USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lincoln > Town Report on Lincoln 1891-1898 > Part 25
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J. L. Chapin & Son, telephone and chloride of lime, . 25
83 05
$102 07
Appropriation brought down, . .
100 00
Expended above appropriation, . .
$2 07
Street Lamps.
RECEIPT.
Town Appropriation,
$150 00
PAYMENTS.
Globe Gas Light Co., naphtha, etc., . ·
$45 02
T. Wilber Smith, lighting lamps 250 nights, 62 50
" carting and express, ·
7 46
$114 98
Unexpended balance,
$35 02
.
43
Ventilating and Heating Center School-house.
RECEIPT.
Town Appropriation (not assessed), $875 00
PAYMENTS.
Albert Washburn, labor and materials, $155 63
P. McWalter, mason work and expense, .
155 65
George F. Newton, architect, 70 00 ·
Walker & Pratt Mfg. Co , furnace, etc.,
331 80
$713 08
Unexpended balance of appropriation,
$161 92
Ventilating Town Hall.
RECEIPTS.
Town Appropriation (not assessed), . · $75 00
Town Appropriation, for Town Hall or
Bemis Hall, . 200 00
$275 00
PAYMENTS.
S. C. Macdonald, labor and stock,
$28 38
Smith & Anthony, two Globe ventilators, 36 00
George F. Newton, cord, 65
$65 03
Unexpended balance of appropriation,
.
$209 97
Hydrant Service.
RECEIPT.
Town Appropriation, 39 hydrants at $5,
$195 00
PAYMENT.
Lincoln Water Works, hydrant service, · $195 00
44
Interest Account.
RECEIPTS.
Town Appropriation,
$500 00
Interest on Water Bonds from Water Com-
missioners,
760 00
$1,260 00
PAYMENTS.
Interest on Water Bonds, .
$760 00
Interest on temporary loans,
712 68
$1,472 68
Receipts brought down, .
1,260 00
Expended above receipts, .
$212 68
·
.
Water Works Extension.
PAYMENTS.
F. A. Snow, balance contract, east part, . $277 84
Tower road, 495 91
$773 75
Flint Extension.
RECEIPT. Town Appropriation (not assessed),
$800 00
PAYMENTS.
Walworth Mfg. Co., pipe, .
$434 61
Z. G. Smith, teaming pipe,
15 00
Chapman Valve Mfg. Co., supplies, .
39 99
John F. Farrar, laying pipe, etc.,
388 20
Appropriation brought down, .
800 00
Expended above appropriation, .
.
$77 80 ·
.
·
.
.
$877 80
45
Temporary Loans.
Middlesex Institution for Savings, note
dated March 15, 1895, for 2 years, $10,000 00 Middlesex institution for Savings, note dated Dec. 3, 1895, 2,000 00
Commonwealth Bank, note dated March 11, 1896, 2,000 00
Middlesex Institution for Savings, note dated April 14, 1896, 5,000 00 Commonwealth Bank, note dated June 6, 1896, 5,000 00
Middlesex Institution for Savings, note due Jan. 11, 1897, 5,000 00
$29,000 00
Town Appropriation for payment of loans,
1,000 00
$30,000 00
PAYMENTS ON TEMPORARY LOANS HAVE BEEN MADE AS FOLLOWS :
Middlesex Institution for Savings, note
dated Dec. 3, 1895, . $2,000 00
Commonwealth Bank, note, Mar. 11, 1896, 2,000 00
Middlesex Institution for Savings, note dated April 14, 1896, 5,000 00
Commonwealth Bank, note, June 6, 1896,
5,000 00
Middlesex Institution for Savings, part payment of note for $5,000, due Jan. 11, 1897, ·
3,000 00
$17,000 00
$13,000 00
Less Town Appropriation for payment of loans,
1,000 00
Temporary Loans unpaid,
. $12,000 00
46
Statement of Town Debt.
Eighteen Water Bonds of $1,000 each,
$1,000 due annually for 18 years, at 4 per cent. interest, . $18,000 00
Middlesex Institution for Savings, note dated March 15, 1895, for 2 years, 10,000 00 Middlesex Institution for Savings, balance of note due Jan. 11, 1897, 2,000 00
$30,000 00
Counsel Fees.
RECEIPT.
Town Appropriation, . $1,200 00
PAYMENTS.
