Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-07-20

State treasurer for the Plaisted adj
mnistration, who showed in his an
rual report that nearly enough came
over in tax assessments of the last
year of the Fernald administration to
pay all the bills contracted in that
administration
l do not believe the report shows
any such thing. Because the Treas
urer does not do this work. 1t comes
under the Auditor.
i, The current liabilities of the Fern
AID administration we're $2,560.113.72
and the total tax assessment carried
over was $1,771, 909.51 or a shortage of
$77S,204.21 reckoned by their state
ment; but to be exact the total cur
rent liabilities we're $2,560,113.72, and
the total current assets were $685.
1854. not to say anything about the
unreported bills Of s373,165.79 which
Plaisted had to pay.
Also, Governor Fernald left un-
paid warrants of $3s4644.75 with only
S135, 1925 Of cash on hand.
To show how ludicrous the state
ment is-Fernald left over taxes due
$1,771, 909.51 and two items alone that
he owed would consume more.
The temporary loan Of $300,00O.00
and the mill tax due towns of $1,501.
1856 would amount to more-or
$1.S01. 1856.
This proves clearly that the state
ment of the Journal is wrong.
If these figures of mine are wrong
l hope the Journal will say so. Yes
or No.
honest and said that if Governor
FernaldS tax assessment had been
five mills in the first year and three
mills in the second year all of the
bills could have been paid with the
exception of about s350.000.OO: and
why not have added that had Fernald
had nine mills in his two years all If
these splendid additions and improve
ments would have been secured and
paid for, and left comfortable sur
plus in the treasury?"
The "Sentinel' probably did not say
so, or make any additions, because if
they had they would have stated
something that was not so. First be-
cause he did not pay his bills by
1913, 1873 and secondly he used ur
the Land Reserved School funds and
the surplus left over BY Governor
Cobb Of s3S6,1S077 ard was also $751;
4a7.3S in the hole besides, making a
total Of s1.351,4
Now if Governor Fernald on an
eight mill tax for two years sue
ceeded in running behind this amount
how could he get by on nine mills
OF course he could not. He would
have to have over IL.
It must also be remembered that
four and half mills Of the eight was
the mill tax-to be collected and re
turned to the towns-and had no
bearing on the general expense. Eight
mills would really be three and a half
mills deducting the four and half
mills school tax.
1t is plain that Governor FernaIi
would have had to raise the s1,351,-
443.94 by taxation, if his administra-
ton was to stand on its own bottom
That would require about three
mills. or over, on a valuation Of s42s,-
252,465 and add that to eight mills
and you would have eleven mills. plus.
instead of nine as estimated by the
Journal.
Now compare with the ten mills Of
the present administration which in
Guides tax of six mills for school
tax instead Of four and half mills I'M
der Fernald, making his net three and
a half mills and ours four mills,
difference in his favor Of one half mill
so far as rate is concerned, and with
the additional tax that would have
been necessary to make up the ST.
351.443.s4 1t makes a net of six and
half mills for Fernald against ours. Of
four mills, or a gross of eleven mills
against ours Of ten mills Add to this
the IN mill tax that we pay more
than Fernald and the rate would be
121a mills plus-as opposed to our ten.
j. 70 make it shorter our rate il ten