Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-03-28
NUMBER 10
Mill Tax for Roads.

That mill tax 10 almost UNANIMOUSLY
favored as the best method for con, inu.
ing the construction of state highway
In Maine, was brought out at the stale
wide Good Rrads meeting which has
just been held at Bangor. At this meet.
ing we're the four leading Republican
candidates for the nomination for gov.
ernor, the members of the Maine State
Highway Commission, prominent state,
city and town officials rs we'll as the
leading good roads workers of Maine.
The meeting was the most successful
and most definite that has ever been
held in the state. Positive action was
taken in the adoption OF the resolution
favoring the mill tax method for raising
monsv as we'll az endorsing the Federal
Aid Highway bill now before Congress.
Two of the four candidates for govern
or came out strong for the mill tax prop
Osition, these being Hon. Carl e. Mill.
ken of Island Falls and Col. Frederic q.
Parkhurst Of B,pgor. One other, Hon.
e. w. Wheeler of Brunswick, while not
so positive, expressed the belief that the
mill tax was the best proposition. Mr..
Wheeler, however, wished to give the
matter little more consideration. Hon.
Timothy r. Callahan Of Lewiston SEEM
ed to lean In favor OF re.issuing the
bonds under the constitutional amend.
ment.
So large was the crowd that the meet
ing had to be adjourned from the Cham.
Der Of Commerce rooms to the City Hall,
and when IL came to vote as to wheth-
er the mill tax should be the method ad-
vocated for raising funds for future
state highway construction after the
present bond issue is exhausted, the SEN
timent was unanimous for this method,
everyone present voting In favor of 1t.
1t was also voted unanimously to ap-
point statewide committee to advo-
cate the mill tax aud to conduct cam
paign In favor of 1t. This committee
will be appointed at an early date.
The resolution and the motion adopt.
ed at the meeting were as follows:
"Whereas we believe In the continua-
tion of the policy of the people Of the
state id constructing and maintaining
roads adapted to the growing needs OF
the rural communities as we'll as the
more densely populated sections.
"And whereas We believe that the In
come from the automobile should not be
infringed upon at present or mortgaged
in the future except for the payment Of
the bonds already issued or for the
maintenance of roads constructed OF
about to be constructed.
"Wheress we believe that the develop.
ment of the agricultural interests ere of
primary Importance to the state Of
Maine and that, in view of this fact, the
animal appropriation of $780, by our
state for state.aid roads should be con-
tipued, and
"Whereas we believe that 10 this ad-
vanced stage of civilization the benefits
of improved highway are secondary only
to those of schools.
Resolved; That we heartily endorse a
mill tax levied upon all the property Of
the state as the most equitable, satisfac.
tory and surest method OF continuing
this great movement.
Resolved; That this convention en-
dorss the principles of federal aid for
high way construction and that our sen.
ators in Washington be requested to do
whatever may be in their power TO as.
sist In the passage of the federal aid
highway bill now before Congress 10 the
form of Fl. r. 1917 and Senate Calendar
1874.