Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-10-17
EQUALIZATION.
Continued from Page F1ve.)

| year to q lower valuation and that
Auburn had added nearly $1,000 600 to
| It's valuation.
THE Auburn assessors have had an
opportunity to buy some property at
thct new valuation" remarked Rep.
| Ste:scn, drily.
Chairman Mullen asked Mr.. Thompson
| II he notified the assessors of the city OF
Auburn that the board was going TO make
| the change and give them an opportunity
| to convince the assessors as To the cor
rectness of the valuation He replied
that he did not
"IIow did you arrive at the matter Of
money at interest in the city of Auburn
ana mako your change there" asked
Chairman Mullen.
I'VE thought the amount was very
small In comparison with that OF similar
cities" replied Mr. Thompson
$50 the change was made arbitrarily
ct was in the matter OF money at In
terest."
Representative Mallett argued that the
state assessors should meet the city ana
| town boards in April before they began
their work. In order that the local boards
might profit by the suggestions by the
| State board
The matter of 10 per cent. reduction
| Of valuation In the town of Greene was
| next taken up and Mr. Thompson explain
! I'd that the State assessors made the
! change because they thought the town
| assessors had put the valuation out OF
balance with that Of the adjoining cities
and towns.
| What do you value COW at asked
! Rep. Mailett abruptly.
/ We value an ordinary COW at ST. and
In q town like Winthrop where we think
they have extra good cows VIC add 10 per
cent
The matter Of % per cent. increase In
the town of Poland, amounting TO Sl67,es.
was explained on account Of the Poland
| Spring property, which was undervalued
! ana to which he had called the attention
of the town assessors.
The matter of changes in valuation of
other towns was taken up by the conf
mlttee. Chairman Mullen cited an In
crease of s153.0o0 In the town of Mill
neeket. which Mr. Thompson explained
was due to the Great Northern Papei'
Cos. being valued below Its actual value.
WAS it an equalization of taxes TO
spread this out all over the town upon the
poor fellow that was taxed up to the
limit and beyond?" asked Chairman Null
len
DO you think that the town of MILL
nocket is paying enough taxes outside of
the Great Northern Paper Coz" cont.1-
ued the chairman.
Yes | do" he replied
Then why didn't you have the Great
Northern Paper Co. plant re-assessed. as
the law provided you could?" insisted Mr..
Topper.
These revaluations are becoming
more common" replied Mr.. Thomp-
son.
Mr.. Topper pointed out that in Ken
nebec county but $1,000 worth of rail-
road stock appeared TO be owned, &C
cording to the State assessors reports,
no gas company stock. no water COM
pany stock and only 5000 worth of
electric light stock. all owned In Hal
lowell and Mr.. Thompson replied that
he did not believe that II was all re-
turned any more than the committee
did.
You would fix the same value OF
national bank stock where you lind
IT." inquired Mr.. Tupper
THAT would depend upon the valu-
alton OF tie stock % each bank" was
the reply.
How many towns and cities have
an absolute assessors plan 10 assess
taxes by" asked Chairman Mullen.
but very few" replied Mr.. Thomp-
son. PASSPORT mas one OF the best
ones. l think Waterville is making
one at the present time"
Rep. Macomber brought up the case
OF the town of Oakland, where 100000
of money at interest was rcckoned
land Air. Thompson explained that 1t
was in the case OF the Benjamin sis
tiers, who owned stocks and bonds out
iof the State and said that they did not
think they We're paying enough tdA
land wished To he reckoned as having
that amount of money at interest.
Rep Maeomber further stated lhat
loniy six cities and towns in the state
reported more money at Interest t''a.
the town of Winthrop.
Rep. Farnham of Bath asked now
the question of valuation of mousse
was obtained and Mr.. Thompson re-
piled that the assessors usuaiiv rech-
oned the medium selling price, ana
that the local assessors figures We're
taken in most cases
This practically completed the ex-
Elimination of the State assessors ana
the hearing was adjourned at l0.2e
r. NJ.
The committee VIII meet again at .
A. NJ, Tuesday at the office OF the
legal adviser, Mr.. Topper. for the pur-
lpose of determining what department
IyIil next be the subject of investiga-
ton ..1.s