The Portland daily press., 1870-02-09
DAILY PRESS.
CORTLAND
Wednesday, Morning, february 9, 1870.
Iet Taxation aid Manufacfnres.
PORLVIAND

|
To the Editor Of the Press:
Maine has caused survey of its streams
to be made and the report of it has been, or i'
to be, widely distributed, that the world may
know its almost unrivaed facilities for fur
nishing cheap motive power. Just now
our people seem possessed with spirit Of
local enterprise and while some are ON the
east and on the west pushing projected rail
| road lines to secure to us the benefits ofcom-
mercial Intercourse with adjacent States and
Provinces, others are maturing plans by
which our water courses may be made to con-
tribute of their inexhaustible reservoirs of
power TO the development of the State.
"Let us no longer be content with the
doubtful compliment that Maine is a good
| state to emigrate from," said the Governor,
in his first message, when urging the people to
| renewed efforts of internal improvement. And
Maine is not thus content. The press daily
gives evidence through its columns of the de-
sire on the part of the people TO so use their
natural advantages and their capital as best
to subserve the prosperity and growth of the
State,
How Manufactures can contribute to the
growth OF Maine can be seen by an examina-
ton Of the condition of Massachusetts to-day
compared with that of twenty years ago, if
EVIDENCE beyond that furnished by our own
manufacturing villages is needed
The Railroad Commissioners of Massacbu-
sets in their Report for last year say that, the
productions of that State have increased from
$114,47S.443 in 1S45 to S517 7,24O,613 in 1865.
In 1881 the first power loom was introduced
into Massachusetts,; at that time the product
ofits manufacturing industry was returned at
S17,516,423. In 1865 it had increased to $4l6
3oS,215. During the last twenty years the
Commerce of the State has increased 80 per-
cent, manufactures 450 per cent. Y per cent.
OF the Foreign exports of the State in 1859,
were articles of her manufacture.
The internal revenue returns say that Mass
achusetts stands next to New York. She
furnished 66 per cent. more revenue thanPenn-
sylvania,-U per cent. more than Illinois
and three times that of any other state. "The
elements of this material growth are found in
the manufactures Of the state" say the COM
missioners.
This exhibit appears to show in what path
way lies our road to prosperity, Massachu-
setts has no advantages over NJ aiDe in the
raw material Of manufactures. If Maine can
furnish the products of manufacturing indus
try as cheap, it can sell them as well; if
cheaper, then she can sell them better.
Tn Nau, Vorlr o;f tba h,,r6 Of 1nooI 70
alton are oppressive to manufacturing indus
try. Boston seems to be anxious to compete
with the great metropolis in the liberaliiy of
its expenditures and weight of its taxation.
Maine affords locality where the manufac-
turers of such cities can supply themselves
with cheap motive power and escape from
such burdensome tax.
Is it not possible for us to present greater
inducements in this way than we can now of
fer? Can we not adopt such system Of tax
alton on manufacturing industry as to give
our State an advantage in this regard, over
all others in the Union?
In Great Britain "the incidence of all local
and direct taxation on the manufacture of
cotton extends only to the rental value of the
buildings for the reception of machinery or
the promotion of the other details of the busi-
ness, and does net in any way regard the val
ue of the machinery which may be placed in
such buildings or the capital employed in its
Says Com missioner Wells, in his Report for
1868, pages "a and 55, at is also curious TO
note that, going back to the commencement
of the 18th century, we find the same system
of indiscriminate State, local and municipal
taxation at present existing in the United
States was recognized both in France and
Great Britain. Experience, however, has
gradually brought to them that reform which
probably at no distant day will be entered up
on in this country. 1t would be difficult, how
ever, to find in the ancient records referred to,
anything of greater inconsistency than is ex
hibited in the existing legislation of some of
our States; as for example, the State Of New
York, in which the statute holds, as respects
its own citizens, that personal property fol-
lows personal residence, and exactly reverse
in respect to foreigners and citizens of other
States. A citizen of the United States not n
resident of New York, is therefore liable to
double taxation in respect to all capital in
vested in business or banking in New York
first, by virtue of tie location of the proper
ty; and secondly, in virtue of the residence
of the owner in another State. One sugges-
ton. in view Of these facts and circumstances,
may be pertinent, which is, that if any State
should determine to adopt system of local
taxation analogous to that recognized in Great
Britain or France, it might conf lently antici-
pate very large influx of capital and manu-
features from beyond its borders, thereby rap
| idly increasing its wealth and development"
| Would it not be well for the Legislature to
refer this matter TO some appropriate COM
mittee, that it may be investigated? Would
not some such method give to manufacturers
and capitalists from other States a welcome
and inducement which would make them
seek us? Such q system may on its surface
present inequalities which appear objection
able, but beyond that may it not by the wealtl
which it will bring to us, the markets 1t vii
create, the increased value it will give t.
property surrounding manufacturing village
whose growth and origin it may cause, fur
nsh consideration ample enough to repa
us for any sacrifice made to attain them?
BRIDGToN.