Edmond H. Bennett, written opinion con- cerning the rights of Lincoln in Sandy Pond, etc., . $50 00 · Smith & Ludden, services in regard to al- terations, changes of grade and dis- continuance of roads in vicinity of Cambridge Water Basin, and appear- ance at different times before the Legislature, etc., · 300 00
Charles Mills, services as expert engineer in consultation with E. I. Smith, work on plan, examining records, at hearings of County Commissioners, etc.
Smith & Ludden, services in regard to tak- ing land around Sandy Pond, draft- ing articles for and attendance at Town Meetings, etc., 75 00
90 00
$515 00
Unexpended balance, .
$685 00
47 Miscellaneous Expenses, Etc.
RECEIPT.
Town Appropriation, . . $2,000 00
PAYMENTS.
Frank M. Dempsey, services as Constable, . $4 00
D. W. Dougherty,
2 00
L. E. Brooks, 66
118 50 .
John F. Farrar,
15 00
Edward Bannon, 66 66
·
6 00
Charles S. Smith, inspection of animals, one year to May, 1896, . · 150 00 ·
Charles S. Smith, services as Assessor, 1895,
150 00
expenses to Stonington, " . 7 00
express, postage, etc., ". 3 00
Georgie H. Weston, clerical work for As- sessors,
20 00
George M. Baker, services as Assessor, 1895, 15 00
Henry J. Jennison, services as expert on Real Estate values in DeCordova tax case,
brought before the County Commissioners, 25 00 M. R. Warren, Assessors' book, 19834, 5 00
Charles S. Wheeler, Collector, abatement of 26 poll taxes, 52 00
Charles S. Wheeler, Collector, abatement of real estate taxes,
91 80
North Acton Granite Works, 60 bound stones,
15 00
teaming, . .
9 00
Z. G. Smith, distributing bound stones around Sandy Pond, .
14 50
L. W. Weston, labor setting bound stones, etc. 13 00
Lincoln Water Works, water service, .
143 00
William Barrett, Agent, insurance on School House and Town House, . 111 75 ·
Free Press Job Print, 700 tax bills, 2 50
W. H. Sherman, removing ashes and rubbish, 1 50
James T. Laird, sharpening lawn mower twice and two bolts, . 1 00
Amount carried forward, .
$975 55
·
48
Amount brought forward, .
Cook Brothers, coal for Town House, . 86 57
John R. Hartwell, teaming coal, . 13 20
Thomas L. Giles, services as ballot clerk, Nov. 3, 4 00
Wm. L. G. Peirce, services as ballot clerk, .
4 00
Fitchburg R. R., freight on coal, .
35 68
Albert Washburn, door hinge, 2 75
Thomas Groom & Co., order book, 8 50
6 tax coll. cash book, . 1 50
Samuel Hartwell, carrying state paupers to
Tewksbury,
5 00
care of same, .
3 00
66
journey to Boston and ex- pense, ·
3 00
cash for sundries, 2 30
Ellen L. Campbell, land taken for new road,
5 00
N. F Cousins, work at Town Hall, .
1 00
M. M. Welch, cleaning hose and carriage, ·
2 00
raising and cleaning water- trough,
1 25
George E. Crosby & Co., 400 Town Reports, 66
98 00
100 copies Voting lists, .
10 00
66 66 Warrants_(4 lots),
10 00
Charles Lunt, watching two fires, etc., . .
Patrick Craven,
work at fire, 1 80
3 00
Edward Ryan, ..
3 80
John J. Malone, 66 .6
3 00
Kidder Brothers, men,
. .
.
7 00
Michael Murphy, .. 66
5 40
Samuel Farrar, watching after fire, .
2 00
Eugene Jose, 16 6 6
.
2 00
Lorenzo E. Brooks,
2 00
Clarence A. Brooks, 6 .
2 00
Hugh Mckinnon,
.6
2 00
Wm. Fitzgerald,
4 00
Charles S. Wheeler, collecting Taxes for 1895, at 1} per cent.,
319 73 659 48
Amount carried forward, .
. $1,635 03
·
.
.
.
$975 55
5 00
John Ryan,
49
Amount brought forward, . ·
$1,635 03
Samuel Hartwell, services as Selectman,
100 00
Overseer of Poor 25 00
. . Registrar, .
