The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-09-22
STATE TAXATION.
Mr.. L. 3. 0ennetts' Opinion OF the
commissioners Report.

Portland despatch to the Boston Herald.l
Mr.. bennett was seen by Herald man
this afternoon and asked as to his opinions
of the report of the commission. He said:
"The report seems to be very searching for
small objects for taxation, and many .intelli-
gent suggestions in relations to minor mat
ters. and is an admirable report in relation
to them; but it ignores entirely the vast
timber lands in the unorganized plantations
of the state, which comprise an area larger
than the commonwealth of Massachusetts,
and the state Of Connecticut together.
This magnificent empire Of timber forests
which the state of Maine parted with years
ago at nominal rates, instead Of selling the
trees and retaining the land, as intelligent
craftsmanship ought to have done and which
course would have enriched the state, and
would now have been giving it an income Of
two or three millions Of dollars per annum-
now affords the state treasurer the petty sum
of less than $4,000 per annum. These timber
lands were assessed in 1889 at the rate of 2f
mills on the dollar, upon valuation Of
about 81 per acre on the average.
"They are not assessed for municipal pur-
poses. being taxed by the state alone. The
Of municipal taxes in the state is LII per
cent. This rate Of taxation upon the pres
ent outrageously low valuation OF 81 per
acre would give revenue OF S14S,607, which
would bs an increase of S11S.O00 per annum.
"But fair average valuation OF the lands
would, in my opinion, exceed rather than
fall short of S5 per acre. This would yield
an income Of S7430S950 at the rate Of LII
per cent. That so important an item Of tax
alton should have escaped the attention OF
the commissioners Is inexplicable to me.
"The actual value OF the railroads situated
within the state certainly exceeds S30,000,-
600. Their business Is well established and
prosperous except a few new roads,, and
they receiving money from all classes Of our
people at such rates as they choose to charge,
having effectually disposed Of competition by
methods well known to the few, and there
can abe no good reason given why they
should not be taxed by tine state at their
actual value.
"The average municipal rate applied to
them ON valuation Of S30,0O0000 which Is
certainly low valuation, would yield tax
of S5t3,000. According TO the state treas,
urer's report Of 1889, they paid 500 ,Sl3, and
the balance of their assignment, 13,029, is in
litigation. 1t Is claimed that the railroad
bonds are subject to municipal taxation, but,
in fact, they almost entirely escape the as
SCISSORS, as everybody knows. The commits
vigorously for small game, but they nave
carefully kept out OF the way OF the moose
of the forest and the railroad tiger.
THE State Of Maine sadly needs more
money than it has been raising, especially
for the support Of our public schools. OF the
$l,0S9, $50 expended for the support OF schools
last year, only S374, ,153 or 81 per cent, came
from the State treasurer; the other 63 pei
cent. was raised by municipal taxation. The
| average length Of the session Of the school:
of the State during the year was % weeks
| They should be at least 80 weeks, and NOR
| than 81 100000 should be paid by the Stat
| in order to equalize the burdens Of taxation
| for the support Of schools.
"Some OF our rural towns, under the pres
| ent system of taxation, have to assess ta'
| upon their property 300 per cent. larger thar
the cities do, and then get but 10 or 20 week
| of school, while the cities get from ~ TO ..
| weeks. The result from an equal.taxatioih q o
| the timber lands and railroads with othel
property would be felt in every town ane
| CITY in tne State, and no injustice would Dt
| done 10 the owners, of the vast properties
| They have been lucky enough TO escape Iul Iul
taxes all these years by an lnadVertencS
which can be more easily explained than
| justified. ,..oroo
"The result to Portland, for instance, 1St
would be to relieve the city OF us enLiL6 osa'S
tax-which last year was Soo,4o9.it 4it.,s to1@nv ,n,
about one-half Of the sum the city iaiSeu 81
support Of the schools, making sasas tu seitias Nil
round 500 600 per annum, as the osIlei ossIo
| and towns would be relieved Oh their pie9oN'
burdens prOportlonately ,.,u.,,ro ~ Maine,
asking Tor changes in the laws Oh the ga 9sa'IT
to equalize the DSdde1Ii d aireadv S been prepared
naso s 80 - IL circulation before the report ~
tha aacpommissiones had been published. i.inns hS,
noort sno will not antagoniZe the petltlOnS
already out, but may Del oe TegaIdeu IN 40 another
phr,ar Hpon which those petitions are
| fouudpd.N