The Somerset reporter., 1906-09-06
BANGOR, Maine, August 81. 1905.

taxation of wild lands made a partisan
matter In this campaign" Gays Hon.
Joseph P. Bass of Bangor.
Mr.. Bass Is one of the most promi-
nent democrats IN the state. has long
been identified with the councils of the
party, and is the proprietor of the Ban
gor Commercial
After considering the matter from a
business standpoint. Mr.. Bass feels
called upon to deplore the fact that the
democratic managers have dragged the
wild lands issue into the campaign, and
he expresses his convictions In no I'M
certain terms.
1T Is purely q matter of business be-
tween the State as whole and the
owners of umberlands," says Mr.. Bass,
land allegations that this or that po-
litical party has had, or can have, any
exclusive influence in handling the tax
matter are assertions unsupported by
facts.
Democrats and republicans alike
OWL lands. The board of State assess
ors, In whose hands the matter of valu-
ation lies is non-partisan The ques-
tons relating to proposed legislation in
regard to taxation of wild lands, have
been threshed out before legislative
committees composed of good men from
both the big parties. L believe l am
fair man, and l believe | am speaking
with business fairness when [ say that
the men in this campaign, who are ac-
cusing the State administration of I'M
due favoritism to wild lands are taking
n misguided partisan standpoint that
candid men cannot sanction.
Il have noticed frequently that men
who have been noisest regarding the
alleged unequal taxation of wild lands,
have displayed the least practical
II lid 4,
the test For instance, last session,
Liberty p. bennett Of Portland came
before the Legislature with a proposition
that was 50 contrary to proven business
facts and prudence, that the committee
reported the bill Ought not to pass"
There were democrats as well as repub-
leans on the committee. No party lines
were drawn. No one can impugn their
Judgment AS a business proposition
the bill was deemed unwise and its pro-
visions unjust.
The wild land owners OF Maine are
reasonable men, willing to pay tax
that honest business judgment shall find
equitable after fair hearing of both
sides. They ask, however. that other
property owners in Maine shall be as
fair to the owners of wild lands as the
latter are inclined to be fair to other
taxpayers.
The great point in considering wild
land taxation lies right here:-'fhe
owners of Maine timber lands do not
have the same exclusive rights over
their property as do owners OF farms
and other estates.
THE State advertises broadcast over
the country, inviting sportsmen to come
to her forests, They come and range
the woods wherever they please. TIE
common law allows them the privilege.
The State asks them to come and ushers
them upon the timber lands--sometime
IN ha lea atr a1F no Of ha hf4r
land owners who have to bear the loss
by fires and other depredations.
Il have no hesitation in asserting In
behalf of all timberland owners whom
l know that If these owners could have
as exclusive control of their property
as the farmer has over his acres the
proprietors of wild lands would cheer
fully pay the same rate of taxation as
the farmer. But there are no fences
around timberlands-no trespass signs,
no men guarding fish ponds with shot
guns.
Therefore, without going Into figures
to show how much overrated the profits
of wild lands are in the popular mind.
| believe that any fair-minded property
holder will admit that the owner of tim
berlands in this one argument, shows
that Maine ought to proceed cautiously
before imposing taxation on wild lands
to satisfy a certain popular clamor
based on Misrepresentation as to actual
values of timberlands."
Mr. Bass sounds a note In the cam
paign that calls for consideration. Some
democratic speakers have followed their
declarations that wild lands are escaping
just taxation. by the partisan claim that
II they get control Of the State govern
ment they will remedy the situation.
Displaying the usual democratic lack of
defniteness they do not say JUST how
they will set about this process OF taxa
ton reorganization.
1t Is well to note that the present board
OF State assessors is steadily increasing
the valuation, the increase In the laat
fifteen years having nearly doubled the
valuation This isn't democratic
promise II Is a republican performance
And Il has been done carefully ana Wifh
due regard for business conditions Than
no snapshot judgment can 'uUeHsh
II any taxpayer Ia Maine tsei4 ihat
the wild lands are escaping s burden
that they ought 10 assume d. messy ae
Interested In some figures fHaf e3aa#t
well be disputed
They constitute the Other ez#e - the
question, and as Maine tffs-. -. H.I -
the habit OF considcrne aau side a.s#
the statements form valuable m#HsrI#t
to aid In arriving a. e-7ua Judgment
The total Wild land area in fnr state
is approximately T. 1aH zoe acres ~ -
the nelghborhood ~ 5000 square aNes
About three-f6urths ~ thia vast I.fef#
ness is included In Tie su4ueHrraH
Townships which Included t#a EHhI#