The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1891-12-24
Tho State Grange

Tho State Grange
The ate Grange, in SESSION when we
went to pres, Thursday. accomplished It's
work and Adjourned Thursday evening
The evening WIS., devoted to society work,
and closing exercises.
The committee on taxation made quite
lengthy report the glst Of which is a,
follows
The claim that the farmers OF the coun-
try rs a class are At present bearing an
IN just and undue amount of the burden
Of taxation is one that needs no argument
and must be admitted by all. The farm
er's property, both real and personal, is
OF a character that can be readily seen
and is open to Inspection, valuation and
+ asst S~meut.
Let 1t he conceded that 1t is rated at a
i fair and just valuation, yet ( many other
kinds of property are greatly under valu
ed, and Sill other kinds not valued at all
for purposes of taxation, 1t is evident to
all that great injustice is done to the
farming class. This injustice, it is the
/ duty OF the people themselves to correct
by proper legislation.
The first and most important point nee
essary under any just system of t8Xation
is II fair and equitable valuation of all the
property in the State To this end the
appointment of q State board Of assess
ors is step in the right direction and is
| in line with the recommendations made
/ by the State Grange at its last annual SEES
4 sion. The organization of the board is
yet TOO recent to admit of any fair judg
ment as to the efficiency OF its work, tut
the result of its labor during the past
year certainly proves the necessity of
some change in our laws to the end that
The valuation placed upon the several
classes OF prop rty may be proportion
ately equal and uniform throughout all
/ portions OF the State la this connection
we would recommend nat the State
4 Grange USE It's mil onCe to secure the
passage Of u law requiring the listing of
all property, with adequate penslties for
its violation.
While We recognize the immense bcne.
Hts derived by all classes from the rail
road systems of our State. yet we submit
that the capital invested in these enter
prises is not under our present laws bear
ing its just proportion of the burden of
taxation. We would not seek to cripple
new roads or to handicap by excessive
taxation any Legitimate enterprise seeking
foothUld in the State.
For this reason we would recommend
that :he tax laws be so amended that the
tax shall be made upon all railroads 10
proportion to their gross earnings.
In view of the fact that much capital
escapes taxation by being distributed
among the savings banks of the State. we
would recommend that the tax on the de-
posts and securities OF all savings banks
and trust companies In this State be in
crossed to one per cent. The argument
that many widows and orphans seek this
mode of Investment for the little capital
upon which they rely for support is of
course worthy Of consideration, bat ON
the other hand it must not be forgotten
that many widows and orphans have their
entire possessions invested In small farm.
and humble homes, and that the burden
of taxation upon this class is increas, d
10y the exemption of savings bank dcpos-
ite.
All classes Of citizens without regard 10
the manner in which their means are in
vested, are equally Interested in the edu
cation OF the youth of the State and for
this reason the entire property OF the
State should be assessed for the expenses
of education. We, therefore, recon.
mend that the entire expense OF our com.
mon schools be paid from the State treas
urY and be assessed as a State tax.
The poor we have always with us and
the demands of charity and humanity ap-
peal to all with equal force. The support
OF that unfortunate class who for any rea-
son are unable to earn their own living
should fall alike upon sill according to
their means. While the assumption tf
oi the entire pauper tax by the State
might lead to an undue carelcssnes3 on
the part of the municipal officers we
would recommend that the entire amount
of the alien pauper tax be paid by the
State and that certain proportion of the
whole expense for the support of the
poor be assessed as State tax.
This report elic.ed quite sharp discus
sion and on motion of l. Is. Dennet of
Portland, an amendment was made by
the resolution in regard to the valuation
OF wild lands adopted at the last session
of the Grange.
The committee on resolutions took ad.
vanced ground on educational affairs re
commencing the Introduction of the
study of chemistry, physiology, natural
philosophy in the common schools, the
payment OF the entire expenses of schools
by the State. This report also endorsed
tAe icpoTt VI tne tpullllJttt on taxation
and spoke out boldly in favor OF prohib-
ition of the liquor trsilir.
The committee on State College and
the experiment station made report
giving comprehensive statement of the
institution and the station.
A few of the members of the Grange
left for their homes Thursday morning,
more Thursday afternoon but by far tn
greater number left by the 80 train Fri
day morning, while a few including Mr.
Hunt the Master, and Mr.. Hancock the
Chaplain and other members going east
did not leave until the afternoon train
Friday.
They were all in the best of spirits
when they left, ready in expression OF
satisfaction at the way they were used in
Skowhegan, and in praise of our hotels.
Quite number of the members accept
ed the invitations extended by Mr.. M. L.
Pooler to visit Fairview Stock farm and
OF Lewis Anderson & Co. to visit the
wooden mills, and more would have done
SO but the session was such busy one
there was little time for anything but
Grange work.
The members of the Skowhegan Grange
and the people of Skowhegan generally
were gratfed that their guests were 50
well taken care of and enjoyed their SEES
sion so thoroughly