Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-02-20
Kendall NJ. Dunbar.

kendall M. Dunbar.
Hon. Kendall NJ. Dunbar, chairman
Of the Damariscotta board of assess
ors, spoke on the subject Longer
Terms of Office for Local Assessors i;
Il suppose it was expected that l
would argue and establish that longer
terms Of Office for local assessors
would cure all the faults and evils and
/ disabilities of the tax laws of the
State as now executed by these of
l1cials," said Mr.. Dunbar.
That 1T would correct some and
perhaps many from which we suffer
and which are more apparent to the
State assessors and very materially
affect the value and completeness of
their work, is true and it is, of course
self evident that a longer term Of Of
flee for anybody would give the intel
bgent and conscientious incumbent
more time and opportunity to become
familiar with the laws governing the
office and generally with the duties to
be performed" continued Mr. Dunbar
Under the charters of 10 of the &c
cities of the State. their assessors are
elected for terms of three years. How
many towns elect for that term-the
maximum permitted under the stat
utes-I am not able to state, as since
commencing this somewhat hastily
prepared article, l have not had the
time to ascertain; but it is no doubt
known to us generally that the mum
Der is small-a trif1ing percent of the
o02 or SOB towns. and plantations in
the state. Thus the only comparison
we have material for making in this
State is between the work of the city
and the town assessors. And from the
figures for the past few years, it does
not appear that the term of three
years would accomplish what We all
would hail with joyful acclaim, to wit
tax lists that shall meet the Joint and
united appreciation of the tax assess
or, the tax payer and the State ad
Juster. Whether or not a still longer
term would correct the difficulties is
perhaps open to discussion
I'm these days of war, when the ma
tional government, in its dire and ire
mendous necessities. is reaching GU,
further. and down deeper into the
pockets Of a patriotic and loyal people
FOR revenue that must be had if popu-
lar government is to survive, nothing
can exceed in Importance and every
effort to divest the municipal and
county and State tax bill of every
vestige Of inequality and injustice"
state Highway Commissioner Frank
n. Peabody of Houlton at the close Of
MI. Dunbar'S address, asked if il was
not necessary for the town to vote ia
make the change to longer term and
Mr. Dunbar replied that ne so under
stood it.
Inc matter Of sheep taxation was
! Drought up and it was explained that
shcep under So. swine to the number OF
10 and neat cattle, is months and un
der. were exempt This was followed
by a general discussion of stock taxa
ton. NJ. Dunbar and Chairman Stet
son answering numerous questions
Chairman Stetson ventured the asser
ton that all cows should not ne taxed
the same any more than all farms
should be taxed the same.
The taxation of racing horses also
figured in the discussion. IF q rae.
horse was worth $4,000 Id come pret
" near taxing him at that valuation
allowing for the possible fluctuatfon IN
his worth from year to wear" said
chairman Stetson amid laughter.