Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-04-11
T||VbER[AND TAX
HEARING AT BANGOR,
Special Commission Hears Evidence
That Valuation and Rate Of Taxa
ton Is Already Too High,

Bangor, Me-, April 10.-At the SEES
sion here today of the special commits
sion appointed by Gov. Cobb TO investi-
Maine and to make report to the next
Legislature of any desirable changes,
the time was chiefly devoted to the
consideration of the taxation of tim
berlands. About 40 land owners or
their representatives attended and
many took part in the discussions, i'll
Guiding Hon. Charles E. Oak, president
of the American Realty Co.; Hon. F.
Marion Simpson, treasurer of the same
corporation; DR.. Thomas u. Coe, Hon
I. X. Stetson and Judge c. A. Bailey
all of Bangor, Hon. Forrest Goodwin
and S. l.. Philblick of Skowhegan: Dr.
e. H. Wheeler of Augusta; w. }. Lani-
gan of Waterville; d. H. Darling CT
Gardiner; Hon. George G. Weeks of
Fairfield: A. K. Ames of Machias;
State Assessor W. J. Thompson Of
China; Obadiah Gardner of Rockland,
former master of the State Grange;
Hon. E. NJ. Johnston of Brownville;
and Prof. Allan E. Rogers of Orono
All the members of the commission
were present
| Chairman Drew in opening the meet
ing, stated the subject for which the
commission was appointed and said
that the commission would be pleased
to hear any suggestions which could
tend to more equal and just taxation.
He then called upon Hon. Forest Good
win of Skowhegan to speak in regard
to taxation of timber land.
Mr. Goodwin said in effect: "The
question of taxation of timber lands is
a more difficult one and should be APP
preached in a most dispassiOnate man
ner There has, Of late, arisen a great
newspaper clamor over this matter
bu this is a question that cannot be
| settled in the newspapers. 1t is purely
and simply a business proposition and
| must be handled in q buSineSS-like
way
at may be we'll to call the attention
of the commission to the magnitude of
| timber production in the State OF Maine
There are employed in lumber produc-
ton over 1000 men and n capital of
over 100000 In the pulp and paper
| industry 5000 men are employed with
the capital Of $23,ooo,OOO invested. Civ
ing a total OF 10000 men and $i00Oo,000
| of capital employed IN these lines. If
it be true that every laborng man has
four to five people dependant upon
him we have practically one-seventh
| . 80 tot1 ->Y 10 ,,n
directly interested in this industry.
1.-The owners of timber lands have
bought this property upon the basis OF
the present rate of taxation upon it
They have vested interests and when
the proposition is made to increase that
tax four to five times such PROPOSE
ton, il carried into effect, must neces-
sarily result in demoralizing business
to a greater or less extent and must
inaict a great injury upon the indus
try"
NOW consider the national banks
and trust companies. They have made
money more rapidly in the last fe"
wears. The national banks pay an
average tax of 20 mills on dollar
What would be the effect If that tax
was increased four times? 1t would
kill the industry and work the confls
cation of property. The proposition 10
increase the timber land tax from 1--WE
mills to 90 mills would most certainly
work great hardship to the men ana
capital invested in them
"I have studied this matter great
deal but l fail to understand why a
wild land town should pay the average
rate of municipal taxation. ! don I
see why man should pay 20 mills on q
dollar for his property in Bangor ana
also pay 90 mills on a dollar for his
property in a wild land town. In Ban
COR he would receive municipal benefit
las fire protection, school advantages.
street lighting. etc. But in the wild
land towns he would receive nothing.
Why then should there be similar
rate of taxation?
| sour system of taxation is founded
upon the town as u unit-upon the ioea
Of local self-government. Every propo-
sition that takes from municipalities
| the right to govern themselves Will
meet with violent opposition on the
part of the municipalities. The propo-
sition is made to largely increase the
l timber land taxes and return 1t TO the
Il towns for schools and roads. Inc
| towns themselves will wish to say
how much of an expenditure they shall
make for schools and roads.
81 wish to call the attention of the
commission to the fact that there is
Il almost as great a disparity between
Il tho tax rate of Portland and that OF
Falmouth. which is 10 miles, as there
is between that paid upon property in
Bangor and upon wild lands.
81 have never been able to see why
the wild lands should pay for the
municipal improvements of the NUM-
II cipalities in which the man. lives, who
II owns the wild lands. The wild lands in
the county should, of course. pay a
share of the county burdens and OF
the States burdens, but why those OF
the municipality of which they consti-
4 tute no part? AS matter of fact.
suppose, that an amount OF personal