The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-04-06
FACTS ABOUT TOWN
Of MADISON
Things That Interest
Everybody of Place
d. Herm0n COrsOn Relates What He
Knows About Place aud Its Bust


There are several things concern
/ ing the town affairs of Madison that
should interest every voter. The
first is that our town reports have
not contained the intended or requir-
! ed information which the voters
should expect. 1t is true that the re-
ports during the past few years have
been very inclusive. but not very
/ comprehensive. The fact is that the
voters don't know the true financial
standing of the town nor can true
| knowledge be CLEANED from the re-
| ports. The reimbursements from the
State in account with State paupers,
does not correspond with what the
counts. The reports do not show
whether these pauper bills have been
discounted by the State. or whether
the State has paid in full at a later
date and if SO these items have not
| been accounted in following reports.
Another thing that needs the at
tention OF every voter is the bill for
town printing especially the town re-
ports. The cost of printing the re-
ports has grown out of all bounds.
The reports for 1909 cost $177 or over
five times what the reports cost in
1892, but the reports of 1892 give
better idea of the towns affairs, are
printed on full as good stock, and
show much better workmanship as
there are but few errors in the print
ing. The report of 1892 accommo-
dated about 700 voters, the reports Of
1909 about 800. To be sure there are
more pages in the report of 1909, but
would it not be better to have less
pages and less of tumble or riddle,
If You please, for the voters to solve?
To show how the cost of printing
has increased the following is APP
pended: In 1892 the reports cost for
printing, $500; in 1888 the reports
cost for printing. $1,000; in 1903 the
reports cost for printing, $3.50; in
1904 the reports cost for printing
$92.oo; III 1905 the reports cost for
printing, $1,000; in 1909 the reports
cost for printing, $17700; in 1910 the
reports cost for printing. $144.00.
The cost of printing the town re-
ports of Madison is at a higher rate
than most other towns pay for re-
ports when the number of pages and
number of reports printed are taken
into consideration.
A third thing that might be done is
to let the auditor do more than he
has been required to do which is just
to look over the vouchers of the diff
ferent departments and see if they
correspond, let him also look over the
selectmen's report of receipts and
expenditures and of resources and
liabilities in order that the financial
standing of the town may be accur-
ately known. Let us also pay him
more for his work. Why have an
auditor at all unless he determines
more for us than that there are
vouchers for all bills?
The fourth thing to be mentioned
is sectional feeling. There seems to
be strong sectional feeling in town
and each section is more or less re
vengeful toward the other. This CON
1ition should not be SO. 1t has come
about largely by misrepresentation
md of course in part by one section
having more voters than the other,
and by continually voting down meas
ures proposed by the weaker sides,
many times entirely disregarding the
merits of the measure involved.
Misrepresentation is the grossest
of these evils. This evil has been the
cause of both the East and West
Darts of the town of Madison to talk
If division At various times.
To illustrate: In the peoent town
meeting a certain speaker who was
speaking against the town, voting aid
Tor the proposed electric railroad
said in part: why should we-mean-
ing the people in Madison village
put our hands in our pockets and
give money for this proposed rail
road? We are already supporting
their roads and their schools, -
meaning the roads and schools in the
eastern part Of the town. This is a
misrepresentation for no such CON
1ition exists. The fact Is that the
east part of the town pays more than
they get back, or in other words they
are helping Madison village to pay
for the many good things that the viii
lage people enjoy
The selectmen say that no one in
Madison village has taken pains to
get exact figures as regards the two
sections of the town. but that two or
three have come in and looked over
the books a lirtle and jumped at con-
illusions. Just think of it? Telling
Jumped at conclusions for facts. Did
Edmund Burke become a great states
man by jumping at things? No! He
says in the Introduction of his speech
on Cancellation that he took pains to
inform himself on the condition of the
American colonies before he dared to
talk or commit himself as regarding
their needs
Here are some facts regarding the
eastern part of the town and nearly
identical with the section which the
printed pamphlet entitled The Rail
road Question" included. In this sec
ton which the following fgme3 arc
given, there ere lGo taxpayers and
100 poll Taxpayer The tatsl v'luo-
lion Of this section is in round mum
beers 800 000: To'al tax n id by ;hi.
section in 1910 cCuals 500: total
tax paid by this section in 1909 equals
S41G0; total tax paid by this section
in 1905 equals $352l. This same sec
ton received back the following