Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-05
THE BIGELOW BILL
Calls Forth Much Opposition from
Many Sources at Taxation Hearing.

The hearing before the committee on
taxation Thursday afternoon uuon the
bill introduced by Representative
Bigelow of Portland called forth much
or position from many sources.
Hon. Forrest Goodwin of Skowhegan
argued that the bill as drawn would
enrich Portland at the expense of the
other towns of the State, while Repre-
sentative Bigelow accused the wild
land interests of being opposed to his
bill because it would make the owners
OF valuable property pay a just share
OF the taxes of the State.
The bill introduced by Mr.. Bigelow
provides that the excise assessed by
the state on telephones and telegraphs,
railroads and corporations be dis
tributed among the towns and cities
according to their valuation. He .ex-
planned that this method of taxation
and the distribution of the excise tax
would be in effect an increase of the
tax on wild lands by which the cities
and towns would indirectly benefit to
the amount Of $124,00O.
In discussing the value of wild lands
Mr. Bigelow said that they had in
creased 12O per cent. in value in H.
years, and claimed that the natural in
crease in value from growth was 40
cents per acre per year.
Henry Hudson Of Glilford opposed
the bill in behalf of the smaller and
poor towns, but was informed by Mr..
Rigelow that his town of Guilford
would benefit by $24449. Mr.. Goodwin
desired to question Representative
Bigelow after he had concluded his
argument, but the Portland gentleman
declined, saying: you have had Is
years in experience in talking wild
lands, and I realize that if 1 entered
into a discussion with you that before
we got through / would like like 80
cents"
Mr.. Goodwin discussed the bill at
some length, and said that there were
AZ plantations and rs unorganized town
ships in the State, which are obliged
to maintain their roads, but which
would not receive a cent under the
bill. Taking up the distribution of the.
money which the bill proposes Mr..
Goodwin presented figures showing
what the towns and cities would re-
ccive u.ni,r the provisions OF the Bige-
low bill. ana It's >, oportiOn to the mile
age Of road in these cities and towns
Portland with it's valuation of $5a.-
600, coo would receive $4,000, from that
SEA- of wild land taxes. $4,000 of this
would be used for road improvements
of SGS.50 per mile for 1873 miles of
roaos. The town of Gorham would re-
ceive back but $235 for it's 800 miles
of road Bangor with valuation of
81, 0o0, 600, and 259 miles Of road would
get back $4,000 or $13 mile, while the
town of Leeds would get back but s.
cents for each mile of road.
He commended that the disposition Of
the excise tax was very unfair to the
poor towns.
David H. Darling of Gardiner spoke
in opposition to the measure on the
ground that it was an extension of the
general property tax system, which he
thought the hearing on the bill for for
est preservation last Friday had shown
was generally condemned. The meas
ure took nc consideration of the ques-
ticn of forest preservation. In tracing
the growth of spruce tree for 70 years
he showed how under the present sys-
tenn of taxation it would be taxed for
1892 feet of lumber. whereas it would
only produce in that time 154 feet
Hon. Milton L. Merrill of st. Adams
also spoke in opposition to the measure