Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-14
Mr.. Nelson OPPOSES
MILL TAX PLAN FOR
GOOD ROADS IN Maine

GOOD ROADS IN maine
Saturday. Dec. 9, the Journal pub
lished an address by Prof. George T.
Files Of Bowdoin college, before the
Gardiner board of trade, dealing with
some of the problems that confront
Maine in financing system Of high
way construction. Prof. Files is also
writing a series Of articles for Maine
papers that can give space to them, on
the subject. He Is an advocate Of the
mill tax principle as a solution of the
first difficulty. His articles are ably
prepared and deal exhaustively with
the past penny wise. pound foolish
methods, the present situation, and
the apparently inevitable future.
Hon. Lyman H. Nelson, former chair
man Of the State Highway Commits
sion, is about to issue a pamphlet en-
titled "The Principles Of Highway Fin
ance with Suggestions as to the Future
/ Policy in Maine" The Journal has adj
| vance proofs and finds Mr.. Nelson as
interesting as Is Prof. Files. All these
arguments by both gentlemen should
be in the hands Of every TAXPAYER Of
i the State. Although they do not fully
agree as to methods both writer's are
laying before the tax payers facts that
! must be faced and acted upon. Maine
delayed too long; she has made a start
In the right direction; she must go
ahead.
In his pamphlet Mr.. Nelson will saw:
Mill Tax No. Fair to All.
Inc general proposition so far made
PUBIC is that tax of one mill shall
| Dc placed on all the property of the
state, the proceeds of such tax to no
! devoted exclusively to the construction
i OF the remainder Of the trunk line svs-
tenn. Under this arrangement. the sum
or approximately $500, DOC is to he raised
annually by tax levied upon the on
tire valuation of the state real and
personal This money, gathered from
every corner, from seacoast fishing
! hamlet to the remotest back woods
settlement. Is to be expended accordine
to the judgment of the state biphw,H
commission upoE the DEVELOPMENT NJ
ABOUT one thousand miles of highway.
se!eoteo by the commission from g. to-
'si ., twenty-five thousand miles and
caileo thte State Highway or trunk
line. "''N
inose familiar with the making of
laws know that as a general prooosi-
tlon the statutes easiest to nass ord
; ieast likely to be- subjected to referen-
dum are those which appea, tn tho
whoie electorate as fair arc eouitable
NOW. however desirable it NAV be that
the trunk line should be continued re-
eafoiess O. other interests II roust hc
apparent 10 every one that it is not GO
1"s " pe an easy task to convince the
o"y thousands of Inhabitants of the
s.alo WHO I'VE upon farms located from
=. 'eeH 10 fIty miles from the trunk
.n'o 'hat thls proposed mill tax is fair
" .iieH. advocates OF this plan will
uiiuertake to show that these remote
o.Sa'is get indirect benefit. Undoubt
eui: they 90, but 1t is going to be inst
nara 10 convince those people that
me cement Is direct enough to demand
q 'aA or their property, as it would he
H. 1or example. the mill tax now levied
LUZ ScnGoi purposes upon these same
leinose sections was to be all expended
1or schools along the trunk line. and
none OF 1t on schools in the remote sec.
; tons themselves.
II the advocates OF the mil, tax ro
apie 10 convince the people of this
stato tnat their plan is fair, there is M
Ier argument upon this Particular
p.' W. as there must BE in every
an Hiho Some DOUBT as to how
the people IN the remote sections ore
sos :" look a. this matter. would It
, $50 oe letter IL try to find method OF
..".o tneA Will satisfy tho whole
..,m instead cf singing ont the
49, 10y. ano saying off-hand. This -
NJ ha A 20 raise the money" would It
49, oseter policy to undertake to
tura 49, =. ot taxation and expendi-
t,nn , ~ Is less likely to meet opposi-
nrono.ed lie. .ne sections remote to the
thtI 80 trunk line Improvement? p
OF tho 49,. suenuous effort on the part
r.,a 10 average individual to meet the
he weu ~ VI existence. would It not
rytnc ~ ~ search Tor method Of car
MT ,. oa road Improvement which vii,
during 49,. Increase the tax burden
Aaa;. 1Iese abnormal times?
fnnSa n tne mill tax idea is Oman -
nrno entai objection because q. ~
"a ree VI such tax are to be exnend-
@ tne complete re-constr,c.;or
~ on' drainage and surfacel ~
a as Ioao, 1t Is putting upon the nresent
p, burden which Should foi--
anu equitably be distributed ova,
hao uie years? Haphazard f1nancine no.
hunss gong on all over the country ana
us OF millions of bond move,
81 oeen spent Unfortunately for
IT, -. u road and all types of wear
ing surface. but many people ar. na,,,
beginning to see that there is a nrn "om
use use ior pond money and an improper
use. and there is a proper usa ro.
money raised by direct taxation and
an no use which. though perhaps
not not improper. is decidedly unwise. It
as come now to be recognized as a
scientific fact that money raised bv
! long term bonds should be expanded