Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-06

cuael OF police, Walter K Wakefield.
cnlef engineer Of fire deparrment,
James ". Jones; second engineer, Oh
/ yer D SpraEus: third engineer, " r.
EASTMAN CITY solicitor, Everett Il.
/ MACY city physician. George VI. Alex
/ anne- rruates of Gardiner Water Dis
| Iict Tor ch-ee years. Edwin Z Busseii:
school committee fnr three years Mr.
/ darnes Genrhner; director Of public r.
! nrary ~or Erree years. z. L BusEe1
! city engineer. Leonard NJ. Barnard; NJ
4 and Mrs.. An-rel -otrnau were ~
] elected as superintendent and 1,a1-ea
/ OF lie ainsAouse; Irving Il. CoornAF
/ was nominated oy Alderman Russ as
4 superintendent OF Erreets He Jailed Of
Reelection. Mayor B-agdnr and Alder
] man S5yes vuting no" The Mavor 5
J address:
1 10 Inc Commissioners and Citizens or
! Gardner.
There is no need fur ne to dwell al
length upon the unusual conditions and
I problems which have confronted Ma
4 ticnal. State and Municipal govern
! meucs II the year Just passed FOR these
!. conditions have been reflected II a
\ corcihie way n the private life and
! business IF uE al. We have seen the
j purchasing power Of a doiia- gradually
J, SHRINK until to-day II requires two dol
1 lars 10 purchase what one would a few
years ago.
II In view OF these facts i would Seem
Il that the personal experience OF our peo-
pie in this struggle &c cope WITH these
unusual conditions would make them
comprehend that in the conducting of
city affairs these came conditions have
10 be rsckoned with, anc that the ex-
/ penEe u running q city has Increased
II the same proportion as that Of tie
| individual.
4 We hear ou- taxpayers complain a.
the Increased taxes, and comparisons
made between Gardiner and Boston IA
rates Of taxation.
/ The State assessors report that tne
average TAX rate for each city and
/ town IN ting State for 1919 was z; mills
4 and the person vino compares The rate
I Of Gardiner with Boston or any other
/ large city Is either talking for effect or
does not understand the point OF diff
Boston ID z very wealthy city. It's val
: uaIipn is high, property Of a.! kinds is
assessed for every cent II will bring an
often more. The tax rate Is I believe,
3 mills, which really means TO tax
payers IN Boston as much or more than
I our rate Of S3 mills does here n this
i little city, at ou- present valuation,
/ which is comparatively low. There is a
small town here IN our State that mas
a tax rate OF 81 mills for this year. i
would be just as fair % compare the rax
! rate of this town with Gardiner as il ls
! 70 compare Gardiner with Boston
1 There Is no really good sense ii either
Il would be an easy matter for Gard. d.
ne- 10 have low tax rate; simply in
crease the valuation. and the more
/ you increase the valuation the lower
the rate, but in the END yuu will find
that the amount % the tax pill will be
+ the same.
IF we are u continue % have schools,
streets Lights, police, fire protection
and care for our poor il will require
about so much fuel. material and labcr
each year. The money to pay for tins
as long as this city continues to stand
still, anG has no new property 20 Tax,
the same ole pruperty viii have 70 be
assessed year after year ID get money
to pay the city 5 hills
II coal costs slA.e0 : rDn TINS year the
expense for fuel will re Just rwice what
Il was when coal was 500 4 ton.
L men IL the State department are
paid $50 per da@ this year it viii Cost
almost twice as much as when taeJ'
were pai6 STE. and thus II goes Look
wnere vou will and you find everything
nearly double the price Of a few wears
ago There is one thing most certain
that as long as conditions in our ci1.-
remain as they are, and the ijTeSen :
nigh prices Of material and labor pre-
vail or -axrayer cannot expect iower
taxes L Is very gratifying 70 rspor :
chat many Of the suggestions made
year ago have been carried out. Dean ;
Grove is now the propfr-y Of the civ
and WI always De credit 10 the gen-
erous donors The LFack purchased for
the highway department has proved 10
be a good investment as all will admit
T am especially glad 10 report that the
lung talked OF ew high school Ii now
al assured thing. and We are again IN
dabte6 to q email group Of public spirit
ed citizens VIM by their unr!ring yea
and generosity have made this long and
much needed institution possible
Building operation will begin In early
spring and this long dreamed O. build
ing wi, soon be a rezltrc.
For the cnn.a.: year would suggest
TIA: careful attention be given The ap-
n-our;a.ions ir The various Department =
and tsac they be made as small as pos
sibie. consistent with the nescs II
each
We read and hear much these DAYS
-exardiag the pay Of teachers N our
schools. This matter should receive
careful attention az the proper time. in
fairness To the teachers and to our tax
nuve-s as well While our schools ar
of g-ear importance ,. should be -e-
membered tha1 there are other depart-
men.s which must be considered and
Cared for as well.
There is one department. and most
! .uporrart cne. that has long been neg
! tecreS and that Is the fire department.
! I do not mean TO criticize IN any way
our present department for we are get
! ting al we are paying for
Our fireYnen have always responded
| willingly and rendered most efficient
service when called upon, considering