Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-06-12
FARMERS CONFERENCE.
Cumberland Farmers Meet and Talk Over
Plans for Next State Campaign.

| Portland Ne lime IA conference Of
,,,.,,,-., II ,,,,.,.,,l IL, iii, VA
| IL ''icIS 81 : uIiioeI i''uu county Oh 'dA i'-
! form was held in City hall, Saturday
afternoon. About 100 were present.
,,-,,I.- n ,Tr,.Ii e,
NlHlaih ~ -hcl'" uS MN ol 0c'l o'i -
are carrying more than their just burden
| of taxation. ana that, while the values
| Of farm lands are decreasing. the taxes
| are being constantly Increased.
Our legislative halls. said he. ARE
but common arena where banking, COM
mercial, manufacturing and private in
tcrCSts send their agents to bear away
what SpOllS they can, while the vast agrl-
cultural interests, which nearly equal all
others together and on which all depend.
arc left without single champion
lie charged the lasi Legislature with
eAtravasance and disrrgard Of tbs intel
osts If thc farmers. lie criticized Maine :
lax corporation laws. argued in favor ot
taxing corporation franchises. and de-
clarcd against any further increase OF
salaries OF county 2h9 State ofhcers.
the salary raising that had been done BY
recent Legislatures, ana gave the Maine
State Grange the credit Of defeating the
movement Of last winter to increase the
salaries of the supreme judges.
Mr. Haskell Of Windham, II. =. Small
Of Gorham. Mr. Merrill OF Pownal. ana
others related instances i'm which the
value Of farm property has shrunk more
than 100 per cent. while he taxation had
Increased almost llkt amount.
Mr.. Merrill OF Powual, opposed the
state spending 50 murh money on lts
game. He believed that his warranty
deed of his farm ought to protect him
from having city nabobs running loose
through his woods and fields. The money
spent for the protection Of game is squdn-
derrd.
III see A deer feeding, in my oat
fields said he, II snail shoot him.
whether it is close time or open time. If
a partridge gets into my orchard and is
doing harm there | shall shoot it. regard
less of what the Legislature says about
close time on partridgcs.
Arguments were made against some Of
the acts of the State Board of Agricul-
ture. in charging up against the State eX-
penses in excess of what is actually paid
out in that department. An abolshment
Of the Governors Council, ana the sub
stitution Of state auditor. was advo-
Gated. Judge McFadden Of Dresden, de-
clared that the members of the Gov
ernor'S Council are allowed TO audit their
own bills, and the State is obliged to pay
whatever they may see fit to charge for
services.
Charles f. IIerrick Of Cumberland
iey was elected to the Legislature for
TWO. four or six years adding that Mr.
Manley appears to be laying a great
many plans for the next Legislature. He
also spoke Of the large amount Of money
made by the county sheriffs ana suggest
ed that the sheriff's office be put up at
auction every two years ana sold 10 the
candidate who will pay the most for it
and work the cheapest.
T. k. Griggs Of Wcstbrook. said the
farmers themselves are responsible for
the existing conditions.
..If III have not the power to stop Off
cial extrayagance." said he, ''let us g1
quietly about our work on the farm ana
do no more grumbling about high taxes
But If We have 10 power to check it, ana
40 not exercise that power. we ought to
have our noses held To the griudStone till
they are sore enough to cause us to rise
m ana defend our interests
Judge McFadden Of Dresden. again
snnJ,e and advised the holding of a State
cnnfernnco IF farmers for a Similar mr.
pose as that for which this meeting was |
called
Chairman Mclaughlin was empowered |
To call a State farmers convention. to be |
held during the next State fair at Lewis |
ton. the appointment II a committee Of |
arrangements being left To him.
The convention unanimously adopted |