Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-05
Mayor MMaughton
Speaker at Meeting
[Of Bible Classes

MAY OF ~. .. 11CANdb6hb0AA " 90 IhS
speaker of the evening at q most
enthusiastic and successful get
together of the Mems Brotherhood
Bible classes of the Highland Ave-
nue. NJ. z. church and the Winter
Street Free Baptist. church held at
the latter church Thur sday night.
Mayor McNaughton gave most
comprehensive talk on Municipal
Finances which was closely follow
cd by his appreciative audience. The
evenings program was opened by
selections by the Acacia Club Or
chestra, followed by prayer by DIR.
Charles Howard Atkins. After an
other pleasing selection by the or
chestra the guests were welcomed
cordially by G.. l.. Chapman, pre5i-
dent of the Free Baptist Brother
hood class. Response to this was
made by Hon. o. 3. Clason, president
of the M. L. Brotherhood class, after
which Mayor McNaughton was In
troduced. Following the Mayors
address q selection was given by the
quartet following which words of
greetings were heard from DR.. At
kins, and the several aldermen pres
ent. The assembled hosts and guests
joined in singing "Blest Be the Tie
that Binds" and benediction was
nounced. The menu at the deli
cious banquet consisted of baked
beans. cold meats, salads, rolls. tea.
coffee, cocoa, and milk.
Mayor McNaughton first announc-
ed that he wished to express his APP
probation Of the work that the Free
Baptist church is doing, and COM
mended especially the work OF the
Flying Squadron. He spoke on mu-
nicipal finance and city government,
Il most interesting and appropriate
subject for the group OF assembled
men who care all keenly interested
in our city affairs. and manifested
this interest by close attention to the
facts and statistics given by the
speaker. Mayor McNaughton first
tool; up the making of the appropri-
alton bill. which this year amounted
to $201 ,S24 and then went on to Ella
borate~ on the various items In 1t.
The largest item is for education
which for Gardiner totals about $IO.-
600. We have az teachers, d super
visors, u janitors, then we pay for
the conveyance or the children from
the outlying districts and the fare of
, those from South Gardiner. The
fuel bill for heating all our schools
Is a large item, also the supply bills
in the course of a year. run into
, large amounts. TO this total of &c.
600. which It costs to run our schools
should be credited $12.137.1S. we re-
ceive from the State and about 3d.
400. 20 we receive from tuition pupils,
so the net cost to the city in direct
! taxation is about 10000 a year. Con-
yevauce Sal o. per week
The next largest item of expense
In our highway department This
year we appropriated 5000 and this
fall transferred the $4,000 appropriate
ed for n fire alarm system, to the
Highway department. This Is direct
taxation. In addition to this. we re-
ceive certain amounts from the state
from funds already paid into the
State Treasury by the municipalities.
This method makes possible a COIL
troll by the state that eventually will
result in n connected system OF Sec
ondary routes.
The amount received by Gardiner
this year represented a tax OF Las
mills on the present valuation. The
money we receive from the state for
third class roads Is taken from the
fund created by the one cent n gall
len tax on gasoline. This fund Is d.
vided between the maintenance of
the states trunk line system and the
third class highways.
Another source OF revenue this
year was from the Androscoggin and
Kennebec Railway Co. During the
days Of horse drawn street cars, the
practice was for the car companies to
pay the entire cost Of construction
and maintenance between the rails
and a foot and a half outside each
rail Today, the Public Utilities Com
mission control the amounts that
may be assessed against any public
service corporation and they have
established a principle that the rail-
road companies shall reimburse the
municipalities Is percent Of the cost
of construction with their location.
This year We succeeded in getting 80
percent.
The city paid Barron Bros. and