The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-01-18

bhot oouchualou Wuen you nhto gwen
further hearings ON this matter. In
round numbers. had supposed that
when you come 10 take up these other in
serests you would not find IL necessary to
increase tho railroad tax 100000. We
thought that from $4,000 to S75. 900
would be enough. There are the foreign
corporations organized In this state. It
is said that there are from 5000 to -sn7 OF
them subject TO franchise tax. There
are the electric roads They have . high
way all built for them to run upon. And
think that you viii find that they are
ready to bear their share OF the burdens.
When you have examined into these
things we are ready to come In and do
our part.
bir. Bisbee said that 1t was the policy
OF the Maine railroads to lower fares and
freight rates. The Rumford road sell 8
mileage books for two cents a mile, and
local tickets at three cents mile. Mr.
Bisbee read figures to show the great re-
duction In railroad charges In the past
ten years. At the same time, travel has
bosn made safer. Last year only two
passengers were killed In Maine, one to
every Q, ,10s. $40
Mr.. Bisbee spoke OF the great increase
IN travel due to the railroads and the
wonderful industrie they had built up.
He then said: Now there Is one class OF
prosperity you cannot reach under the
present law, but you should fairly con-
slider what portion Of the Increased rove
nus should CONS from the wild lands.
do not know what sort OF bill you can
bring In. You Will have tn rely more or
less upon the honesty of the owners and
upon the state assessors who may increase
the valuation.
We hear q good deal about the farm
ers. Tney are the bone and sinew and
in some sense thu brainss and Intelligence
of the state, but they know how TO look
out sor their own interests You know
who lends money In your own towns.
Go to the Office OF the state assessors and
sse the returns OF money at interest and
subject TO taxation. / know the farms
are-taxed and some men who start in the
business have hard time. but ths men
who loan the money are all right and
don't pay heavy taxes.
Thsre lie another thing / want to say
aud am going to say 1t II 1t costs the
steam roads and the wild lands some
thing. 1 have thought that the savings
banks were taxed too high and believe
their taxes should be reduced, but un-
derstand they will lay their case before
you ana Tam not called upon to do so.s
At the conclusion of MIR. Bishse's re-
marks MIR. McFadden said that he did
not agree with Mr.. Bisbee's view of his
bill. MIR. MoFadden thinks that his bill
does not repeal the present exemption
Of the stock from local taxation. He
does not regard that as a statute incon-
sistens with his measure and consequent
ly repealed by It.
HON. WILLIAM L. HAINES.
Hon. william Il Hainss came next
He said he had never before got into the
company OF gentlemen who were seek
ing a chancs to pay more taxes. MIR.
Hainss agreed with Mr. Bisbee that the
states affairs should be conducted In
fashion in keeping with the day and the
Mr.. Haines said that rs
attorney, stockholder and director OF
the Somerset road he came to represent
a company I'm striking contrast to that
for which Mr.. Bisbee spoke. MIR. Haines
spoke for the poor roads which were not
looking for increased taxation and had
no promises to redeem. His road was
typical OF mL~.- of the railroad building
In Maine--roads worse than bankrupt
and kept alive only by the exertionsl OF
a few hopeful men. 1t might appear
ridiculous for a road 40 miles long, pay
ing only S40O In taxes, to oppose slight
Increase, but II you haven't the $500 It
Is serious matter. The Somerset road
was built through q hard country In the
'60s, and one million dollars was actual
ly paid in stock contributed from farm
ing communities A mortgage OF $3.50,
dividend. Then the men behind the
road still hopeful, put on mortgage OF
$3.50, 600, later increased to s42O, 900. on
which they have managed to pay interest
to prevent another reorganization. A
pulp mill was built by President Cleve-
land and his cabinet and raised high hopes.
More Indebtedness was incurred, but the
mill was shut down and the prospect
vanished. Now there are still other hopes
and they may be realized, but they can
never replace the money that has been
lost. This is picture of much Of the
railroad building in Maine. The big
roads can stand an increase They pay
atvtdanda and are nearly mn to the limit
Of taxation now. MIR. Haines urged that
the rates in the proposed law should be
made so that these struggling roads may
bs encouraged. He spoke of the exemp-
tion Of manufacturing industries by
towns In violation OF statute and often
to the benefit OF the towns. He thought
that some sort of encouragement should
be given to the poor roads. Much Of this
argument. hs said, applied to the electric
roads. We have two OF them running by
our steam road, said Mr.. Haines, and We
eut.