Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-01-23
state Grange on Taxatlon.

State Orange on Taxation.
There is much meat In the report OF
the committee on taxation made at the
recent session of the Maine State Grange,
whether one agrees entirely with its
conclusions or not. The full report 10 "a
follows:
Your committee, In submitting this
brief report, realize that the subject of
raising revenue is one OF the oldest of
public problems, and even at the present
time. after years of thought and study
upon this subject, many different theories
are being advanced, the exponent OF
each theory claiming that his 10 the best
and most equitable manner OF assessing
and collecting the necessary funds to de-.
fray the expenses Of our towns, counties
and states.
Regarding our state tax, We realize
that each state has the right to levy
such taxes, and in snch q manner a. 1t
deems best, providing Il does net conflict
with the Constitution OF the United
States.
A number of states have, within few
years, passed constitutional amendments
for the purpose of tax revision. While
this may not be necessary at the present
time in this state, we believe that some
of our laws should be, changed, and your
committee earnestly endorse the sugges-
ton of the state master regarding the
railroad and telephone franchise tax,
whereby more than $160, 900 is annually
returned by the state treasurer to few
cities and towns where the stock In such
corporations is owned, and that the saw
ings deposits In national banks, which
amount to more than $25, ,000, 900, should
be taxed az are similar deposits In trust
companies and savings banks, and, II 40
taxed, would amount to more than $780,
600 annually.
The Grange has always stood against
special favors In the Legislature, and We
are not In sympathy with the growing
tendency for such legislation by special
appropriations for towns and seotarian
institutions which are invariably grant
ed, not according to the justice Of the
case, but according to the Influence
which the proponents of these measures
may have before the legislature.
We, therefore, wish to call your atten-
tion to the proposed laws regarding the
raising of funds to build and maintain
our highways, either by the mill-tax idea
or bond issue. While we believe the last
suggestion to be the most effective meth
cd for the rural population, and while 1t
would necessitate the submission to the
people of constitutional amendment to
authorize the issue, yet the results to be
obtained, we believe, would 10 the end
justify the Grange in supporting the
measure.
Your committee would suggest that
law be enacted whereby the poll taxes OF
the state should be assessed In proper.
ton to the amount of money raised In
the different towns and cities, or, In
other words, based upon the rate Of tax.
alton as paid by the property OF the dit.
ferent towns and cities where the poll
tax payer resides, instead Of the present
method, believing that It would have a
tendency to stimulate the voters to
more thoughtful consideration of raising
and expepdipg the public funds, especial
" in the rural communities.
We believe that any system Of taxation
which seeks in any way to relieve any
class of property, either tangible or 10.
tangible, from Its just amount Of tax.
alton, is wrong and cannot be approved
by our order.
While 1t is an actual fact that public
business to-day is being conducted more
upon the Golden Rule plan than 1t was
decade ago, yet there are very few OF US,
if any, who do not believe that the prob
lem of raising public revenue should be
entirely eliminated from political con-
troll and placed upon Q sound business
basis. We believe that the State Grange
should advocate that this be done, and
tha, we, as body, use our efforts along
that line, both in state and municipal
affairs, trying to mold public opinion to
a true sense of what 10 needed.
The development of the individual and
his property is necessarily interviewer,
and becomes an integral part 10 the prop.
or growth of q municipality or state.
The power of that invisible agency
which We call public opinion, when
emanating from the vast majority of In
dividuals, becomes the compelling power
that irresistibly moves the individuals
and the munity from lower grade
OF improvement to q higher. Public
opinion, when once crystallized, holds
and controls as steadily In its functions
as the laws of attraction and repulsion.
j. E. ABBOTT,
A. T. NIcKERsoN,
MRS. GEORGE PLUMMER,
MRS. L. E. FUTILE,
Committee on Taxation,