10 00
66 postage, stationery and ex- penses, 5 20
Kidder Brothers, repairing walk at Town Hall, 3 50
Charles S. Wheeler, postage, stationery, etc.,
8 50
Wm. L G. Peirce, services and expenses as Auditor, ·
12 00
John F. Farrar, services as Selectman, ·
60 00
66 66 Overseer of Poor, 25 00
Registrar, . 10 00
State Road Com-
mittee, 25 00
Charles S. Wheeler, services as Selectman. 60 00
Overseer of Poor, 25 00
.6
66 Registrar, . 10 00
66
. 6 Treasurer, 1896, 125 00
Lorenzo E. Brooks, services as Committee on State Road,
35 00
Samuel H. Pierce, services as Committee on State Road, 30 00
Charles S. Wheeler, collecting judgment of
court in the Burnham tax matter, . 9,469 86
George L. Chapin, care of Town House, 125 00
James L. Chapin, services as Town Clerk, 63 05
66 66 Registrar, ·
15 00
cash for sundries, 5 75
15 28
James L. Chapin & Son, sundries,
Edward R. Farrar, services as School Com- mittee,
20 00
Charles S. Smith, services as Assessor, 1896, 150 00
Inspector of An- imals, etc., for
1896, ·
75 00
6.
Forest Fire War-
den, 5 00
66
stationery and postage, 2 00 10,515 14
Amount carried forward, .
$12,150 17
50
Amount brought forward, . $12,150 17
Herbert E. Barnes, returning deaths, 5 75
66 fighting forest fire, . 4 60
George Flint, services, etc., as School Com- mittee, .
30 00
40 35
$12,190 52
Receipt brought down,
2,000 00
Payments, etc., above receipts,
. $10,190 52
Recapitulation.
SELECTMEN'S ORDERS FROM FEB. 1, 1896, TO FEB. 1, 1897.
For Schools, . . .
. $5,425 61
School Superintendent, ·
.
. 350 04
Library, ·
749 09
Cemeteries,
Temporary Loans,
. 17,000 00
Interest, .
1,472 68 ·
Support of Poor,
712 86
Military Aid,
96 00
Highways and Bridges,
3,834 07
Village Improvement.
24 75
Street Lamps, .
.
114 98
Decoration Day,
25 00
Miscellaneous expenses, etc., . 12,190 52
Extension of Water Works,
1,651 55 .
Payment of Water Bond, due Dec. 1, 1896, 1,000 00 ·
State Road,
6,742 03
Public Improvement, 79 20 .
250 00
Ventilating and Heating Center School House, . 713 08
Ventilation of Town and Bemis Halls, 65 03
Hydrants, .
195 00
Counsel Fees, etc.,
515 00
Board of Health,
. .
102 07
- $53,448 56
.
140 00 .
·
.
.
.
Monument to James H. Farrar,
.
51
The Selectmen present the following names of qualified men from which to supply jurors for the ensuing year :
George H. Hoar,
Herbert J. Harrington,
Charles S. Smith,
Charles E. Nelson,
Clarence A. Brooks,
George L. Chapin,
Charles P. Farnsworth,
James B. Wheeler,
Zenas G. Smith,
Louis H. Whiting
James T. Calkins,
Edwin B. Rice,
John F. Farrar,
Ephraim B. Flint,
Albert A. Cook,
Wm. S. Briggs,
John R. Hartwell.
SAMUEL HARTWELL, Selectmen JOHN F. FARRAR, of Lincoln.
CHARLES S. WHEELER,
LINCOLN, Feb. 9, 1897.
52
Report of the Committee on Claims.
The Committee on Claims of the town of Lincoln, appointed at the last annual town meeting, present the following report :
Under the vote of the town the committee was instructed and authorized to consider all disputed claims and demands of what- ever kind which shall be presented to the town, and to compromise or defend the same before any tribunal ; to bring in the name of the town such suits at law or equity, or institute such other pro- ceedings before any tribunal, as may in their judgment be necessary and proper to protect the interests and property of the town, and to compromise any such suit or other proceeding ; to take neces- sary and proper measures for the collection and preservation of evidence relating to any controversy in which the town is or may be a party ; to represent the town before the Legislature of the Commonwealth in matters affecting the interests of town; to employ counsel to appear in the name and behalf of the town for any of the aforesaid objects ; to have charge of the expenditure of any appropriation made for such objects unless otherwise specifically provided for ; and in all matters so far as practicable, to act in connection with the particular board or committee affected thereby.
The committee would report that they have attended to the duties specified in the foregoing vote, and have taken action in the following suits and controversies which were specifically referred to them.
(1) "All suits and petitions in regard to the abatement of taxes and the recovery of taxes paid under protest."
