The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1906-09-06

matter In this campaign" says Hon.
Joseph p. Bass Of Bangor.
Mr.. Bass b ono Of the most promi-
nent democrats IN tho state, has hong
been identified with the councils Of the
party, and Is the proprietor Of the Ban
COR Commercial.
After considering tho matter from
business standpoint, Mr.. Bass feels
called upon to deplore the fact that the
managers have dragged the
Wild lands Issue into tho campaign. and
he expresses his convictions IN NO I'M
eeEt1in terma.
TT is purely q matter Of business be-
tween the State as q whole and the
owners Of tfmberlands," says Mr. Bass,
''and allegations that this or that po-
littcai 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 Tho board Of State assess
ors, In whose hands the matter of valu-
alton lies, Is non-partisan. The ques-
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 I believe I am speaking
with business fairness when I say that
the men in this campaign, who are &C
cuSing the State administration of I'M
due favoritisIn to wild lands, are taking
q misguided partisan standpoint that
candid men cannot sanction.
II have noticed frequently that men
who have been noisiest regarding the
alleged unequal taxation of wild lands,
have displayed the least practical
,-x1 ,% ~ &s yhan fn
the test For instance, last session,
Liberty B. bennett Of Portland came
before the legislature with a proposition
that was 80 contrary to proven business
facts and prudence, that the committee
reported the bill fought not to pass
There were democrats as veal as repuo-
licans on the committee. No party lines
were drawn. No one can fmpugn 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 tho owners Of wild lands as the
latter are inclined to be fair to other
taxpayers.
l6uU LhAduou iCS lI6AS lICiN ii0
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. The
common law allows them the privilege.
The State asks them to come and ushers
them upon the timber lands-sometimes
to the disastrous expense of the timber
land owners who have to bear the loss
by fires and other depredations.
IT have no hesitation in asserting in
behalf Of all cumberland 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 UNDERSTANDING 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,
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
to satisfy 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
if they get control of the State govern
ment they will remedy the situation.
Displaying the usual democratic lack of
definiteness, they do not say just how
they will set about this process of taxa
ton reorganiza ton.
1t is well to note that the present board
of State assessors is steadily increasing
the valuation, the increase in the last
fifteen years having nearly doubled the
valuation. This isn't a democratic
promise. 1t is a republican performance
And it has been done carefully and with
due regard for business conditions that
no snapshot judgment can impeach.
If any taxpayer in Maine feels that
the wild lands are escaping a burden
that they ought to assume, he may be
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
to aid in arriving a asane Judgment
The total wild land area in the State
is approximately 600 acres, or in
the neighborhood of $4,000 square miles