Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-03-17
to urge the passage Of this legislatio

hon. Carl E. Milliken of Island Falls
said that he voted for the bond issue In
the Senate four years ago. but that he
regarded it then as makesbiftLb The
thought that a direct tax each wear
would be better-that a sum of that size
could be raised without difficulty and
could be spent efficiently. The automo-
/. die money is enough at present to cara
| Tor the maintenance of roads. and wi,,
suffice for some time.
E. n. Parkhurst
Col. F. H. Parkhurst of Bangor in :
formed the gathering that on this
question, his record is established. In
the 1907 Legislature, as chairman Of
the senate committee on the matter
OF ROADS, he and the other members
OF the committee unanimously recon-
fhenoed the mill tax as the means for
raising road money. Il believed in 1907
ana pelleVe now that the mill tax is
the pest means Of paying for good
roads. Our bills for TRANSFORMATION are
greater than any other of our stand
ing charges and much Of the cost of
transportation Is due to friction under
the wheels. Reduce that and you ma
terlally lessen transportation ex-
penses"
7. F. Callahan
Hon. Timothy F. Callahan Of Lewis
ton. former State auditor, went into a
detailed explanation Of State highway
finances. of which he showed an ex-
haustive knowledge. He did not come
TO make suggestions. The good roads
bonds. he thought. should be re-issued
from time to time. and if the law will
not permit this. it is time for con-
stitutional amendment to permit it.
Chairman Files remarked that all
discussion was welcome and that with
out trying to refute Mr.. Callahan's
statement. he would merely add that
Attorney General Pattangall had said
that reissue Of the good roads bonds
would not be possible under present
constitutional limits
Mr.. Callahan demurred from accept
ing the off-hand opinion Of Mr.. Pat
tangall. saying that We have the courts
to decide just such matters for US and
that the courts should pass on this
question. With all due respect to the
opinion of the attorney general,
guess that all the common sense in the
world is not confined to the heads Of
lawyers" This remark drew forth en-
thusiastic applause from everyone.
The tax for common schools at the
present time is three mills and the
tax for other school purposes. free
High schools and the like. is almost
another mill, which brings the total
for the schools to about four mills.
The highways appropriation for State
aid roads is 100000 a year and for
administration Of the office $4,000 is
provided. But this $350.000 is not all
The appropriation for special resolves
for roads and bridges is about $780,
900 more, making total Of one mill
for highways at the present time. In
other words. there is already mill tax
burden on the people of Maine for
highways. 1t must be taken into con-
sideration in speaking of this ques-
ton. a
Mr.. Chairman, you say that there
is balance of $4,000 balance of the
s., O00, 900 bond issue will say in ad-
dition to that for 1917. there will be
1872. 900 Of the original bonds that will
have been paid off at that time. The
figures by years are $22,50O for the
1913 issue, $74,50O of the 1914 issue;
and s35, 900 of the 1916 issue. That will
make a total that will be available
from bonds Of $3320OO and direct APP
preparation of $16S.000 will give us
100000 for that year, for highways
This will give us. with the approprla-
ton and the bond issue, s1,0O0,OO0 Tor
good roads in 1917.
For 1918, 1919 and 1920 there will
be $4,000 of these bonds that could
be retired each year end automatically
re-issued. The more bonds you re-is-
she. the less you must raise by direct
tax"
Philip ]. Deering. chairman OF the
highway commission remarked that
the commission has been inefnclent IN
the past, due to lack of enough ensl-
neering supervision, as at Houiton,
where 100000 was expended for road
that should have cost much less. he
chara cterized the legislative approprld-
ton for bridges as nothing snort OIL
..graft. legislative graft, and notably
inefficient.
Banquet at Bangor House
The session concluded with pan
ouet at the Bangor House at s.9o
o'clock given by the Bangor Automo-
bile Association. The banquet was
largely attended by Bangor business
men and automobilists as well ana Was
a very pleasant affair in every way
Other Delegates
Besides those mentioned, the dele
gates in attendance included {. n.
Gardner OF Skowhegan, president OF
the Maine Farmers Union; Hon
Blaine s. Viles of Augusta: u. w:
Hoesg. Jr., Of Portland. chairman OF
the committee of arrangements; Julian
Emery, Bar Harbor; Ralph j. Patter-
son Of the Central Maine Power Co..
waterville: E. w. Crawford, city en-
p;neer Of Waterville: President {. r.
F,aee Of the State Board OF Trade
Portland. Judge F.. Wade Halliday
Newport: Hillard c. Schoppe, Cherry
field: and Hon. F. A. Peabody Oh
Houlton, member Of the State highway
Commission.
CORNELL SELLS