The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1899-05-11
State Tax and Valuation.
A Reply to Gov. Powers. Fifty-two Fer Cent.
Increase In Expenditures 1or the past lo
Years.

A Reply to Gov. Powers. Fnty-two fer Cent.
Increase In Expenditures Tor the past 10
Years.
Especial to the Lewiston SUM-
Recently in an open letter 10 ocarboro
man, Governor Powers stated mat ne was
in favor OF the revision and equalization
of the tax system in Maine. Among other
things he said:
There has been such an Imitation of
valuation by the State assessors that the
tax is already burdensome.'
This statement of the Governor has CAL
led forth great deal Of discussion, and
much criticism. 1t is not believed by
those who are best acquainted with the
matter that there has been an imitation OF
the State valuation and that the cause OF
high taxes and discomfort in Maine In rela-
tion to the present condltlon OF state
affairs is due to this cause, but to other
causes one of which has been the great
increase in the State expenses.
In 1889 the biennial appropriation made
by the legislature was 81, S33, $50. 80. In
1899 the biennial appropriation was 81
349, 522. II, an increase in III years, of 50
per cent.
In speaking of this matter the Hon.
George Pottle, one of the members of the
State board of assessors, SAID to the Sun
correspondent:
''The question of taxation IN this State
bids fair to be the all absorbing topic of
discussion during the next two ears, and
doubtless will claim the early attention Of
the legislature in 1901.
''The claim is quite commonly made
that the railroads, street railroads, and
some other corporations taxed directly by
the State are not taxed in fair proportion
to the other property in the State that
is taxed locally for State, county and
| municipal expenses. In the closing weeks
| of the legislative session last winter several
measures were offered looking to an in
crease of certain corporation taxes, but
all were referred to the next legis-
! lature
The greatest obstacle in the way OF
tax reform is the tendency everywhere to
! increase public expenditures The ex-
| penses of the State have increased rapidly
during the present decade. The biennial
appropriations of the legislature of 1899
providing for the years Of 1899 and
| 1900 show an increase of tifty-two per
cent above the appropriations of the
legislature Of 1882 which provided for
/ the expenses of 1889 and 1890. 1t is idle
to expect lower taxes in the face OF an
initiation of tifty-two per cent. IN the
expenditures of the State in ten years.
I The present State valuation as fixed
by the State board of assessors, which
is the basis of state taxation, shows a
moderate increase over previous years,
being six and one half per cent greater
than in 1890. A majority of the towns
are valued lower by the State than in
1890, and this is especially true of the
/ Ihn
the State is revised and equalzed every
two years prior to the meeting of the
legislature. Local valuations have in
creased III a greater ratio than has the
State valuation, being in 1898 an average
OF eleven and one hall per cent. higher
than in 1890
"The State as a whole is slowly but
surely increasing in property and wealth,
| while some rural sections are making no
progress, but rather losing ground. On
the other hand in some sections OF
the State there has been a marked growth
and increase of taxable property; thirty
three Of the cities and towns showing, ac-
cording to the valuation of city and town
assessors in 1898, a combined increase
since 1890 of S2S, 600, 600.
"Railroad building, both steam and
trolley, has opened up and improved new
territory, and the prospects are good tor
a considerable increase during the next
few years. laundering operations are
more profitable and the manufacturing in
dustries of the State are more prosperous
than for many years. The general bust
ness improvement throughout the country
is being felt in Maine. As before men
toned the tendency to increase public ex-
penditures and prospective higher taxa
10, a. To, ha III alr, nnt of
the State.
1.-THE only safeguard against excessive
taxation in this State is the exercise of
rigid economy in State, county and in
municipal affairs. Increased expendi-
lures mean higher taxes; it cannot be
evaded. Payment may be deferred, but
the burden must finally be met by taxa
ton. You may revise your tax laws, but
high taxes will still be with you. Nc
taxation is 50 unjust as needless taxation
ii compeis everyone to pay more than a
fair share. There can be no fair share tc
unnecessary taxation