The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1905-02-23
The State Tax.
tBangor Commercial,

legislature, advised that reduction of
the State tax OF one-half mil be made
for 1905 and 1906 which would make
the State tax IA mll- Tor The next two
years, instead oI "a H. Il Wa 10 1903
and 1904
II il evident many Of the SELF ap-
pointed Legislators Of the slate stem 70
be OF the opinion that ther knowledge
of State aft lirs is Of such nature that
the members OF the legislature should
take their advice and counsel Instead "
that of the governor.
The State treasury was never In Il
better flnancial condition than at pres
ent, having a large amount of cash on
hand, and In fact everything relating TO
State affairs being In good. sound finan-
cial condition. But notwithstanding
this, these g. f-appointed Legislators
have decided that 1t is best TO urge upon
the people an additional school mill tax.
which would increase the State tax by
one mill, to be divided pro rata In ac-
cordance with the number Of scholars In
the towns and cities OF the State. AL
though the people at large admit that
never before was 80 much money re-
ceived as now from the school fund and
continue
crease each year as the savings bank de-
posts from which the school fund re-
ceiyes one half, are constantly becoming
larger.
The school mill tax will be increased
for 1905 on account OF the increased
State valuation GA, 2S5ll. These facts
make it evident that Gov. Cobb had
made himself familiar regarding the ed
ucational interests Of the State aud
whether they were being well provided
with funds, or he would not have made
the recommendation which he did in his
message.
The men who are foremost in the mat
ter of adding another mill to the school
mill tax claim that they should get more
money in the way of taxation from the
wealthy cities to be distributed among
the country towns.
1t Is a mistaken idea that the masses
Of people living in the cities of the State
are as well off as the people living in he
country towns who are engaged in the
profitable pursuit Of agriculture. Out
side Of the cities In Maine, we seldom
hear of the homes of any of the people
being sold for taxes, while in the cities
1t is not an uncommon thing.
There are hundreds Of mechanics, In.
Guiding carpenters, painters and masons,
as well as those engaged in various other
kinds of employment, who own small
houses and are running In debt and hir-
ing money from building and loan asso-
Citations, savings banks and in various
other ways, and who find that it takes
about all they can earn TO bring them
selves through the year.
We mention this to show, as we have
said before, that it is a mistaken idea
that the people living in the rural sec
tions of the State should feel it was their
duty to crowd more taxes upon residents
OF the cities for no other purpose than
to tighten them, when they, themselves,
are better able to stand the burden than
great majority of the people who live
in the cities and large towns Of the
State.
There are 255 towns in the State that
receive $63, SIS more from the State in
the school fund and mill tax than they
pay State taxes. These 255 towns are
not called upon to pay one cent as they
receive more money from the State bV
about $64 900 than their entire State
tax.
never been heard to complain OF rea-
sonable tax for the purpose Of educs-
ton, but they believe, with the governor,
that each department OF the State has
been well provided for and that there s
no necessity for increasing the rate Of
State taxes.
The remainder OF the towns OF the
State only pay State tax of a little less
than Sl50,000 over and above the amount
received back from the State on account
of the school fund and mill tax.
Should the legislature pass the bill
making the State tax two mills instead
OF one, 1t would increase the State tax
of the city of Portland over what il now
receives from the school fund and mill
tax about $26 900, and the State lax Of
other cities and large towns in like pro-
portion, in addition to what they would
receive back by mill tax Of two instead
OF one mil as at present.
The people in the agricultural sections
of the State, as the facts will show, are
the favored class. They are the prosper
Gus people of Maine. What is true Of
the farmers of ArOostOok county is also
true of the agricultural residents Of
other counties and applies with equal
force to all engaged in the cultivation Of
the land. Our farmers were never so
prosperous AS now; never enjoyed more
comforts, never had 80 many adVan-
tages, with telephone connections, rural
free mail delivery, the advantages and
pleasures Of he grange aud with other
agencies for their social and educational
advancement. When our farmers fully
understand this subj CT in its actual
bearings, as we have given them above,
the Commercial is satisfied they will
accept this view of It and will favor the
recommendations Of Governor Cobb
rather than those Of he parties who are
agitatng this scheme which is against
the real interests of the people.