The Portland daily press., 1890-12-18
PROCEEDINGS or THE MAINE FARMERS
Yesterdays DoIngs Of the Grange
Meeting at Lewiston.
Lawyer bennett Tells How Taxation
should Be Adjusted.
He Thinks it Bears Too Heavily on
the Farmers Now.
Especial to the Press.l

LEWISTON, December IT, = The second
days meeting of the 18th annual session Of
the Maine State Grange closed very success
fully. The forenoon meeting was devoted
chiefly to the reports of committees Greet
ings were sent to the New Hampshire State
Grange, now In session In Manchester, and
the Massachusetts State Grange at Worces-
ter. This afternoon was given up to the re-
port of the committee on taxation. Among
those who took prominent part were L. b.
bennett of Portland. Hon. z. A. Gilbert and
FL. c. Burleigh of Vassalboro.
In the course of his speech Mr.. bennett
said: "The tOwus and cities of Maine dur
ing the last 20 years have paid into the state
treasury SIS, ,259, 900, all Of which was unlaw-
fally paid. 1t is wrong for one class OF tax
payers to pay high taxes, while another
class who are the owners Of large
properties among the most valuable in the
state, escape with nominal taxation. 1t is
incumbent that party making that state
ment should prove the same The timber
lands in our unincorporated plantations con-
sisting in round numbers c0nfessedly OF g.
69l, 900 acres which stood upon the assessors
books of the state at a valuation of less than
81 per acre, were taxed for the
year 1890 by the state Il mills per cent,
yielding to the treasurer of the state
similar timber lands In our munich
palities on an average were taxed II 1-10
mills per cent. In all probability, according
to the best information we can get, there are
100000 acres Of wild lands In this state
probably worth on an average s. per acre.
In consequence of the Developments OF our
railroad systems and the increased demand
for timber of all kinds for our pulp mills and
all sorts of other uses which now utilize ev-
cry kind of timber these lands are constantly
increasing in value.
The railroads of Maine whose greatly
mllionized value would exceed $30.000,000
actually paid into the treasury In 1880 less
than 100000. Ii they were assessed at the
average rate of municipal taxation in the
state of Maine. the tax upon railroads would
have been $4,000 which would have paid
our entire state tax assessed upon the towns
and cities of the state within $14, 600
The Patrons of husbandry and all other
tax paye yers as far as l know, do not wish to
assess newly constituted railroads which are
struggling for existence, and perhaps are
running at loss. They do not wish to tax
them for anything more than their actual
value. The farmers of this state are the
friends of the railroads and have aided them
uniformly from their introduction ilto this
state, and have aided In their construction to
the extent Of their abilities, and will do SO In
the future. But when they have got to be
vastly paying property they think they
should stand In for their share of the taxes.
The following additional committees have
been appointed:
Corporations-A. E. Briggs j. Q, Kyes r, II.
Ii by, A. T. Cl ford; ladies l.. W. Jones, j. l..
Martin, Susan X. kyerson.
Euueation-Ladles q. Z. Angel, z. A. Gilbert,
b. A; Burr, d. u: Mansfed; nessrs. j. N. CON-
Constitution, Bylaws and amendments-F. A.
Allen. A. L. Hanes, @. Z. Jordan, K. A Briggs,
riman. w S. Weeks. j. d. Higgins; iadies, Mrs
stone, G. f. Dinslow, q w. Richie, III. Harmon.
Department Of Agriculture IN the State College
Thompson, NJ. D Hayden
Officers anu Salares-Seth Sinnott G. NJ.
Douglass, @ +. COBB II. W. Ellis, Ansel Hallway;
ladies. g. F. Briggs, Il: j. Hartman. G. f. Lobb.
Masters Address-Edward WigglD, ID. o. Bow
e1 Mata. xidLw LVWe W andrews M LGS r. Libby
W. Brown w. B. Whittier: ladies, A. s. Farms
worth, Ann M. Townsend.
Subordinate Grauges, their Conduct and Meth
DDS of Government-C. Z. Valentine, J W.
Hayes, A. s Farnsworth, W. r. Dunn; ladies, j.
Z. stewart, q 3 Rand u freeman Atwood.
ret .. oardiuer, A. W. WhltmOre; Messrs. J.W.
Philips, U. E. Dlnslow.
ResOutions-A.D u. Russell, w. p. +. Robie, N.
b. iOung ]. w. Emerson; ladies' Eva j. Snow,
j. y. Fellows. w. l. Bickford.
Agriculture b, W. McKeen, j. Fl. Sanborn,
man, l. NJ. Bellows, Joseph White
Good OF the Oi Oider-rrederick kobie, s. b. Gun-
nlson. En- Cushman Eyerson Miller ladies', 10.
Nickerson, l.. X. Litchheld, and NJ. L. Hartman.
Past State Master Frederick Robie, chair
man OF the committee on good Of the order,
after preliminary remarks, made report. In
his report he recommended that the farmers
nominate men from their ranks for our legis-
lative bodies to urge reform In taxation. The
recent change in some Of the political as
poets OF the country can be traced largely to
the Fal mers' Alliance and kindred assOcia-
tiOns. The Grange has accomplished many
reforms in legislative enactments for the far
mer, Is strong support tO the Agricultural
College experiment station, IS in sympathy
with the Farmers Alliance. Farmers should
study all the great questions of political
economy. Either Of the great parties should
be equal to the occasion. The Grange Is not
partisan, but seeks the greatest good to the
greatest number. The report was accepted.
j. o. Keyes of Wilton, G. E. Valentine Of
Bethel and b. A. Burr of Bangor, as depu-
ties at large, reported.
The following resolution was presented
by L. o. Winslow:
Resolved, That our legislature be requested to
adopt some me sure providing for the addition OF
the subject, The Principles of Agriculture" TO
the course Of studies in our common schools.
This was discussed at length, in favor, by
q. A. Gilbert and l.. b. bennett. The reso-
luton was adopted.