Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-02
OPENING SESSION

darbor.
( OPENING SESSION
The first meeting Of the convention
met in the Hall OF Representatives
at 8 o'clock at which time 40 dele
gates, some accompanied by their
wives, had already arrived from al
most every corner of the State and
were in attendance. Preceding the
opening, Douglas orchestra of Au-
gusta who occupied seats on the floor
OF tho House. gave an enjoyable pro-
gram OF selections.
= President Clement s. stetson Of
the Assessors association opened
the convention and his speech of
welcome. He first expressed his re-
grets for the inability of the city's
chief executive, Mayor Fogg. to be
present. He pointed out that the
purpose Of this convention is for the
rubbing of elbows and the exchang-
ing Of ideas with one purpose in
view, that Of equalizing the problem
of taxation. These meetings have
been means Of adding OO,OUOOO to
the State valuation on equalization
basis. "Our purpose is vital for
we are facing crisis" he said.
1.-THE valuation Of taxable property
has Increased 100000 or % per
cent, while the tax rate has in
creased &c per cent. Economy must
be practiced in your respective COM
munities until we get back to normal
times, There must be economy by
state. county and local officers"
President Stetson appealed for. the
appointing of trained men on the job
with a fair compensation for their
labor, In closing, he especially well
coined the presence of women. say
ing that this was the first convention
to have women in attendance as
delegates.
Following President Stetson's ad-
dress, Governor Percival P. Baxter
accompanied by his private secretary,
Gilbert r. Chadbourne and w. II.
Bragdon of Perham entered, the
Governor advancing Immediately to
the speakers platform amid ap-
plause and cheers. The Governor
was introduced by President Stetson.
governor Baxter
Governor Baxter spoke as follows:
Ladies and Gentlemen:-
1t gives me pleasure to welcome
you all to the State House upon this
occasion which is the Fifth Annual
Convention of the Assessors of the
several municipalities in our State. I
know that these Assessors meetings
re hnr 1rIr 10 I,,,%
also to the towns and cities that you
represent, and 1 wish that every riu-
nicipality in the State was represent
ed here today. BY meeting together
you are able to exchange views, to
get acquainted with one another and
to find out what other ASSESSORS who
are faced with problems like your
own, are doing to solve them.
Those Of us who live under the
dome Of the State House have pre-
pared a series of exhibits in order %
show you something Of the work that
the State of Maine is doing in the va
rious fields of it's activities. >There
are grouped together in this build
ing not less than twenty eight diff
ferent departments. each one of
which has definite work to perform.
The people of the State as rule do
not realize what the State govern
ment is doing. and we want you 20
carry home with you an idea OF what
Is being accomplished here for the
welfare of the citizens of Maine.
1t is very natural for our town o.
fcials to become absorbed in their
own affairs and in their own prob
lens, but this Annual Convention
gives you an opportunity to forget
your local routine work and inspires
You to greater efforts. You Assessors
probably are the most vital part OF
the machinery Of our government.
for without YOU the government
could not properly function. / extend
to you the cordial greetings Of the
people of the State of Maine.
I am Of the opinion that most Of
the troubles that we have within our
State come about from needless mis-
understandings. and if the people Of
the State could only get togethu.
oftener in such meetings as this.
many of jealousies would be avoided
and hearty cooperation would be-
toiiic more III eNluellce tHan II IS
today. We have State as large as
the rest Of New England, and it 10 not
always easy for those IN the remote
districts to exchange visits withstheir
neighbors in the other sections OF the
State. Each of our sixteen counties
has some special resource or attrac.
ton in which it may we'll take pride,
but we should never forget that our
loyalty to our respective counties
should always be secondary to our
loyalty to the State itself. Those of
US who for the time being are in
charge Of the States affairs recog-
nize no county lines. and I assure
you that take as vital an interest in
the welfare and prosperity of Aroos-
took County as I do In the welfare