Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1915-10-06
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Ssbsidixiux Industries
EL1swoxrH- NE, Oct l. 1s1s
To the Edissr 81 The Ezssrsrfh AmsrcaA:
Ian todd that an effort is being made to
raise still another Subsidy fog sone oGt ct
toxn business concern TO locate in Els
wcrth- 1 had supposed that cur costly
sxpersence with shoe factories, and especi-
ally The early and disastrous collapse OF
the knitting mial. AFTER absorbing $4,000 OF
TIE mooney Of EZis~orsh people, and con-
tracing c<bfs to them Of several thousand
dollars more, wouad put m end 20 such
efforts. II. however. any persons still
wish to coatfnne such expsriments ct
their own individual cost have no riKht
TO object, however much may regret tbe
resulting losA-
But am insormed il 10 also proposed
that the city itself shall suhzidixe the new
scheme 20 sone extent To this do have
in behalf OF myself and many osner cifi-
rens. 9 valid night to object, iE that it
would be an attempt to take By forcs from
citizens mcaey for schemes they may mot
approve Of.
Sace . cozrse would be wholly Illegal,
and the o<scers driving the warrant for
the payment OF money out Of the city
treasury, and the treasurer paying out the
money for such purpose, woald be Liable
therefor. The right and tbe power Of the
city to raise money by TAXATION or loan
and to appropriate mooey % rsised are
strictly limited to purely municipal Affairs.
and s0cn special matters Is the statutes
expressly permit No right or power to
levy on the taxpayers, directly or in
directly, money to further any particular
corcern can be found in the statutes
Indeed, the grants usually made by cur
mayor and aldermen for holeing fairs or
Fourth OF July ceiebrsticns in the city are
without authority Of Law, and do mot
suthoriss paying the money out Of the
city treasury.
70 quote the language Of the Supreme
Court: "A torn is not q business nor .
charitable corporation II is simply q
political organization, created - . con-
venient agent for the performance Of
certain governmental duties and purposes.
Its powers are almost entirely political,
and are properly limited to its duties 1t
has only such contaol over the citizen
and his money or property Is is expressly
granted to it or is necessary for the per-
Torrance of its duty to the public In
deed, q town is only = trustee for the
pu bic. 1t does not own the money in its
Treasury, nor the municipal property
generally. but holds them in trust for the
public and subiecs to public control
through the Legislators" [Thorndike c.
Camden, 81 Maine p. 49,
Further. If the money of the citizen is
taken from him by the town through the
taxing power for 3 purpose not authorized
by law, he may recover ii back 'swith Is per
cent. interest and costs and any damages
Ii has been suggested that to induce
individuals or corporations 10 start bust
ness enterprises here the city should ex-
empe their property from taxation for q
number OF years, or at least impose only q
nominal tax To carry out either Of these
suggestions would be unlawful and IN
awaiting. The city has no such power.
The tax assessors could not lawfully heed
any such vote. Only their appointment nj
comes from the city or town. When
once appointed, their authority and duty
come from the statutes alone They
can not be controlled by the town in the
exercise Of that authority. The town
cannot sbste from any assessment and
cannot require the assessors to abate any
tax Indeed, il is the duty of the assessors
to disregard all attempts Of the town to
interfere With their statutory duties II
the assessors should wish TO omit from
their assessment, in accordance with . vote
of the town, any property otherwise tax
able any taxpayer could compel them by
writ Of mandamus TO include it. [Knight
c. Thomas, 80 Maine 4si-l
lam aware that by asking you to pub
lish the above may be thought by many
to lack public spirit and to oppose all
efforts to increase the business prosperity
of Ellsworth. Nevertheless / feel may
do my city some service by calling atten-
ton to the unlawfuiness of some schemes
and the futility Of other schemes proposed.
LUCLTUs A. EMERY.