The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-03-03
Facts for Voters. +"

~ AnE LAX FAYERS OF BELFAST. At the
beginning OF every municipal campaign there
Is more or less interest aroused and there ia
apt to be good bit Of praise or criticism offer
ed by the opposing faction, and unfortunately
there are times when charges are made. like
the charge made few weeks ago in relation to
the gravel bank, that will not stand insnect;on
ouch statements are unfortunate because they
are apt to go long way before being contra
dicted and at times irreparable injury is done
Unfortunately there seems to be feeling that
one cannot criticise the representative of our
City Government without intending personal
injury. Now such is not the case, The man
who is elected by majority of the voters to
manage the affairs Of our city is in truth the
servant of every tax payer within the borders
OF our town, and every tax payer has perfect
right to carefully examine his methods of
doing business, and if they have been good. if
the business of the city has been conducted in
such way as to bring credit to his adminis-
tratlon, he should welcome such inspection.
Too often it happens that statements are made
which will not bear inspection. They NAV not
be put out with the intention to deceive, but
many of US are too busy with our own affairs
to take the time to verify these statements and
we are quite apt to believe them.
Now in an issue of the Waldo County Herald
under date of February 18th, in an editorial
written to justify the acts of the City Govern
ment, We read this, 1.-THE taxpayers will care
fully consider the fact that notwithstanding
the present administration has had to provide
some $4,000 in State and county tax more than
any proceeding administration, still they have
kept the rate of taxation down below the aver
age of Maine cities" In this editorial he saws
"the city never had section of splendid ma
cadamized road built each year, or long stretches
of under drains placed in the worst places
making them the succeeding year the best dur
ing the spring travel" This statement in re-
gard to macadamized roads may be absolutely
correct, but we must take into consideration
the fact that State roads were being built be-
fore the present mayor was elected; in fact his
operations began at what is known as the Foot
of the Square, and during 1907 he built from
there to point opposite the residence of Mr..
Charles Craig. During 1908 he commenced at
Main street building to the junction of Pearl
street.
Now what the taxpayers are more interest
ed in than anything else is this. are these i'm
provements which we are getting of enough
value so that we can feel perfectly satisfied
with the increased amount of tax which is be-
ing assessed; and to place this matter perfectly
fair before the voters of Belfast we are going
to make comparison between the last two
years of Republican administration during the
year 1904 and 1905 and the two years of Mr..
Hansons administration 1907 and 1908, or if
Mr.. Hanson will furnish US complete detailed
report for the municipal year ending March
1st, 1910 we will make comparison on the last
two years of his administration, or to be per-
feetly fair we will take any two years of Re-
publican administration anywhere within
twenty-five years for comparison, and we
want you to note the large increase in expendi-
lures and what we have to show for it, and
then judge for yourself whether you will be
perfectly satisfied to continue his adminstra-
tion or get back to the more conservative
methods of doing city business.
First of all we want you to note the tax rate
and City Valuation during 1904 & as compared
with 1907 & s; also consider the fact that there
has been large increase in receipts from the
State and other sources, so that the total
amount of money received and expended was
much larger during 1907 & than during the
years 1904 & 5.
Tax rate 1904 was IS mills,
City valuation, 81, ,654 ,526
Tax rate 1906 was 17a mills,
City valuation, 81, ,66O,65O
Tax rate 1907 was 20 mills,
City valuation 50, 766,276
Tax rate 1908 was 10 3 10 mills,
City valuation, $2,8l5, 300
Total expenditure 1907 and 1908 was $l86,O3S1 10
Steam roller .......... Isl, 10000
Rock crusher.. ............. 2,412.H
2 road machines ........... 10000
Plow Observation-Disclosures. 23.75
Land on Congress street,. 100000
Fire engine. ........ 10000
Cemetery tomb. 100000
$9,53646
Extraordinary expenditure. .. 1885, 46
Ordinary expenditure. .............. $176, sol ga