changes in the valuation of our farms
when the U. S. Government reports an
average rise of 3S per cent in farm
property? Have we made due allowance
on the value of village property since
prosperity has made a permanent home
among us, and also just allowance fol
village property where industries do not
flourish as they did years ago? Let us
answer in town meeting.
5. The result in the town Of Paris il
as follows: we have supplied the de-
mands of growing town, purchased the
necessities of modern civilization, also
some of the Injuries, have raised towr
expenses very perceptibly-perhaps moi
unwisely,- and all the time the tax rate
has been climbing higher and higher
until we are almost in the same class
with Portland and Boston. What is the
trouble? | assume that we have not al
lowed such extravaganza as will alone
account for this condition. But we haze
allowed our valuation to fail to keep
pace with growing values; and we hau,
allowed property to escape taxation; to
such an extent that our total listing is
far below what it ought to be in com
parison with our increased expenditures
As a natural result our rate is abnormal
ly high, and therefore unsatisfactory
A high tax rate is not necessarily al
evil, though it may not be pleasure
but an inequitable assessment and valua
ton is an evil of the very worst kind anc
affects every citizen of the town. NJ
one objects to paying his own proper
tionate share of the public charges wher
he knows that every other properi'
owner in town is paying his share too
The injustice of the matter lies in an un
fair, uneven, and cowsrdly assessment O
property. Until the public conscience
is aroused on this point as it is in som'
of the western sections of our country
we shall have to compel by active
measures the farest assessments possible
Some time perhaps true assessments o
property will be more easily obtained.
6. If any one doubts the statement
in regard to our assessment as hav'
given them, 1 shall be glad to publish
the figures which prove them. Ant
surely it does not take much investiga
ton to prove that more than half Of tn
sales of real estate in the town of Pari
in recent times have been made at figure
far in excess of the town valuation. Thi
, is wrong. 1t ought to be attended to
town meeting. No one is to be blamed
but the voters.
.. TAX PAYER.
L