Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-01-08

been furnished without drafting a mar.
The amount allotted to them for the
Ped Cross was secured on schedule
time; and both Liberty bond issues
were over subscribed TO by our people
The splendid work done by the Red
Cross and Food Conservation Commit
tee Is evidence that they are ever ready
and willing to 90 their bit. What is
true regarding National affairs | be-
lieve will apply equally as we'll to mat
ters concerning our city.
They realize that with increasing
cost on every hand, it is bound to cost
more to run our homes. places Of bust
ness, and as corporations find it costs
more to operate. Our citizens. ! believe,
thoroughly understand that an increase
in the rate Of taxation to care for the
annual increase in running all depart
mentS is inevitable. If, in addition to
the general increase, we consider for a
moment few items, we will under
stand better the necessity TO-. the in
crease which must be made. This
comes for two reasons: first, eXtraordi
nary expenses for the next year and
loss Of property which has previously
been taxed
We must provide this year for the in
terest on our proportional part Of the
cost OF the new bridge ON Bridge street.
This cost is $4,000 the interest on
which is $l260.00. Added TO this inter
est this year. we must provide for $4,000
additional to retire the first maturing
bond. These items are items for which
no one can hold us responsible The eX-
pense was necessarily incurred by the
city last year, but this government and
future governments must provide for
the payment In addition to these
items. the interest on our bonded debt
is $3,S55.0o. We are compelled to provide
$4,000 toward sinking fund TO retire
these bonds The State and county tax
over which we have no control, for the
next year will amount to $50, 490.12. All
Of this money we must raise; and, as "a
moments thought will show, not a cent
is for the items connected with the an
rual necessary expense of running The
city, such as roads. lights. water,
schools etc For all of these and many
other expenses, provision has 10 be
made IN addition to the dead weight
above mentioned With an increase in
the salaries and wages Of all
classes of employment all over
the country. doubtless extra de-
mand will be laid upon us. But We
should see that the salaries are
kept to the lowest minimum consistent
with good service. Cost of materials
for sidewalks. streets, bridges, repairs
of schools and other public buildings,
has increas ed greatly over former
wears Before leaving this view of th"
situation, | mention among eXtrtOrdi-
nary items 10 be provided for this year,
expense of q new pier to the Winter
street bridge and planking for the Ran
dolph bridge. The above items must be
several unusual items for which this
city government must provide
On the other hand we have lost sey-
eral important items Of taxable proper
Nv during The past year. The dam Oh
Bridge street which was carried away
in the early summer not only ceases
to be taxable but the several pieces OF
property which were carried away az
the same time are also lost 10 our val
uation We must also add 70 TINS ii5I
the loss of the Gardiner Publishing 60
on Water street, the machinery NdIua-
ton OF the Scribner Machine Shop, ana
SHOWS garage Oh the Gateway. More
over, It is possible that the mill hf the
South Gardiner Lumber Co, will not
run this coming season, ana therefore
we shall have to lose the taxes upon
their logs an item which amounted to
$l220.y1 last year.
Very few. if any. new buildings have
been built this year, owing largely
imagine to the advance in building ma
terial. so it would seem at the present
time that it will be necessary to have
an increase in our tax rate in order TO
maintain our city in anything like the
way it should be. { am convinced that
our citizens fully understand this need
and II it is entered upon with care and
Justice, they will readily respond to its
requirements.
In making appropria tons for the diff
ferent departments We should endeavor
TO make them Is small as is consistent
for the proper needs of each. Enough
should be appropriated TO proper
~ cover all legitimate needs and leave
no occasion for overdrafts. At the
present high cost Of all materials and
the scarcity and advance in the price
OF labor we should "Hooverize" our re-
sources and endeavor as never before
to get for every dollar spent 100 cents
value in return. also believe that az
far as possible. every department