Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-21

'"i iiafpor. Inc witness replied that
he did not.
Inc next speaker to be called was
Eiihu Hamor, a selectman of Eden. He
opposed the amount of money to be
raised, but stated that he heartily ia
Vored the principle of the bill Mr..
Hamor recommended that for two
years at least, there should be a small
er amount.
Charles F. Paine of Eden followed.
He considered the tax was burdensome,
that the apportionment back to the
towns was unequal and that the contin-
uous road idea was Objectionable. How
ever. he did not object to the principle
of taxing wealthy town to help out a
poorer.
Mayor Thompson of Rockland said:
'There seems an organized effort to ex-
tort from the cities money which they
ought not to pay. Certainly if it keeps
On we will have to have receiver APP
pointed for our section of the State.
up in one town in Knox county the
assessors say they don't pretend to as
sess for more than twO-thirds to three
quarters of the value of property. Up
i'll Rnckland we assess property for all
that it will bear. So on this alone, the
unequal valuation on two sides of an
imaginary line, that portion of the bill
is, Il failure.
II want to say in theory the system
is wrong and as unfair as it can well
be-"
The speaker introduced four remon-
strances against the bill, the first that
have appeared.
II. A. Duntoh of Path said that he OPP
POSED the oil because his city is poor
and had a number of heavy items Of
expense to meet in the Immediate fn-
ture.
He had an apportiOnment scheme of
his own and suggested that all income
from automobile and railway taxation
DC devoted to the cause of good roads.
Hon. j. p. Bass Of Bangor was the
next speaker He advised that the State
go slow, for in his opinion the $3.50, 900
appropriation would be top-heavy. He
also thought that it was Il good deal to
be spent by one department and laid
great stress on the possible waste OF
the money.
Mr. Duncan Of Bath came back at
this point with a suggestion that law
De PASSED. cbiilptl!iilS tlt use "a "i''
tires.
A. S. Littlefield was called by Mr..
Clark He said that he believed that the
acted wisely two years ago,
when it decreased the State tax one
quarter of mill and if these several
bills are passed the Legislature will in
crease the tax and act unwisely.
He was in favor of good roads some
where near him, but said he feared that
under the bill, the roads would be some
where else.
He argued that Rockland could only
spend $500 per year for permanent i'm
and if the bill was passed,
hat would nave to go towards building
roads in other towns and ROckland
would have to go without. He wanted
the money fo~ State roads to come
from the general revenues OF the State,
not from a mill tax.
Ansel Briggs of Auburn protested
against tie apportionment of the mon
~ as provided in the bill. He said:
Auburn. i'll area, is the largest city
in the state We have a valuation of
bout 81 200 900, many farms and many
Having such large
amount of rural population, rural road
way and rural schools. it seems to me
hat we ought to have a chance to
snend our money ourselves.
He stated in answer to questions that
ne represented the Auburn Board Of
Trade and of Auburn Grange. He
spoke for the former, but had no au-
-hority 10 speak for the latter.
F.. Y Turner of Auburn advocated
the use Of Jail labor on the roads and
ncidently roasted Col \. +. Nealey Of
Lewiston, a county commissioner of
Androscoggin county, who was pres
ant. Col. Nealy took it good natured-
y.
The controversy arose between Mr..
Turner and the county commissioners
because they refused to let him have
the use of Jail labor and also refused
to make such contract with those
who now furnish the prisoners with
Ia Dor. that the prisoners could be taken
ont to build roads. in case one was
needed
Mayor Nathan Clifford of Portland
said that he did not protest against the
broad principle Of good roads, for his
favored it, but he did wish to
explain the amount of money that
spends on her roads. He said
said that in 1906 $Sl .232.07 was spent for
general maintenance. and during the
asst two ar three years from 10000 10
100000 III permanent work. 100000
worth was asked for by different pro-
iects of q permanent nature in 1906 and
10000 has been asked for for 1907
He said that Portland felt as if it
could not afford to add to it's burdens
TO the extent that this bill provides
Portland will gladly give something,
perhaps half a MILL but please do
not ask us to give too much he con-
GUIDED.
President F.. b. Winslow Of Portland,
president Of the State Board of Trade,
said that his organization for many
years had been in favor of State roads.
He took exceptions to statement
made by Mr.. Clark. in which he took
the State Board to task for advocat-
ing the bill. voicing the opinion that
4 their annual banquetS they had better
spend their time telling their stories
and slipping their wine. 1t was the
wine" that Mr.. Winslow objected to.
This is an important matter" he