Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-09-05

i am sorry 70 SEQ tho matter Of the
taxation Of wild lands made q partisan
matter In this campaign" says Hon.
Joseph P. Bass Of Bangor.
Mr. Bass Is one Of the most promi-
nent democrats In tho state. has long
been. identified with the councils of the
party. and Is the proprietor of tho Ban
gor Commercial
After considering tho matter from
business standpoint Mr.. Bass feels
called upon to deplore the fact that the
democratic managers have dragged the
Wild lands issue into tho campaign. and
he expresses his convictions In NO I'M
certain terms
IT u purely = matter Of business be-
tween tho State as q whole and the
owners Of t1mberlnnds." says Mr.. Bass.
and allegations that this or that DO
nocal party has had, or can have. any
exclusive influence in handling the tax
matter are assertions unsupported by
facts.
Democrats and republicans alike
own lands. The board Of State assess
ors. IN whose hands the matter of valu-
alton 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 1 believe I am
fatr man. and believe 1 am speaking
with business fairness when ( say that
the men in this campaign, who are &c
cus1ng the State administration Of I'M
due fdvorfttsm to wild lands, are taking
misguided partisan standpoint that
candid mon cannot sanction.
II have noticed frequently that men
VINO have been noisiest regarding the
alleged unequal taxation of wild lands
have displayed the least practical
knowledge of actual facts when put IN
tne test For instance, last session,
Liberty B. bennett Of Portland came
before the legislature with a proposition
that was 50 contrary to proven business
facts and prudence, that the committee
reported tho bill fought not to pass"
There were democrats as we'll as repub-
hcans on the committee No party lines
were drawn. No one can impugn their
Judgment As business proposition
the bill was deemed unwise and its pro-
visions unjust.
The wild land owners Of Maine are
reasonable men, willing to pay a tax
mat honest business judgment shall find
equitable after a 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.
land taxation lies right here:-I'he
owners of Maine timber lands do not
nave 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 The
common law allows them the privilege.
Tho State asks them to come and ushers
them upon the timber lands-somctimes
to the disastrous expense Of the timber
land owners who have to bear the loss
by fires and other deprcdations
Il have no hesitation in asserting in |
behalf Of all cumberland owners whom |
know, that If these owners could have |
as exclusive control Of their property |
as the farmer has over his acres, the |
propr1etors of wild lands would cheer
fully pay the same rate of taxation as
the farmer. But. there are no fences
around dmberlandS-no trcspaSs signs
no men guarding fish ponds with shot
guns
Therefore, without going into figures
10 snow how much overrated the profits
OF wild lands are In the popular mind.
l 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
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
definiteness. they do not say lust how
they will set about this process of taxa-
ton reorganiza ton.
It IS well to note that the present hoard
OF state assessors is steadily increasing
the valuation. the increase in the last
ffteen years having nearly doubled the
valuation. This isn't democratic
promise. 1t Is republican performance
And It has been done carefully and with
due regard for business conditions that
no snapshot judgment can impeach.
III any taxpayer in Maine feels that
the wild lands are escaping a burden
that they ought to assume. he NAV ne
interested in some figures that cannot
well be disputed
They constitute the other side Of the
question. and as Maine voters are not in
the habit of considering one side only.
the statements form valuable material
10 aid IN arriving at asane Judgment.
the total wild land area in the state
Is approximately 10000 900 acres or in
nelRhh0phood nf 10 |