The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-11-11
GRAFT.

general comment and is generally cou-
demned. Many have expressed their
surprise that officials elected to serve
the interests Of the city should, as stock
holders in this company, have voted to
abate their own taxes. and on grounds
that are wholly untenable. In asking
this abatement the treasurer of the said
company stated that citizens had put
their money into this new industry,
established an up-to-date plant and We're
disbursing a certain sum per week on its
pay roll, besides other expenses and
improvements, and "hringing money
into our city and distributing it here. -
On Ike grounds every industry and
every business concern in Belfast could
ask to have their taxes abated. The
Belfast Fuel & Hay Co., for example,
has an up-to-date plant, recent improve
ments costing some 81, 900, employs local
labor, brings money to Belfast, and pays
a tax of s2l090, the individual stock
holders paying in addition a much larger
sum. The Swan & Sibley Co. have All
extensive plant, operated under like con-
ditions, and are taxed 1886. 10. With the
tax of the individual stockholders added
the total exceeds $500. Both of these
companies have been paying large taxes
for years, and in addition have contribu-
ted to the support of local industries, in
stitutions, churches and charities. They
are contributing today to fund that in
duced Leonard & Barrows to come to
Belfast and operate our shoe factory-a
fund 80 per cent of which comes from
men who have been assailed from public
platforms, on street corners, and in his pa
per, by the manager Of this publishing
company.
On the 22nd of July, 1909 it was pub
licly announced that the Waldo County
Herald Publishing Company had made
net profit of 1885, 70 the past year, ''or
over % per cent on the entire capital
stock, notwithstanding that less than
half the amount represented by treasury
stock had been available for working
capital" In other words there had been,
according to the published statement of
the treasurer of this company, a profit
of over A per cent on the capital actual
ly employed. Is there any other business
in Belfast, or in Waldo county, which
can show a like profit? And yet few
months after this statement was pub
lished this company asks to have tax
of STA abated, and the mayor and two
aldermen, all stockholders in the COM
pany. voted for this abatement. If what
is claimed for this plant is true the tax
assessed against it should be increased
at least fifty per cent.
Now as to the claim of this being
new industry on the same footing as
the Leonard & Barrows shoe factory,
the Duplex Roller Bushing Co., the Coe-
Mortimer Co. and the Estabrooks Shirt
Mfg. Co.. ard entitled to like considera-
ton. These companies We're capitalized
elsewhere, have employed all the local
help available and have brought to Bel
fast not the class of help found in most
factory towns but men and women who
have been welcomed as citizens They
did not come here to enter into compe-
tition with existing industries; but in
The case Of Leonard & Barrows, to re-
--5--- .. 3c,,,,4a,,t ;,1,-c+r1- o,,I +Lo 9TH rc
20 establish new industries, thus con-
tributing TO the advancement and pros
perity Of our city. The reverse is true
Of this publishing company. 1t is de-
signed to destroy existing industries-in
two instances to take bread from the
mouths of widows and orphans and this
$ll4 which should go into the city treas
ury is to be contributed to aid in this
work.
Belfast has three job printing offices
capable of doing all the work required in
that line and with patronage only suf-
ficient to afford a living to their pro-
prietors. Their prices have been reason
able, their work satisfactory to their
patrons, and there has never been time
when they have had a profit Of over A
per cent on their capital. The Bracket
printing Office has been in existence for
81 years; the Burgess printing Office, now
the support of the widow of George w.
Burgess, its founder, for a much longer
time, and the Langill printing Office for
a number of years. The proprietors and
EMPLOYEES of these offices are all worthy
and deserving people. They have paid
taxes here for years and done well their
part as citizens. Why should the city
government be used to destroy their
business and deprive them of mainte-
nance? On the contrary, have they: not
far better grounds on which to ask an
abatement of their taxes? If such re-
quest were made, and it could be sub,
mitted to a popular vote, it would be
C arried by an overwhelming majority.
Now as to the claim that this company
is Infringing money into our city and
distributing it here" Last summer this
concern created such ill-feeling in COM
munity with which Belfast had had close
social and business relations for more