1. Israel. G. Whitney et al., trustees, v. the Town of Lincoln.
This suit involved the question of the residence of Mr. W. A. Burnham in the town of Lincoln in the year 1894, and was an action of contract to recover back a tax assessed upon the trustees of the Burnham estate by the assessors of Lincoln for the year 1894, which tax was paid under protest. The action was brought in the Superior Court of Middlesex County by writ dated Jan. 29, 1895, and the damages claimed were $12,000.
53
The committee has, under advice of counsel, compromised this suit, and judgment has been entered therefor for the plaintiff for the sum of $3419 15, which judgment has been satisfied.
2. William A. Burnham v. the Town of Lincoln.
This was an action of contract to recover back poll and personal taxes assessed upon William A. Burnham by the assessors of Lincoln in the years 1894 and 1895, which taxes were paid under protest. The action was begun in the Superior Court of Middle- sex County by writ dated Jan. 14, 1896, and the damages claimed were $150.00
This suit involved the same issue as the foregoing, which was the domicile of Mr. Burnham in 1894 and 1895, and has been compromised by the entry of a judgment for the plaintiff for $16.50 without costs, which judgment has been satisfied.
3. Charles S. Wheeler, collector, v. Israel G. Whitney et al., trustees.
This was an action brought by the collector of the town against the trustees of the Burnham estate to collect a tax assessed upon the trustees by the assessors of Lincoln in the year 1895. The same question of domicile was involved in this suit as in the fore- going cases, and under the advice of counsel the committee has compromised it by the entry of a judgment in favor of the collector for the sum of $4043.66, which judgment has been paid to the town by the trustees.
4. Charles S. Wheeler, collector, v. Israel G. Whitney et al., trustees.
This suit was the same as the preceding except that it was brought by the collector for a tax assessed in 1896. Like the other suit it has been compromised by the committee by the entry of a judgment in favor of the collector for the sum of $4000.00, which has since been paid to the town by the trustees.
5. The Town of Lincoln v. The County Commissioners of Mid- dlesex.
This is a petition now pending in the Supreme Judicial Court brought by the town to quash the proceedings of the County Com- missioners in abating a personal property tax assessed by the assessors of Lincoln in 1894 upon the Thomas Dana estate, of which Julian De Cordova is the surviving trustee. The assessors imposed a tax for that year upon personal property belonging to the estate amounting to $150,000, but upon petition of the trustee
54
to the county commissioners, the amount of taxable property was reduced by them to $34,447.00 ; whereupon Feb.11, 1896, the town brought its petition in the Supreme Judicial Court, as above mentioned, to quash the proceedings of the commissioners.
In regard to this case the committee has not yet succeeded in reaching a satisfactory basis of adjustment. It is, however, not without hopes of accomplishing this result at a not remote period.
6, Mary E. D. de Cordova v. the Town of Lincoln.
This was a petition to the County Commissioners of Middlesex by Mary E. D. de Cordova for further abatement of a tax which had been assessed in the year 1895 upon real estate in Lin- coln standing in her name ; although the assessors of Lincoln bad already granted her an abatement from $30,000, the original assessment, to $25,000. The County Commissioners abated the tax to $18,000.
7. Mary E. D. de Cordova v. The Town of Lincoln.
This was a proceeding of the same nature as the foregoing peti- tion to procure an abatement of a tax assessed upon real estate in 1896. In view of the previous action of the County Commission- ers, the Committee did not deem it best to make any contest and the tax was reduced from $20,000, the amount fixed by the asses- sors, to $18,000.
(2). " The suit of Francis Smith v. The Town of Lincoln."
In this suit the plaintiff seeks by a writ dated Jan. 18, 1896, to eject the town from the possession of the " engine house lot," so called, upon the ground that the town has never acquired a legal title to the premises. This suit is still pending in the Superior Court of Middlesex County.
The land upon which the engine house stands was taken by the Water Commissioners of Lincoln, March 13, 1876, for water pur- poses, and by direction of the Committee the counsel of the town has entered an appearance in court and will contest the case when it comes up for trial.
(3). " All suits, petitions and controversies relating to the alteration, changing of grade, or locating anew of roads by the city of Cambridge to accommodate a new reservoir in the east part of the town."
