Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-01-02
New State Laws.
portland PreSS.l

Several important acts of the Leg
islature go into effect today. These
include the State roads act. the act in
regard to school appropriations. the
pure drugs and medicines act, and the
act relating to bait barrels. OF these
the most important is the law to pro-
vide for State aid and for the ex-
penditure of other public moneys IN
the permanent improvement of main
highways, since it marks some radical
changes in policy. The objects as
stated are ito obtain a more uniform
system for the permanent improve
ment of main highways throughout
the State, to secure the cooperation
of the municipalities and the State in
providing means therefor, and to pro-
vide for more economical and efficient
expenditure of moneys appropriated
for highway construction and repair"
These are highly desirable purposes,
and if the law succeeds in accomplish
ing what it's trainers hoped for it will
confer great public benefit. Very
likely there are states with worse
roads, but Maine needs better ones
very much.
IL
establish a fairly consistent and sys-
tematic policy. In the first place,
there is a State highway department,
with a commissioner at the head, en-
powered to appoint a civil engineer as
assistant. To provide funds State
tax is assessed of One-third of mill
on each dollar of valuation, and each
town is required to set apart out of
the money annually appropriated for
the repair of highways specified
amounts for the permanent improve
ment of it's main highways under the
advice of the State commissioner,
these amounts to run from fifty cents
on each thousand dollars of valuation
in towns having less than 100000 Of
valuation, down to s 1-3 cents on the
thousand for towns with valuation of
$15.OO0,0OO and upwards. That is to
say. town with 100000 valuation
would have to set apart 800 for per-
manent Improvement, and Portland
would have to provide in the same
way something over $4,000. In case of
unincorporated townships having
highways the county commissioners
are required to set aside in the same
way 80 1-3 cents on each thousand of
valuation. Hitherto the raising of
money for State roads in consideration
of receiving State aid has been volun-
tary with the towns, but now it be-
comes compulsory. The towns have
to set apart their quotas, and if they
wish State aid they must set apart so
per cent additional, taking q vote each
year on the question of State aid. To
those applying for State aid and COM
plying with the conditions amounts
are to be apportioned varying from
10 cents on each dollar set apart by
the town of one million valuation and
upwards to two dollars for each dollar
set apart by the town of 100000
valuation or less. The work is to be
done under the supervision of the
State commissioner. To illustrate, a
town of 100000 valuation would have
to set apart in the first place a State
road fund Of $50. 1t would then have
to add so per cent, or $25, in order to
secure State aid The State would
then give two dollars for one, or $3.50
and the town would have for the pur-
pose all told 1925. Suppose the city
to have set apart $4,000, it would re.
ceive $4,000 from the State. 1t will be
seen that the act as thus outlined is
a radical departure from the former
State road policy. 1t ought to give
road building decided boom.
The new school law reduces the
amount which towns are required t.
raise for the support of common
schools from so cents per inhabitan
to SIS cents and raises the State ta1
| for the same purpose from one mill t
| one and one-half mills on the tota
valuation of the State. This relieves
the small towns by so much an,
throws the burden more onto the gen
eral property of the State; so tina
while some of these towns are com
planning of the State roads act as un
fair to them. since they have no us
for such roads and do not see VIII,
they should be required to appropriat
fifty cents on the thousand for them
the school act provides ample com
pensation.
I The pure food and drug law make
it unlawful to sell, transport, offer 70
sale or transportation, or to manufac