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

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executive committee, mad" their reports,
~ hiril related to matters oI prvlt" in
tcrcst only. They were both adopted.
Report on Committee on Legislation.
One of the most important reports
is that Of the committee on legislation
which was read by the chairman, Hon.
NJ. l.. Merrill: Worthy Muster and
Patrons:
At its annual session III Bangor in
1901 the State Grange established 4
committee to be known as the commit
tee on legislation, said connittGe r.
act under the advice and direction Of
the state master.
one year ago at its session at Lew
iston the State Grange extended a
portion of the responsibility to the
executive committee.
We find on page 10 Of the Journal
of Proceedings the following: "on
motion of Stetson, voted that the exc
cutive committee spend such sum Of
money and directed the legislativ"
committee to do such work as in their
Judgment may be deemed necessary to
effect such legislation as the lesisla-
tive committee may think necessary
| ana the State Grange direct.
To carry olu the intent Of this vote.
the executive ana Legislative commit
| tees met ut Augusta the first week of
| the session of the Legislature ana as
far as possible at that time mapped
out the work of our committees. IN"
conclusion reached, 50 far as your
committee knows, were the unanimous
opinion Of the members of both COM
mittecs.
We decided to commence with four
matters. which had previously been
endorsed by the State GranS" ana ON
which work had already been done.
First. to increase the State mil
| tax. for school purposes. from one MIN
| to two mills and decrease the pGr
capita tax of towns from 50 cents I"
30 cents. This would tend to render
more nearly equal the burden by de-
creasing the rate in the poorer citie9
and towns. where it is now high, ana
increasing it in the wealthy secliohS.
| where il is now low, il would aiso' o.
course. just double the schooi t'N ~
| the wild lands.
The education of the children OF the
| State is a universal, not a local. ne
,rSSjty 1t is for the protection VI
life. liberty and the pursuit OF NIP
piness' everywhere. II IS eSs"litE'i =,
| the very life of a republic. ~ $500
patron ever complains of Juh''l""a
1axnanditurn of money for that purpose
Eut there seems no Sood reason why
the tax for this broad ana uhiVci 81,
purposc should not be fairy anu
cu,1alIv assumed. why every ooiiar !"
the state. whether invested ~ cltH
lawn or wild land should not tH''i3
contribute.
Nv consulting the latest reports Vi
the State assessors ana super
ldents of schools, we compiled tie i'
lowing results of this proposed chhilS''
Number Of cities. towns ana plantaI
tinns in the State that received =,
| school fund ............;
Number of cities to lose by propose" i
Gnhmse If cites to- gain by proposed
| change .............. 800 80,
Nnmber of towns and plantations ,
To lost by proposed change ..'''.'.
Number of towns anu pi.' r AZ
| rain by proposed cllailst =
| Nnmh.r of counties to lose by if"-
| posed change -.-....--..i;, IL. MI
| Nnn,b,r of counties to gam pS li"- ,
posed change i:., Nv nro-
| Wild lands Of State lose ny % 60 oo
| posed change ,,,,iit.ooi. nv
Increase of money for schooiS pS s,o M
| nrorO@ed change .-...--.'''''.''''
thinking that perhaps the '""ll
,igbt take a little more interest u
their schools and be less likely 70 u
careless in their expenditures ~"
tbought best 10 leave a shiaiI p''i' =
,ha burden with them. This bill was re
= fnrrad to the next Legislature ana WI
he one of the first to claim atte"'io'
at that time. o,.a, n
"a. Repeal the law under COW. !
which the money invested III s'o-n ,,
manufacturing corporations :
ing taxation. ,,ho,,eb tn
D 1rnited states census for l9oo s''o"
!. that there was then in this sta.e, 90,
i that kind of taxable stock $122,sls So,'
and All returned for taxation vas ia aoo !,
: any, oo q" ono loss Of over 5000, OOO. \