Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-11-07

in the discussions of the press within
the last year or two. 1t is fair
question Ia our candidates who are
no" before us for commissioners
whether they wish IL maintain things
as they are, or are they in sympathy
with such Il policy # reconstruction,
as the present opportunity most hap
PLY affords
). The third problem which must
demand the immediate attention of
our commissioners. is that touching
the broad questions confronting our
Street Department This has been one
OF the prominent questions in our mu-
nicipal life for the last twenty five
years. Unfortunately. it las been far
toe often a political question in our
midst, instead of being purely bust
ness proposition as ii surely ought to
have been.
Without a word of criticism upon
any man who has had anything 10 do
with our streets, we may be perfectly
certain that the policy which We have
been pursuing has been an unwise
| policy. We need To inaugurate "a
| once. and for all time, policy of
permanent road construction.
Twenty-Five years has proved to all
OF us. beyond any reasonable doubt.
that the old policy of making fairly
good improvements over wide areas
of territory has not been good from
any point of view. It has of necessity
been poor business and worse economy,
tine evils Of which can only be RENE
died BY a definite change in the flu
ture program of our Street Depart
ment.
We reed To enter at once upou a
Tong time definite policy Of permanent
road construction. This surely is "A
plain business proposition, II is the
part of wisdom In the end it is a
pert of genuine economy. We should
do in ,he large areas only what abso-
lutte safety requires. We should then
concentrate all money and energy at
orr disposal upon the permanent inn
proVcments on such streets ana walks
as We attempt TO remedy at all.
OF course we realize that this policy
of permanent road Improvement can
not Re entered upon and continued
without considerable larger appro-
priaiion made for the street depart
ment. 1t not infrequently happens
that a pinched and narrow economy is
q most extravagant business policy.
Real economy consists In getting the
largest and most effective results
from a given investment Of capital
over reasonable area of time.
4 This brings us to the fourth
problem which must receive immedi-
ate attention from the three lnen who
are chosen for our future Commits
sioners. This question concerns the
financial budget of our city and the
future rate of taxation. We are per-
fectly aware that some of our citizens
are highly sensitive over the question
Of property valuation and rate Of
taxation.
But we might just as well face this
question of finance, and openly and
fairly discuss the issue before our men
are elected as 10 do it in the way of
criticism after their policy has once
been iuaugurated.
bout tIess there are some people who
have thought that a change in our
form Of government would suddenly
bring in new era Of improvements
all along the line. But those who are
most familiar with the management
of our municipal affairs know that no
great and radical improvements can
be brought about without d more lib
eral financial policy.
We must really get on with some
things much as they are, in the mate
rial life of our city or else adopt a
more generous policy in making up
orr financial budget We must either
Il, . =.
pronerty or raise the rate of taxation
or increase the present indebtedness of
the city.
The difficulty in all this matter has
far too often been, that our citizens
have been led to judge of any given
administration by the sole question of
whether it has raised or lowered the
rate of taxation. In eity's life such
questions cannot possibly be solved by
a single administration.
1t is easy enough to lower the rate
of taxation on any given year, and by
that single act to allow such a policy
OF waste and deterioration to go on as
should make such an apparent act of
economy a real piece of wasteful ex-
travagance, as a pure business propo-
sition. The financial policy of each
year should be built into the policy of
the decade and generation which are
to come.
What is to be the attitude of our
present candidates toward this finan-
Gal question: It is far better for
them to openly avow their sympathy
at the present time SO we may know
just what we are voting for, than il is
r go ahead in silence and take the
kicks and curses which are sure. to. be