Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-12-21

| vas 3-o'-oo, 90 anu we ma lIdl the SSJ,-
| 0OO,tOO not returned for taxation is
| more than three times the value of all
| our wild land.
80. Inc lee system to which our Or
der has ever been opposed and for the
abolition Of which it has untiringly
worked, was done away with. but we
lear III many cases the salaries granted
| Ill lieu thereof were too large We be-
lieVc that the same economy and bust
ness principles that are applied To pri-
Nate business should obtain in public
| affairs.
4th. An increased tax on wild land.
mat the so-called wild lands Of the
state as whole, are not bearing their
just and honest share of the public bur-
den seems to be evident. SO far nu
method devised has succeeded in cor
recting the evil.
one plan proposed to the last Legisla-
lure was to amend Art. 9 Of Sec. $ Of
the constitution which reads as follows:
All taxes ON real and personal estate,
assessed by authority of this State,
Shal be apportiOned and assessed
equally. according to the Just value
thereof. The proposed amendment pro-
Flded IN substance TO add to the above
q provision that the wild lands, SO
called, should he assessed at the aver
age rate OF municipal taxation.
After careful investigation and study,
your committee decline To take any ac-
ton in the matter, fully believing they
were serving the best interests Of the
order by 50 doing. a few Of our reasons
We're briefly as follows:
ll.i
grave and difficult matter to change the
constitution of a state
ID. This article which it is proposed
to wholly change, in spirit as well us
letter, is as old rs the life of our State,
and is in substance a part of the con
sttuliom Of every state in the union 50
far we have been able to learn
g. The proposed am -n,imcnt would be
subvcfsiVe To our whole system to local
self goVcrnment
other on on tie towns for the. expense ii
their irr and water syst ms, their parks
ini se"erhSe-ii"r t"r :.nN other locli
can on the Wild lands for such purposes
or on anybody but tn. nSrlVrS.
4th. Til" amendment W"uld work on in
Justice. Your c"mmitt"" know of wild
lands that for years HAY" been paving Il
yearly cash tux of from PEI! cent is
per cent. f"r public road purposes alone.
Should We adj to that thr average mulIc-
ipal rate Of say : per cent. aS provided ~
the proposed amendment We should Dc Il
grave il justice.
9Th. once enacted \ constitutional pro-
vision would l". very diftlcult l.. change
even il found faulty.
ith This idea was SO unpopular in Tia"
l"%islItur" that work for it would nnlE
have inlp"rillrd the safety Of other iunt-
tcrI i'll which the Grange WAS int rested.
10, :
needed to cUunlzc tx hur,,n.
w" believe tn. only WAS an Increase OF
the tax on tn" Wild lana Will ever hr
reached will be in shifting part Of Tins
tax Tor Public purposes mot Iur local pur-
pnSosI from tn" municipality I" the Stat.
Increase the STATE. tax and decrease tli"
municipal tax uud let tine whul" public
pay for 4 larger share Of the support of
the roads, the schools and the uninrtu-
nate.
Your committee found on pages 100 1o.
lol lr@, lol III III" Journal Of Proceedings
ii resolutions IN Bros bennett. Bate
man. Pray. Ryan. Pattem, Roberts.
DOUBT ross"ssrd merit hut We did no.
deem il eNpodicrt to attempt too many
things ut on" session. Attempts wcr"
made. II the last H. 3iIattrc to repeal or
render cooperative" two laws of great i'm
pnrtamce to the farmers nf the state. Both
attacks were opposed hy your COMMITTEES
with whatever influence ana work they
could bring to bear. Tie first WIS the 50
;li1 for improved h&inW IYS. III" other. ii
WAS found, would cripple the mutual fire
insUr nee companies by winch ihr itriE-
trs saving 50 many thousand dollars year
IL. Huth attempts failed but Will prob
ally d., renewed and the Grange should
IL, III position to rcpcl til" attacks.
TIE law regarding automobiles waa
amended in the interest of the people,
i,ut is vet far from satisfactory. Ii!r
question is n grave one for tn" rural res
id,uts and we'll worthy tn" study If cv-
| - h.,p,
i'm closing will You kindly allow tl!-
chairman of Your cOnmitt"" = f"r words
personally? i'nr eight years lnvr been
| LARGELY intrtlstcG with YOUR lcgiSlltiv>
wnIk, In that time / have seen Your lISc-
tulnrsS ana Influence greatly ANA Sttadi-
| ~ increase, This rcsGl. could only have
great order. And here let m" utter
word Of caution. The order must h" Kept
united 1t must ever show 4 solid front.
For those members few indeed IN NUM-
| hers who in time Of n"rd render no SUI
| port to the committee trying {" q" yn,r
| work but who publicly attack and critl>
| cier til. same. ask thlt .thhritN winch
sufTrreth long ana * kind.
| I;cr,cmbrr that they ar" ever found. ~
mast without exception. either by location
| or business interests affiliated with TN
| city as against the country; thdt lh'f
rr1I gymplthy is naturally with eur op
nnno,,ts: that th,ir moral visions are
| warped anG distorted by the NlrnfF 81
| s.iiisnrcss which ever hang ever H.
great ccrtctS Of cOrpnrIt" greed
| IT was never iutrmd,d 10y the founders
| that such persons should be admitted I"
| The order and as We hop" for usefulness
| 80. success LET us see t. 1t that l." NOR
! such pass portals. 81,
| 10 The members of tn" comnlitt"" Win
| whom | IIv" been ass"cI1t"d from flf~t
| to last. | wish to express my fhtnkN '"r
tnr I1nif, rm courtesy lt.d Kindness Sh"Nn
| Acknowledgement should also be mad"
| Of nc work Of Mr.. Gardner nnr worthy
Statn master. For what has been accom-
rIishrd We are more ind htrd t" him ttEln
| ~. can ut the present time know.
| J.1tronS. allow IN" to thank you Tor IN"
! confidence. You hive eyer shown IN M
| IN. lnvaItv of your support ana me many
| LinI ,xprr@SiOuS cCrt me.
| / tr,4t III" work may PASS 70 NJ ADLER
| h,lin ara Il stronger hand than mll'' ana
| / have full faith IN its uitlmai@ s,n nm, !.
! i.r,t,ruallv submitted. Nj. /" Merrill; Il.
| n Ie1yitt G. Iayfur.l q. Gardner, W. j.
| T'ho,npSon committee.
| List of Committees.
The following committees 'wer" appoint
"a b. state Master Gardner and VIII r'-
mort Thursday morning
IN-l vS-W. II. tillptil,