Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1908-09-02
CONGRESSMAN BURLEI0n.

(Continxed from page So
A. Po1l tax nxed at $500 for gener-
nj purposes and not to exceed $500 for
highway purposes, with age limits 81
to 20 years Of age.
80. A license tax on dogs.
&c. Mortgage taxed as joint owner
with the mortgagor to the extent Of
his interest.
~. Street railroads to be subject to
local taxation instead of on gross re-
eeipts.
IS. Exemption of household furni-
ture of $500 and family library to 500.
80. Taxation of collateral inherit
ances. of sleeping car companies, OF
telephone instruments leased or royal
ty-paying. of insurance and guaranty
companies on gross instead of net pre-
miums, of foreign and unlicensed in
suranee companies, of Accommodations
OF savings banks, of trust and loan
associations, of corporate franchises, on
enrolment and organization of cor
porations on private and special acts
of the legislature, and increase of rail-
road taxes by removing the 8 IA per
cent limit.
These were the main recommended
lions of the report. Now what did the
Legislators do with them? An exami-
nation OF the statutes would have
shown Mr. Gardner that he was unjust
in his structures The majority
Of the recommendations were ac-
cepted, and have been made law.
The listing proposition was rejected
after a good deal of discussion, on
the ground that it would be inquisi-
torial and intolerable. and would
lead to perjury and drive property
from the State. II Mr.. Gardner favors
a listing law, at least he has not said
so nor has the Democratic platform
ventured to pronounce for one. We
have the State Board of Assessors
and equalization which was one of
the principal reforms urged by the
commission of 1889. We have the
license tax on dogs, We have the tax
alton of collateral iRheritances, the
tax on savings banks has been in
creased, there is taxation of palace
cars, foreign insurance companies and
trust and loan companies, and of cor
porate franchise, and the limit of the
railroad taxation has been raised"
Not only did Governor Burleigh in
augurate this movement for tax re-
form, but he stood strongly for the Sc
curing of practical legislation to carry
the principal recommendations of the
commission into effect. the outcome
being the passage of the practical tax
reform laws noted above in the Press
editorial, and which have resulted in
increasing the valuation of the State
from 1926. 900 900 to s340. 000. 000
The people OF the State will always
remember to Governor Burleigh's
credit that it was upon his suggestion
and under his leadership that this
great work of tax reform in Maine
was inaugurated and carried through.
Refunding Of the State Tax in 1889.
In his inaugural address of 1889,
Governor Burleigh expressed the opin-
ion that State of Maine three per
cent. bond would command a consid-
cradle premium. The State debt was
then bearing interest at six per cent.
Acting upon Governor Burleigh's sug-
gestion, the legislature authorized an
issue of bonds to cover the entire
State debt, amounting at that time to
$2,3S4,000. about two-thirds of which
became due June /. 1889. and one
OCtODST ISL, Vi Tie sdIlic year.
On March 18th, two days after the ad-
journment of the legislature, the gov
ernor and State treasurer inserted an
advertisement in the leading papers of
New York, Massachusetts and Maine,
soliciting proposals for the loan.
These proposals were to be opened
March "a, 1889. The result was the
sale of the entire loan at a pre-
1f u-h; .
directly applied to the payment of the
public debt Soon after the negotia-
ton of these bonds there was an I'M
favorable turn in the money market,
and had these initiatory steps been
delayed it is altogether probable that
these bonds could not have been float
ed at par. The annual saving in the
interest account effected by this sue
cessful funding of the State debt
amounted to $71,520.00. and has very
materially lightened the burdens OF
the taxpayers
Agriculture Made State Department
Through the recommendation OF
Governor Burleigh. who has always
been in sympathetic touch with the
farmers of the State and their inter
ests, the secretary of the board OF
agriculture was given a merited in.
crease of salary and assigned perma-
nent quarters at the State House
thus making his department conven-
lent and available to the public, and
enabling him to devote his whole time
to the exacting and important duties
of his Office.
Increased State Appropriation for
Pensions.
The survivors of the late Civil War
have had no truer friend in Maine
than Governor Burleigh. 1t was upon
his very earnest recommendation that
the legislature of 1889 increased the
appropriation for disabled veterans
and those dependent upon them, from
$4,000 to $135, 900.
1t was upon the recommendation OF
Governor Burleigh that the law was
passed providing heavy penalties for
the careless setting of forest fires. and
making the land agent the forest