Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-10-10

interviews with tax commissioners and
boards of equalization. In an inter-
view with Governor Durbin of In
diana who is ex-officiO member Of the
board of equalization of that state, he
we'll expressed the great difficulty in
securing equal taxation, which is not
in the enactment of good laws merely,
but in getting an honest and uniform
application of the laws: good laws do
not produce good results unless hon.
estly and impartially applied; unless
faithfully and thoroughly enforced.
Michigan has perhaps the best tax sys-
tenn of any state visited. Their State
Board of Assessors has powers far be-
yOnd that of the Maine Board or in
fact of any state hoard / know Of
This board has just completed an APP
praisal of the railroad property of the
state. The work was performed under
the superintendent of Professor
Cooley, professor of mechanical en-
gineering in the University of Michi-
gan. Nearly one hundred men were
employed, over half of them being
graduates of some college or technical
done in the most practical manner,
every item in the appraisal was seen
and examined by the experts employed
in the work The cost of grading was
ascertaired by actual measurement.
Every bridge was examined and separ-
ate value placed on each.
1.-The value of the locomotive was
found by examining each individual
locomotive and the records of the
board show the number of each loco
motive. the year built, it's cost and it's
present value, the same care was OBJ
served in arriving at the value of all
the railroad equipment. stations and
other buildings. Professor Cooley
found the value of all the railroad
property in the state after allowing for
depreciation to be S166.39S, $500. The
work of finding the franchise value
was performed by Prof. Henry c.
Adams. professor of political economy
in the University of Michigan. He
found the several franchises to be
worth $35.s14,045. Making total
valuation of $500, 212.199. Upon this
valuatiO the railroads will be re-
quired to pay a tax at the average rate
of taxa ton in the state. 1t will yield
more than 100000 which will be APP
portiOned to the cities and towns for
support of schools on the basis of
school population. The board of state
assessors of Michigan consists of five
members. The secretary of the board
is Hon. Freeman o. Gullifer. son of
Maine. a native of Old Town. He
served i'll the Goth Maine Regiment and
soon after the war removed to Michi-
gan. He is 4 gentleman OF ability and
one of the best informed men in the
state regarding questions of taxation.
The people of Michigan are indebted
to the late Governor Pingree for the
Improvement in their system of taxa
ton. He served the people faithfully
and they will erect monument to his
me mory Wisconsin has one tax COM
missioner, Judge ellison, an able law
yer and gentleman of wide expert
ence: Democrat. There are two as
sistant commissioners. The duties OF
this commission correspond very close
" with those of Names board.
'All of these states l visited have
made liberal provisions for popular
education. In Minnesota sections 16
and 36 of each congressional township
are reserved for support of schools.
Lands not exceeding 100000 acres per
wear are sold at public sale each year
at not less than S. per acre. AS re-
sult of these sales the permanent
school fund of the state is now $15,OCO.-
600 and will ultimately amount to $780,
900 600. This fund will be preserved.
the interest only being appOrtioned
among the cities and towns on the
basis OF average attendance in the
public schools.
Regarding wild lands, there are no
unincorporated townships OF wild
land in Michigan, Wisconsin or Mime
sofa. There are large areas of wild
land. but they are all attached TO or
INCORPORATED within the limits of some
town. In wisconsin, one county con-
toins only one town, and as result
wild lands in these three states are
taxed on a municipal basis just the
same rate as the farms, livestock or
any other property in the town.
throughout my travels l observed
everywhere strong sentiment in favor
of government. ownership of public
utilities such as railroads, coal mines,
etc. as the only protection against ex-
tort;ou of the trusts This sentiment
i. not confined to any locality or
political party.
..This feeling of unrest. of socialism,
If YOU please, is spreading rapidly, and
should I believe, receive the CAREFUL
attention of Congress.