The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1910-01-13

laying on the land alone the entire
burden OF taxation, In making the
contest for what we know and what
you know to be your best interests.
or should We have favored this vicious
proposition. solely because the wild
lands men" opposed IL.
The Commission advocated that the
tag on public service corporations
should be on the ad yalorem basis;
this we opposed as impolitic and diff
fficult In it's application. We framed
a bill which would have increased
the tax on steam railroads by about
1854 100000, and we arranged to have
this submitted to the Legislature. 1t
was placed in the hands of a person
to have II introduced. This was not
done, fact we ascertained only after
the Legislature had adjourned The
bill for increasing the tax on the
electric roads we favored. and advo-
Gated Its passage among the members
OF the Legislature; that bill was en-
acted.
We formulated two tax bills for the
purpose of increasing the tax on the
wild lands Of the State.
One, known as the Colby Bill' in
creasing the mill tax for common
school purposes by an additional
mill: this would have added to the
assessment on the wild lands the sum
of 2,59029.
Another bill that we introduced,
was known as the Wing Bill" that
would also have placed on the wild
lands a tax of 42,59O.29. The object
- =; 10 Gfotn mid
in the construction and maintenance
of the common highways, and TO re-
lieye the municipalities to that ex-
tent.
These were the only bills intro
duced by the representative of the
Grange, increasing the tax on the
wild lands of the State.
Had these bills been enacted, the
tax upon the wild lands would have
been Increased by $S5,
Neither of these bills were
reported favorably upon by the
Committee on Taxation. This fact
disposes of the charge that the Grange
Committee did not wish to increase
the tax upon these lands by more
than $21 ,295.00.
The Legislature levied a tax OF
one and one-half mills upon the wild
lands the proceeds to be used exclu-
sively for the protection of these
lands against fire, thus collecting by
law for this purpose, what had hith-
erto been raised by voluntary sub
scription.
The Committee on Taxation of the
legislature reported bill levying a
10 nrnnnrtv nf the
State for the support of the common
schools one-half mill TO be iistribu.-
ed among the cities, towns and plan
tations, according to the school pop
ulation; one mill to be distributed
among them according to their Valu-
alton. After this report was SUD-
mitted to the Legislature, meeting
was called to consider this matter the
following evening. by some MEMBER
or members of the Legislature, and
your committee was invited TO be
present. This meeting was presided
over by Senator Irving of ArooStook
county, and after long discussion by
those present, it was voted to offer
an amendment to the bill by striking
out the mill to be distributed accord
ing to their valuation. Arrange
ments were made as to what mem
bers were to speak in the House in
favor of the proposed amendment. Of
the members so selected, and agree
ing to support the amendment by
speech, Mr.. McLain of Brennan was
the only member in the House who
raised his voice in it's favor. When
the bill went to the senate. Senator
Irving favored the amendment by
able arguing.
OF those present who had expressed
themselves in favor Of the amendment
and voted to stand by 1t when it came
to the test in the House, cast theii
votes against it.
A mill tax on all the property in the
State distributed according to thu
school population would give $2.03 tt
each boy and girl in the State o
school age.
Now what is the result of the dis
tribution of the proceeds of the mil
tax among the municipalities, accord
ing to their valuation.
Aside from the tax raised from thu
wild lands, each town and city in thu
State would receive back precisel!
what il paid in. The valuation or thu
wild lands Is very nearly one-tentl
of the entire valuation of the State
or the money raised by this mill tai
of the wild lands, each town will re
ceive neft according to the number o
it's scholars, not according to 1T
needs, Huit according to its valuation
To illustrate, Portland, with a val
uation of substantially 100000, 900
would receive back the $50 900 that 1
was tawed, and in addition $4,000 from
the wild land tax-about $4.45 fol
each person of school age In the city
In the town of Eden, where Bal
Harbur Is, each person of school age
received under this system 1913. How
does uHiiis work out in the smaller ant
poorer towns where assistance fol
scholars Is so greatly needed. The
extreme is st. Agatha in Aroostool
county where each child of school age
receives under this distribution bu
19 cents.
We quote from the Declaration o.
Purposes of this order:
We desire proper equality, equity
and fairness; protection for the weak
restraint for the strong; in short
Justly distributed burdens and justly
distributed powers. These are Am
erican ideas, the very essence of Am
erican independence, and to advocate
the contrary is unworthy of the sons