The general nature of this litigation has been set forth in previ- ous town reports, and it suffices here to say that the main contro- versy has been upon the question whether the city of Cambridge
55
shall re-construct the old road, which is about two miles long, lying upon the westerly side of the land taken by the city for a water basin, and keep such road in repair for five years. The road was laid out by the County Commissioners at the expense of the city of Cambridge by an order made by them in September, 1895, from which order the city appealed to the Supreme Judicial Court. The case was argued in that court last September by counsel in behalf of the town, and the order of the County Com- missioners has since been sustained by the opinion of the court. The town has been wholly successful in this affair, and it seems that nothing remains for the city of Cambridge to do but to re- construct the road and to keep it in repair in pursuance of the order of the County Commissioners.
(4). "All suits and controversies pending or which may arise during the ensuing year between Lincoln and Concord in regard to the right of the said towns respectively in and to the waters of Sandy Pond."
At a town meeting in January, 1896, the town of Concord authorized its water commissioners to institute proceedings against the town of Lincoln to recover a portion of the damages which were paid by Concord to private persons at the time Concord ori- ginally took the waters of Sandy Pond in 1874 ; to institute pro- ceedings to decide the rights of the towns respectively in the pond ; or to compromise any of the matters in controversy between the two towns. During the year the water commissioners of Concord . made a demand upon the water commissioners of Lincoln for the payment of a portion of the damages mentioned above, which demand was referred by the Lincoln water commissioners to this committee. After full consideration of the legal rights of the town, the committee advised the water board to decline to make any payment whatever to Concord on account of its claim.
The committee has also taken necessary and proper steps to protect the rights of the town in any litigation which may here- after take place in regard to the title of the town in the waters of Sandy Pond.
(5) " All suits and controversies pending or which may arise during the ensuing year in regard to any taking or acquirement of land for raising, flowing, holding, diverting, conducting, purifying or preserving the waters of Sandy Pond."
56
1. Charles S. Smith v. The Town of Lincoln.
This is a petition for assessment of damages occasioned by the taking by the town on March 10, 1896, of certain land upon the shores of Sandy Pond for water purposes under the provisions of Chapter 188 of the Acts of 1872. The order of notice thereon is returnable to the Superior Court of Middlesex County, March 1, 1897. No proposition for the settlement of this case has been made to the committee.
2. Francis Smith v. The Town of Lincoln.
This is a petition in the same court and returnable on the same date and for the same purpose as the foregoing petition, and grows out of the same taking of land. No proposition of compromise has as yet been made by either party.
By vote of the town the committee was requested to draft a code of By-Laws. The committee has attended to this duty and will report at the town meeting a set of By-Laws, the adoption of which it recommends.
Finally, the committee recommends that, as several matters referred to them have not yet been fully adjusted, although they are now in the process of adjustment, the committee be continued for another year with the same powers as during the year just now ended.
Respectfully submitted,
CHARLES F. ADAMS, Committee WILLIAM S. BRIGGS. on
CHARLES S. WHEELER, Claims.
57
ASSESSORS' REPORT.
VALUATION MAY 1, 1896.
Personal Estate, .
. $1,336,743 00
Real Estate,
791,711 00
$2,128,454,00
Additions to Real Estate,
5,500 00
$2,133,954 00
TAXES.
State Tax, .
·
$1,610 00
County Tax,
2,309 46
Town Grants, ·
17,220 00
Overlayings,
791 08
$21,930 54
Sudbury River Tax,
18 22
$21,948 76
Additional Tax on Real Estate,
55 00
$22,003 76
Abatements, Real Estate,
2 88
$22,000 88
Additional polls, 4,
8 00
Total net Assessment,
$22,008 88
Number of polls, . . 323
Additional,
4
.
327 at $2, . $654 00
Rate of taxation, $10 per $1,000.
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
58
ASSETS.
LIABILITIES.
School-Houses, . . $17,000 00
Water Bonds, . $18,000 00
Pub. Lib. and Books, 33,000 00
Other Public Buildings, 25,000 00
Cemeteries. 5,000 00 ·
Water Works,
70,000 00
Fire Apparatus,
1,000 00
Trust Funds, . 36,818 17
$187,818 17
Assets above Liabilities, $169,818.17.
EXEMPTED PROPERTY.
Library and Books,
$33,000 00
Religious Societies,
34,000 00
South Hall Corporation,
900 00
·
.
.
.
.
.
.
