Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-26


voted against it in the 73d Legislature
bat will say, however, that from
four different counties came as many
members before our committee at the
next meeting after the bill was defeat
ed by them in the Senate asking for
private appropriations for their town
or county, and two of them were the
| senators who would not support this
bill in committee, and one of these SEN
at"rs is now asking for an appropria-
ton of $4,000 for q bridge near his
home. II has been admitted on every
hand that there was more sound and
reasonable suggestions. good adj
vice and recommendations con-
| tanned in Governor Fernald S
message than before delivered
bv any Governor for many years.
and l quote the following from it in re-
gard to taxation: 1T is better, there
fore in my opinion to have every com
munity pay its share of the State taxes
| in some form of direct levy. that re-
sponsibility may rest upon the State to
make a proper showing Of how the same
| was expended that every citizen may
| keep his eye upon the State. / believe
| that this is a wise course for it is more
| and more the disposition and the duty
| of the mordens state to take over to
systematic control those public func-
| tons hitherto relegated to towns and
| cities in building and care of public
| highways and bridges, the care of poor
and insane,> and the aid Of public and
quasi public philanthropies which will
never attain their proper influences I'M
| til they become the care and consldera-
| ton of the whole people of the state
| 1t this what the Portland or Wilson
bill will do? Again he says: L think 1t
| is generally agreed that some or our
| public service corporations and the
| largely appreciated value of the wild
| lands should pay a larger relative tax
| than heretofore, and / hope that the
Legislature will meet no serious oppo-
sition in the determination of a fairer
levy upon the same | quote the Iol-
lowing from the Grange Legislative
Committee report in Waterville Decem-
Der H. 'OS: I'VE believe that the wild
lands. now almost wholly exempt from
municipal taxation, should be made to
take on a greater share of the public
burdens through the assumption by the
State of a greater share of the burden
now resting on the municipalities, such
as the support of public schools, the
maintenance Of bridges and highways
and the like"
The report is signed by men who have
made taxation a study. o. Gardner, a.
E. Rogers. Edward Evans, j. +. Abb
bolt and c. S. Stetson, master of the
State Grange.
] also quote the following from the
cd io11
'O7:
by taking the responsibility for the
up-keeping of all bridges above 40 feet
in length away from the towns and
cities and making the State foot the
bills, the Donigan bill removes 4 source
of corruption from the court of last
resort in Maine, and sewers every mem
Der of either house from his obligations
to think of nothing else and talk of
nothing else than Our Bridges.
More than all else, the Donigan mea-
sure equalizes the burden among all
towns according to their taxed valua-
ton, and thus remedies many grave in
justices which have been caused by an
unequal distribution of land and. water
on the map of Maine. The Maine Legis-
lature will be taking long step in the
right direction by giving the bill an
early passage"
This is an age of progress, the rural
free delivery, the automobile. etc, COM
ing out of the cities into the country
demands good bridges as well as good
roads. The State does not oblige towns
and cities to keep a system of water
works. electric lights, fire engines. town
ho11 To hai for
but it does oblige us to keep good roads
and bridges. Then why not the State
share in the expense? Such things that
benefit the whole State should be paid
for by the State and tho should be no
distinction between good roads and good
bridges. DO you war. 90 continue the
toll bridge system THAI exists in nearly
every county of Maine? hs. n the case
with every new law this che may not
be perfect One could rct be drafted
that would be>perfect in every particu-
lar. but / am now more than ever con-
WINGED that it is Fundamentally correct
and no serious defects will be found and
it would be more than satisfactory and
a great blessings to all the people of
the State. 1 hope that this Legislature
will keep faith with the people and 7
that more than nine-tenths of them are
in favor of this bridge bill and no 9th
er. If not they can order a referendum,
which Portland says it Will do, and
which I would like to see:
I believe that if you defeat dis meas
urc when thousands upon thousands
from all parts of the State are asking
for it's passage you will be striking a
live wire-why are the people in such
a state of alarm? 1t is no spasmodic
jump, they are slowly but surely becom-
ing aware that taxes are not equally
divided I know that after an honest
sober thought this Legislature will not
defeat his measure. If you do you will
be held responsible and must face the
consequences of your own action. If
you pass the bill you will be planting
the seed of equalization OF taxation that
will bear fruit for all the people and the
towns and cities will reap the benefit at
the expense of those who do not now
pay thir share of taxes. have no pur-
pose either in my heart or brain to ask
one member to vote contrary to his be-
lief, nor do | stand here advocating this
L.