Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-21
OUR LETTER BOX.
Continued from Page Twelve)

unnecessary in the granting, and
which has caused much injustice TO
all the other taxpayers in town, but
more especially TO the farmers. Many
such instances might be given, but |
wish to refer particularly to the Hol-
lingsworth & Whitney Co. This com
pany received annually for many
years a rebate, amounting in the ag-
gregate to several hundred thousand
dollars. and still hasa special favor
granted by the town. (which does not
expire until 1917, or "a years after the
company was established here. alto
gether too long a time to grant special
privilege to any corporation or other
taxpayer. 49,
Some attempt has been maN 20 make
it appear that my protest agaN9t giving
special privilege to the company, is an
unwarranted attack on the company it
self. This is not so. for we are all
friends of the company. fully appre-
ciating the great benefit which
its legitimate work has been and
now is to this community. Yet very few
indeed are in favor of special privilege.
and not one can be found who can sue
eessfully or eonvincingly defend 1t. OF
course everybody knows that these re-
bates and exemptions are illegal, in
fact, the Hollingsworth'and Whitney peo-
| pie themselves would, | venture to say,
| be the last people in the world TO at
tempt to defend them on the ground OF
legality; or on any ground except that
other mills in different parts of the State
are also granted similar concessions. Mr..
Leslie Cornish, who made the original
plea for the rebates, in town meeting,
distinctly stated that the proposed action
would not stand the test of legality. The
building of the mills in Winslow was
never made conditional upon the grant
ing of the rebates, Mr. Cornish positively
stating that the company's mills would
be built in Winslow anyway, whether
the rebates We're granted or not; the
company in this way-it seems to me-
shrewdly attempting to throw the resp61
sibility for the Illegal action, wholly up
on the town. Neither was it necessary
to grant the company special privilege in
order TO "protect the infant industry
for it is very evident that il grew TO
maturity very quickly. and would have
done so without Illegal action The only
ever heard for asking for the rebates. is
the very "shoddy" one that it is good
thing TO keep the people of Winslow
from becoming extravagant. 1t is need
less to add, that this reason was not
given by the attorney for the company
in special town meeting.
The voters of Winslow never have been
given an opportunity to Judge this ques-
ton on it's merits, except as they have
learned by costly experience. Special
town meetings have been called, and a
paid attorney has plead persuasively for
the company Our town officers ought to
have secured an equally able attorney TO
show up the Illegally, unfairness, UNI
wisdom and danger of the proposed ac-
| ton. II they had done so, IL is safe 70
say. that the rebates would never have
been granted The mills would have beer
built in Winslow just the same, but tbs
company would have paid its taxes al
the same rate as the rest of us. The
price of paper bags and wrapping paper
would not have been greatly increased
the eompany's employees would nav
been paid just as much wages, and the
dividends paid to it's stockholders would
| have been as large, for it is not to b.
presumed that the company's profits de
I pend upon the amount of money which
| II can beat out of the other taxpayer!
| by lodging a part of its taxes; Will,
Winslow would have had a very larg,
1 additional amount of money which eoul,
have been used for permanent improve
| ments. But no, there has never been an,
one to speak effectively for the real in
terests of the town, which has conse
/ quently arrived at very o e-sided an
wholly unwise decisions.
II 1t is true that in a strictly technics
sense l have been a property taxpaye
in Winslow only few years, but
reality / have paid, or helped to pay,
| property tax in town for more than
years; and we have paid several hui
dred dollars almost directly into II
Hollingsworth and Whitney Co, which
very much needed for improvements ar
| equipment TO make our farms more PR
| ductiye, while as we have already int
mated the company would not have fe
| the loss. No doubt the same could
| said by many other farmers in town.
II If it is objected that what i have 5
/ far said in regard 10 the company is
/ back number, let it be remembered tht
Il the company is stili under a wholly ILL
II gal special privilege
Il Winslow farmers in common with tho;
Of the whole State, make good use (
their money, not only for themselves, bi
1 for the whole community. Where farm
ers make good profits, they are good bu.
ers, and good employers. A more equ
II system of taxation, one which would {
4 away with the abuses TO which / ha,
d referred, would undoubtedly tend TO he