Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-31
A Talk With a kennebee Pessimist.

ticuIarS regarding the money pdlu
back to the Kennebec county towns
from the State treasury, a subject
in these columns last week. He
wants to know, for instance, the items
which make up the total of $1549
which Belgrade received from the
State treasury in 1907 as against the
$500 which the town paid in State
taxes From the general lugubrious
and pessimistic tone of his epistle in
which he plainly expresses his convic-
ton that the country in general, and
plumb to the demition bow-wows un-
der Republican rule we suspect our
friend who writes us this letter is
a Democrat There is lot which
we could say to cheer up our friend
along these lines, although if he is a
chronic Democrat it is probable that
his case is hopeless one. However.
we will gladly answer his questions
and give him the figures asked for.
The total of s1549 which Belgrade
received directly back from the State
treasury last year was made up as
follows: For common schools; 1872.
for high school. $3.50; for State roads.
s2O3.27; for licenses refunded, $50; for
damages to domestic animals, $74; for
support of paupers, 5000; for State
pensions, 1854; for railroad and tele-
graph tax, $5.25. In this matter Bel
grade was not different from most Of
the other towns in the county, or
throughout the State for that matter,
as a large majority of them receive
more money from the State treasury
every year than they pay into it in
the form of State taxes. This year
they will get more than last in the
form of school money. Belgrade,
moreover, not only received the $3.50
as above stated, but the State also
spent 1851 upon the fish hatchery
lotdlCu III tIoI toNii' AhOAto'NAb VI
the $14OO paid into the State treasury
in 1907 by Belgrade as State tax,
s31328 was paid by residents %
that town So, as a matter of fact,
while the residents of Belgrade were
paying $10S7 into the State treasury
in 1907, they were receiving back
$3.50 from the State treasury, a COM
Portable enough balance upon the
right side to make it certain that the
State tax is not so much of burden
upon the taxpayers as the Democratic
spellbndcrs would have them be-
lieve And the showing In Belgrade
can be duplicated in neighborlng
towns and throughout all sections of
the State
But what troubles our correspondent
is how the State manages to pay back
to it's towns more money than they
pay over to it. Says he, IF the State
can do this with all its towns. 1t must
manage in some mysterious way to
make a profit out of itself, or make
something out of nothing" This
argument" is worthy of the organ Of
mud and mirth and we suspect that
ton by reading that publication. The
answer. however, Is simple enough.
The larger part of the States revenue
comes from its taxes upon the great
corporate interests, railroads. banks,
telegraph insurance companies. etc,
as well as upon wild lands, inherit
ances and franchises. From these
sources it's income is many times larger
than it was few years ago, while the
tax assessed upon the cities. towns and
plantations is being speedily de-
creased Getting its revenue from
such sources. the State is able to pay
it's running expenses. maintain its
various institutions, carry on the WORK
of good roads, support It's State I'M
versity. assist the hospitals and other
worthy anu sum E'S w
the individual towns, for the purposes
indicated above in the case of Bel
grade, much more than they pay in the
form OF State taxes.
There is nothing mysterious about
the process. More and more the
tendency is toward the abolition of The
direct tax upon property for State
purposes. and if things are allowed to
continue as mapped out by Republican
legislation and Republican policies in
recent years, the time is not far dis
tant here in Maine when the towns
will not have to pay any State tax at
all. That is the model system toward
which the State has been making
marked progress. In 1906 the cor
poration taxes alone were 40 per cent
greater than the State tax assessed
upon the property of the whole State.
In another four years, at the rate
il has been reduced under the splendid
y.t,1 IA