Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1907-01-08

L
ever before in her history. Visible
evidences of this are on every hand
and commercial and industrial statis-
tics prove it beyond a doubt. Agricui
ture and its kindred branches, the
great industries dependent upon for.
ests and water ways, the multitude OF
manufacturing enterprises, the small
er but not less important trade that
responds so readily to the movements
of the larger interests; all have shared
in the unprecedented prosperity that
has rested of late upon the entire
country, and all have contributed to
the wealth and well-being of the State.
| The railroads are still developing new
territory and furnishing additional ia
cilities to the old, steamboats, are en-
larging and improving their service,
and electric roads are reaching from
the centres of population to quicken
| the life and resources Of the smaller
communities. The scenic charms OF
the State have not yet lost their pow
er to allure, and both city and country
have profited from the tides of travel
| that sweep over them in an ever
swelling volume. The uninterrupted
growth of the deposits in the banks
and savings institutions testify to the
soundness and stability Of general
business conditions throughout the
State, and the very marked increase
in those deposits prove that the wage
Garner, the fundamental factor in the
creation and support of values, is en-.
joying and improving the opportuni
ties which have been opened to his
labor and his skill.
One of the industries, however, that
has made Maine famous in the past Is
now languishing, and that is ship
building. Our State is particularly
well adapted to the successful prose.
cution of this business, and its decline
and present deplorable condition must
be attributed in great part to the fail
ure of the National Government to
adopt measures that will place this
class of property in position to CON-
pete for the ocean carrying trade Of
our own and other nations. Our Sen
ators and Representatives in Wash
ington have labored intelligently and
persistently in it's behalf, and 1t Is
most gratifying to know that their ef-
forts, aided as they are by the friends
of allied interests in New England
and certain other States, have brought
the Congress to give to the question
such serious and practical considera-
ton as to warrant a hope that the
near future will bring relief to revive
and restore this important branch Of
Names commercial activity.
A discussion of the merits and de-
fects of any system of taxation adopt
ed by a State. and the wholly neces-
sary and justifiable efforts of the law
making Body to reconcile the various
interests involved, opens wide field
for argument based on both fact and
conjecture. BY universal agreement
taxes are a necessary burden, and the
welfare of the State, municipality and
| Individual demands that taxes be
equaliZed in order that every class OF
property shall bear its relative and
proportionate share. But the accept
ance of this theory does not material
ly lessen the practical difficulties of
the problem, nor renders some prop.
erty holders less susceptible to the de-
Sire to evade the payment Of that
proportionate share. OF one phase OF
this question we may be sure, and
that Is that there is a widespread
feeling among the people of the State
that certain classes Of property are
not paying now their just share Of
the taxes, and they look with conf
dence to this Legislature to investigate
the conditions, and II abuses exist to
seize and apply the remedy. 1t Is
mistake and wrong to call this feeling
;nrtislo one 1t Is too general to
warrant such a conclusion, and II the
subject is approached in any spirit
other than that of fairness and public
duty the real purpose Of the agitation
| is more likely to suffer defeat.
While then the present system and
method of taxation OF the property
| within the State Is not altogether
ideal and will undoubtedly meet with
revision at your hands, there can be
no question as to the care and skill
exercised by the Board Of State Asses.
sors in determining values for taxa
| tion purposes under the existing laws.
And no better or more eloquent state.
ment can be made Of the wealth OF
| the State and the growth OF that
wealth than Is furnished by the State
Assessors In their report for the year
Just closed. From this report 1t will
be seen that since 1904 the State valu.
alton of Real Estate has increased
| S15,S7S,461, Personal Estates $4,6l7,-
| 100, Wild Lands s7.422,699, and
| Growth on Public Lots $245,726. In
| 1904 the total valuation was $366,514, :
Ola. in 1906 1t is 1894, ,732, $50, gain in
two years of s2S.21S,976. Under the
local valuation placed on property in
] the cities. towns and plantations In