The Portland daily press., 1901-01-18
TAXATION.


gln this bill but end to; don't tax the
little fellow out OF existence.
Alr. Gardiner asked MIR. Haines what
would be fair estimate OF the value OF
the propersy.s
Mr.. Haines replied that IL was worth
the bonds, si90,0Oo. and what anybody
might be willing to pay .or the privilegs
OF managing 1t, perhaps. $4,000.
Hon. Henry B. CleAvss then asked n
continuance until next Tuesday that
President Tuttie of the Boston and Maine
ana Maine Central, who could not be
present tonight, \ might be heard. Mr..
Tuttie was deeply Interested In Maine
and desired to appear.
CLARENCE A. HIGHT, ESQ.
Clarence A. Hight, Esq, of Portland,
reuresenting the Grand Trunk, then said
that he should be obliged to also ask
the indulgence of the committee and be
given the privilege to present the case
OF the Grand Trunk on Tuesday. The
management of the Grand Trunk Is In
Montreal and in the short time since the
hearing was advertised. MIR. Hight said
he had had no opportunity TO consult
General Manager Reeve. This question
is a very important one to the Grand
Trunk. For the last ten years there
has been deficit OF $2C0,OO0 to haif q
million year on the Portland end OF
the system. In 1896 the Grand Trunk
spent great deal Of money In Portland.
It built there one OF the largest elava-
tors on the Atlantic coast ana the busi-
ness grew until it nearly equalled the
export business OF the port OF Boston.
Reference has been made here TO the map
OF the state. The map OF the future
should have a line drawn across the
Atlantic to the ports of the old world
and the Grand Trunk is the only road
that can draw that line. The Grand
Trunk now has three ports, Montreal,
which is closed by Ice in winter, Port
land and New London, CT, reached by
the Central Vermont road. Much OF
the ocean business will not be done In
the future from Montreal. The dues-
tion Is where shalt the Atlantic terminal
be9 Ihs Grand Trunk is arranging to
spend nearly a million dollars in Port
land. It Is making arrangements TO erect
an elevator to hold one and three guar
ters or two million bushels, double
the capacity of the present elevator. Ii
will erect more wharves, building up the
whole port of Portland Under those
circumstances, the matter OF taxation
and its effect is very grave question
and have not yet had aD-oppottunity TO
ID
l must ask that the case of the Grand
Trunk may be presented next Tuesday.
GRANGE MEMBERS SPEAK.
Mr.. Obadiah Gardner, the master Of
the State Grange. gave history OF the
movement In the State Grange, with Its
Y, 900 members, which resulted in the
appointment OF the comm ittee which has
the subject of taxation in hand. 1t Is not
our purpose to inforce burdens which
any Interest would be unable to bear. We
want to get the necessary increase of
revenue in a manner fair to all. In re.
ply TO the statement OF one of the gentle
men that the farmers have money in the
bank on which they do not pay interest,
" i'll say that the farmers stand ready to
bring all such Investments under taxa
tion II other industries Will help the
farmers
MIR. Bisbes-It's a question of who
starts first, isn't its
Mr.. Gardner-I guess 1t is. daughter. }
Hon. j. Ii. Roberts of Norway, a men,
bar of the Grange committee, tolInwed
He said that ths farmers ami common
people believed that they were bearing
more than their share of the public
burdens, but they attacked nobody and
desired to treat every body with fairness.
They knew that the railroads were of
benefit to Maine and that the great in
dustries of the state were dependent up
on them. MIR. Roberts said he wanted to
answer one tatenent made by MIR. Bis
bee. II 1t were true that all that was
sought to be accomplished was to raise
$3.50, 900 OF revenue TO wips out a deficit
and meet increased expenditures, this
committee would not tie here. More than
that it wanted. We desire that other in
terests shalt bear burdens commensurate
to ours and we want, If 1t is possible, the
money so raised to go to reduce the direct
tax OF the people. l shall not speak in
detail OF this bill but 1t is the result of
careful dsliberatlon by the committee
We thought that the railroads could pay
$l0), ,O00 increase and the bill ia based on
that Idea, Next weeF, l shall desire TO
add some things to what l have said on
the subject MIR. Roberts said that bills
would be introduced to tax both the elec-
trie roads and the wild lands
Then an Adjournment was taken to
10. on Tuesday next.