Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-12-20

the State Is paying its fair share of
the taxes assessed, is practical ques-
ton and one in which 1t is not only
the right but the duty of every citi-
zen 10 take such interest and action as
the facts warrant. IL requires an as
surance not often possessed 10 contend
that it is equitable for certain prop
erty, worth millions of dollars, to pay
a tax of seven-tenths of one per cent,
while other classes of property pay
tax Of two and two-fifths per cent.
There is nothing to DE presented in
favor of such discrimination.
This iniquity would not be tolerated
for single day if the equities in
volved were submitted to adjustment
by the people, even though remunerat-
ed representatives of vested interest
sought to lead them astray by fluent
twaddle and artful misrepresentation
Eminent men have studied the prob
lem of taxation in the past and will
continue these labors in the years
that are to come. The one thing the
Grange stands for in this matter, is
the equity of the proposition in the
State constitution which says, That
all property must be taxed according
to the value thereof"
Perhaps the most irritating item in
the taxation problem is the vast
amount of intangible property that
escapes the assessor. The farmer,
more nearly than any other body of
taxpayers, have their funds invested
in things visible His lands, herds and
improvements are open to inspection
and cannot be concealed.
We are making war against 10 man
or combination of men. It is true We
stand for and are identified with
things that concern rural Maine In
this as in all other matters of public
policy we insist on a square deal.
Roads.
A study Of the present road situa-
ton | am convinced will show that We
have been drifting away from sound
theory of road building and mainten
ance, but it is time that the farmers
were alive to the necessity of enforc-
ing road construction solely from the
commerce standpoint. If we do this
we will find that the railroads, the
trolley companies, and even the auto
nobiiers who are resident off the main
lines of travel between large cities,
have interest common with the farm
ers and the automobile manufacture
ers who are looking to the farmers as
future customers, must see that the
commerce theory of road construction
will best serve their interests.
theory Of road Improvement that
will stand the test is the kind of road
maintenance that connects the farm
ers with the final markets by the
cheapest and most direct way. We
have approximately $4,000 miles of
roads in Maine One of the factors
entering into the high cost of living is
the unnecessary cost of transporting
farm products to the consumer. Not
less than $3.50, 000, 900 is the useless trib-
ute levied upon the people of the
United States by the bad roads. A
widespread inquiry indicates that the
average cost of hauling on roads in
the United States is % cents per ton
per mile. The report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission for 1906 states
that the railroads handled more than
$40 million tons of freight. Of this
amount agricultural products fur
nshed about 81 per cent. If we as
sumo that 200.000,000 tons of this total
was hauled over country, roads at a
cost of rs cents per ton on an aver
age haul of ten miles, we have an
amazing total of about $4,000, 600 Is
this cost necessary or legitimate? The
best authorities on road maintenance
tell us that by applying business
methods 50g, of this amount can be
saved: that if wise and equitable road
laws and good business management
are substituted for our present anti
quated and wasteful systems, the
people of this country have it in their
power to save s290, 000,0 900 per year in
the two items of hauling and road
maintenance. A saving to be applied
to developing our agriculture, to edu-
eating our boys and girls, to making
more beautiful homes and home en-
vironments; to making conditions so
beautiful that life will be better worth
the living.
Conservation.