The Portland daily press., 1892-03-10

Rejected Letters from Governor Bur-
leigh, Hon. Henry b. C1eaves and 9th
ers-Committee Raised to Present the
Case of the Farmers.
Especial to the Press.1
WATERvILLE, March 9.-At the mass
meeting of the Maine Tax Payers Pro-
tective Union today eight of the 16 coun-
ties were represented, namely, Piscata-
quis, Penobscot, Waldo, Somerset, An
droscoggin, York, Cumberland and Ken
nebec. The gathering was not large
one but every man was in earnest. Short
ly after 10 a. M, the meeting was called
to order by Hon. e.. c. Burleigh, presi-
dent of the State Board of Assessors.
Mr.. Burleigh, in brief but pointed
speech, outlined the object Of the meet
ing to be to consider the equalization of
taxation and to agitate the passage OF
law providing for listing system. lie
then called upon Professor 1. O. Winslow
of Winthrop, to preside.
Professor Winslow voiced the senti-
ment of the assembly when he said:
sThere is need of no apology for our
meeting here today. Our cause is the
cause Of the farmer, the cause of equality
and justice between man and man. we
are representative farmers and tax pay
ers and we propose to be taxed fairly. Ii
/ pay what my neighbor ought to pay
am equally robbed" He then discussed
at legth the
Ways and Means of Equalizing Taxation
Secretary B. W. McKeen then read let
ters from prominent men who were una
BILE to be present. The first .one read
was from Governor E. C. Burleigh. Gov
ernor Burleigh said:
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
AUGUSTA, Me-, March s.
"To B. W. McKeen::
''My Dear Sir:-I thank you sincerely
for your cordial invitation to attend the
meeting of the Tax Payers Protective
Union tomorrow, and / very much regret
that pressure of official business will
prevent its acceptance. AS have twice
urged upon the Legislature of Maine the
Importance of such readjustment of
the public burdens as would, in so far as
possible, relieve citizens from the pres
ent inequalities of our tax SYSTEM l feel
that I need at this time only to reiterate
what said on these occasions. Inevery
way in my power, I have sought to adj
vance the reforms I have thus publicly
advocated. The people of Maine have
had ample opportunity to know how
stand in this matter. believe that a
very large amount of property in our
state is now escaping its just share of
the public burdens, and that the tenden-
cy Of the present system has been to
make these burdens fall with greatest
weight where, in all justice, they should
rest the lightest. In my inaugural adj
dress in 1889, after calling attention to
the marked discrepancy be-
tween the state valuation and the
one accorded us by the national census
/ said: Our own state valuation finds too
large proportion of our property in the
farms Of the state and makes the
Farmers Pay an Undue Share
of the general taxes. On the other hand
the valuation of the United States census
takes cognizance of the less tangible but
more profitable investments which escape
their fair share of the common burdens.
If there should be a closer examination
into other forms of property than real
estate taxation could be more equitably
distributed and more exact justice could
be done to all citizens alike, which is in
deed the highest duty of state govern
ment In 1891 l again called the atten-
ton of the legislature to the altogether
too great discrepancy between the por-
tions of the general burden borne by real
and personal property and urgeda careful
consideration of the whole question for
the purpose of adjusting the inequalities.
No one regretted more deeply than my
self that an adjournment was had with
out definite action upon this important
matter. I certainly believe that justice
and fairness demand some radical
changes in our present tax system and 1
shall do all in my power to assist in
bringing them about at the earliest posi-
BILE moment.
Sincerely yours, M
''EDwIN c. BURLEIGH."
Hon. H. B. Cleaves, of Portland, wrote:
"PoRMLAND, Me-, March 8, 1892.
"To B. W. McKeen, Esq, Taxpayers
Protective Union, augusta, Me-:
''My Dear Sir:-I am in receipt of your
favor inviting me to be present at mass
meeting to be held in Waterville, March
9th, and regret that am unable to ac-
cept the same. The question coming be-
fore your meeting tor discussion, the
equalization of taxation, is of the
Greatest Importance to the People.
The future prosperity of the state and
the welfare of her citizens require an
equal distribution of the public burden
that all classes of taxable property
should be made to bear, not only in
theory but in fact, according to fair in
depreciation of the provisions of the con-
stition of the state, such equal proper
tions and the laws should be so formed
as to secure uniformity and counteract
existing inequalities.
Every truly yours.
s'HENRY B. CLEAvEs."
Hon. T.. T. Carleton, writing from the
Maine General Hospital, Portland, where
he had been taken to undergo surgical
operation necessitated by the recurrence
OF his army trouble, said: eff read the
signs Of the times Alright, the days of the
tax-dodger are numbered. Push on the
good work, I am with you for all l can
do"
Hon. o. B. Clason, of Gardiner, wrote:
81 am glad you are making an effort to