Daily Kennebec journal., 1895-03-07
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
[Continued from 1st page. ]

divided. This has created q feeling OF
unrest among large portion OF our clti.
zens, particularly among the agricultural
classes and the people of the rural dis-
tricts. 1t is conceded by all that this
burden of taxation is unequal Measures
have been introduced in years past seek
ing for partial remedy for this state OF
affairs, but heretofore they have met with
such opposition, coming largely from Or
oanized capital, that no legislation has
been uassed. Now, this bill, Mr.. Presf-
dent. is right along the line OF equaliza-
tion of taxation, as well as along educa-
tional lines. 1t is conceded by all not
only that education is necessary for the
mass OF people, but also that in strictly
financial view, the property Of the State
ia enhanced in value by the education OF its
people, and it is fact recognized by all
that property in an intelligent, educated
community is Of greater value than in one
whose citizens are illiterate and un-
educated.
/ make this proposition, In the first
place, that every citizen of the State is
equally interested that the youth OF the
State should be educated. Now, II that
proposition Is conceded, the second PROPOSE
tion followstin course, that, If every citi-
zen is equally interested, then every citi-
zen should beor a proportlonate part OF
the burden OF taxation for the diffusion
Of education according to his possessions.
Under our present system the larger part
of the burden Of taxation for school pur-
noses Is Included in o per capita tax OF ~
cents on each .inhabitant Of the State of
Maine. claim that this principle of as
sessing q per capita tax for educatlonal
purposes is an unjnst one, iDasmuch as it
taxes the individual regardless of the
amount OF property of which he is pos
sassed l claim that 1t is in the interests
of Justice that the property OF the State
should educate the children Of the State,
and that the tax should be assessed equally
upon every dollar wherever it Is located
and wherever 1t is invested. Under our
present system large amount OF property
"A ext,mptel from taxationf0r school pur-
poses. and | notice here particularly a
large amount of wealth invested in tim
her lands / do not wish to be understood
as an opponent to the timber land owners.
know something about timber lands and
their value, and claim that as property
these lands should bear their equal share
with every other class Of property OF the
taxation for school purposes. ;
We claim, Mr.. President, that the per-
centape OF taxation under our present sys-
tenn is far higher in the rural districts,
who are less able to bear it, and much
LIGHTER in the wealthier communities, who
are better able to bear 1t.
Mr.. Wiggin then cited some figures
supporting this proposition, and then
hap
look into this matter as regards the
different towns in the State, we find the
inequality is still greater and more con-
spicuous. Some towns In the state are
paying as high as six mills on the dollar
for school purposes, while other weather.
towns are paying less than two mills.
1t may be said that citizen of one of
the larger towns has no interest i'll the
education of the children Of the rural
districts; but claim that it is his interest
that the youth of the rural districts should
be educated just as much as 1t is his in
terest that the youth of his own town
should be educated The youth who are
today in the country schools of this State
are going to be the men and women ol
affairs of the next generation. 1t Is from
the rural districts that the cities draw
their population.
1t has been objected that this bill is in
the interests of Populism and Com
munism. This argument seems to me to
be hardly worth noticing Under this
proposed law the property of the State is
to educate the youth of the State. You
accomplish this by direct taxation of the
citizens Of the State, and by no other
means. II we were empowered by this
law to collect imposts or customs duties,
and to raise revenue by that means,
there might be something in that argu-
ment but every dollar of this school fund
comes directly from the tax upon the
citizens, and is returned to them in the
education Of their children.
Mr.. Wiggin then referred to the insinua-
tion that had been made that this bill was
brought forward in the interests OF
Aroostook county, and stated that he
denied that such was in any way the pur-
pose Of the bill. He referred at length to
the good educational work being done in
that country, to her push and energy in
such matters. to the splendid condition OF
her schools and to her advanced policy in
raising large sums of money olitside OF
her compulsory tax for schools for .pur-
poses of education. He said that every
dollar that had been doled dut by the State
to the county of Aroostook. had been
amply repaid, and instanced her great ad-
vance in population and valuation within
the last few years.
Constituting, he said: l say this is not
a measure I'M the interests of the county OF
Aroostook, but measure of partial JUS
tice to oil the rural districts Of this state.
IL It not right that a dollar in Cumber-
land county should pay the same amount
of taxation for school purposes as dollar
in Aroostook county, l think 1t is.
1t ia objected to this bill that 1t is in
the nature Of extraordinary and expert
mental legislation, and that 1t is an in
novation upon existing systems. claim
that It Is neither 1t proposes to increase
the mill tax to Ia mills, and to decrease
the per capita tax from so cents to 40
cents. This would give almost the same
amount for school fund as under the pre-
sent system. The State has already recog-
nizcd the justice Of this theory, and the
enactment Of the mill tax law was step
in the right direction. II it was right
aud Just to assess a tax Of mill upon all
the property Of this State claim that it
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