$67,900 00
59
A table showing the Valuation, Tax, Tax Rate, etc., since the year 1860 :
Year
No. Polls
Value Persona
Estate
Value Real Estate
Amount of Tax
Rate per $1,000
No. Houses
No. acres Land
1861
203
$ 159,233
$385,660
$4,069 53
$6 66
125
8842
1862
205
149,695
392,445
5,137 14
8 46
128
8842
1863
199
185,756
394,215
6,798 41
10 80
128
8842
1864
204
98,117
397.041
8,277 74
15 54
130
8842
1865
200
162,680
399,481
9,359 68
15 54
129
8844
1866
198
185,855
398,865
6,725 99
10 44
129
8844
1867
202
196,149
398,930
7,633 99
11 80
131
8844
1868
203
199,915
401,601
5,120 73
7 50
132
8844
1869
206
210,479
403,147
6,876 63
10 20
135
8842
1870
213
227,931
411,631
11,545 62
17 00
136
8844
1871
239
237,627
421,455
10,612 80
15 00
138
8844
1872
231
380,860
531,425
10,740 85
10 90
139
8844
1873
217
257,085
533,287
11,639 69
13 70
145
8844
1874
235
251,797
551,827
12,702 16
14 70
146
8713
1875
250
226,816
548,972
12,391 73
14 90
147
9130
1876
256
231,077
557,713
23,921 66
17 00
154
8976
1877
269
217,572
566,038
12,684 07
15 50
157
8977
1878
254
215,302
563,074
11,016 21
13 50
155
8977
1879
362
193,749
567,259
7.373 00
9 00
157
8957
1880
257
326,748
565,839
6,583 72
6 80
159
8840
1881
264
363,677
564,344
6,906 16
6 00
159
8834
1882
257
709,160
565,366
8,803 11
6 50
156
8845
1883
278
586,407
582,186
9,671 02
7 80
160
8867
1884
287
518,676
587.201
12,075 12
10 40
160
8905
1885
284
467.079
602,890
5,703 85
4 80
163
8913
1886
284
697,448
609,320
12,067 56
8 80
164
8946
1887
296
782,085
619,995
12,089 02
8 20
170
8963
1888
282
1,000,792
629,485
10,671 67
6 20
170
8973
1889
299
751,340
633,760
17,357 65
12 10
171
8978
1890
310
890,603
649,085
13,547 38
8 40
177
8973
1891
276
1,839,382
678,095
14,897 12
5 70
180
8970
1892
283
1,704,793
704,230
18,623 18
7 50
183
8970
1893
295
1,154,403
780,310
20,893 86
10 50
187
8970
1894
314
1,457,601
785,490
18,569 73
8 00
185
8970
1895
301
1,637.335
797.584
21,315 72
8 50
185
8970
1896
323
1,336,743
791.711
21,948 76
10
00
185
8970
60 .
Two years ago we had occasion to refer in our report, to the tragic death of one of our number, Mr. James H. Farrar, and to testify to his sterling character. This year death has again taken one of our number, Mr. GEO. ROPES, suddenly from the active duties of life. We feel that our Board and Town have sustained a great and irreparable loss. As we became more intimately acquainted with him, we respected, admired, yea loved him, for those generous, true and noble qualities which go to make the complete man. His conscientious and'faithful performance of the many hard and irksome duties connected with the administration of the office of Assessor, have often been, and will ever be, an inspiration to those who were associated with him.
For reasons which will be obvious to those conversant with the Burnham tax case, we think it best not to discuss it except to say, that what has been accomplished by the "Committee on Claims," goes to prove most conclusively, that the ground taken by the Assessors was tenable, viz. : That Mr. Burnham's domicil was in Lincoln, and that his proportion of the John A. Burnham estate was legally taxable here. After the " Committee on Claims" had disposed of the case finally, it remained for us to complete their work, by securing about fifteen hundred dollars additional, and the prospect of about five hundred dollars annually, so long as Mr. Burnham retains his domicil here.
Time alone can demonstrate how wisely the " Committee on Claims" have acted, and what permanent results they have se- cured.
In regard to the contested tax on the estate of Thomas Dana, we understand that it remains practically the same as last year, except that Mr. De Cordova will, if the Town's case against him is withdrawn, enter into some kind of an agreement with the " Committee on Claims," provided the present Board of Assessors are deposed.
There is a disposition on the part of some of our citizens, to criticise the acts of the Assessors, accusing them of "driving tax- able property out of town." These same critics would adopt a policy toward men of wealth, which would be a direct violation of the laws of the Commonwealth, a policy which is pernicious in the extreme, and if carried into practice is criminal, and suicidal to the best interests of the town we believe. Our acts have been,
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and will be, such as will bear the light of day, and will we trust be approved by all fair-minded citizens.
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