Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-02

in connection with the government ap-
preparation as to considerably reduce
the amount Immediately available for
trunk line work.
A resume of the bill published In the
paper indicates that it Is the eXpecta-
ton that the proposed mill tax will
become available for the year 1917.
This cannot be done unless the
emergency clause be attached. If the
bill is passed in the ordinary way. it
cannot possibly become effective until
80 days after the adjournment Of the
Legislature, or say about July l, and
it will then be, of course. impossible
to put it into effect because the tax
levies of all the cities and towns will
have long since been made. Now, as
for the emergency clause. 1t can be
shown that no emergency exists, as
there are already ample funds avail
able for 1917, as l will later show. The
new mill tax plan distinctly proposes
to increase the total amount of money
raised by taxation over 100000 an
nually, and while it is now the in
tention to send part of this back to the
towns, do not overlook the fact that
their tax is increased just the same
submit, then, that in this day OF
strenuous effort on the part of every
individual to meet the rising cost OF
existence. it would be well to search
for a method of carrying on road i'm
provement which will not unduly in
crease the tax burden during these alb
normal times.
Now Just word as to Governor
Miiliken'S views.
His Excellency, in his inaugural ad-
dress. viewing the mill tax proposal
; as it existed at THAT time (although
now substantially modifedD apparent
ly favored the mill tax plan as against
bond issue. For, he says in closing
his remarks on highway matters that
| the mill tax offers two advantages; it
? carries its own tag with it SO that the
people understand the designated pur-
pose of the extra revenue, and it af-
; fords those in charge of the practical
! details of road construction reasonable
expectation of constant annual APP
= preparation for this purpose"
| believe it is apparent from this
: that the Governor had in mind a mill
r tax that would run along for many
j years and thus provide constant an
2 nual revenue without further iegisla-
: ton. But the NEW bill which is now
? being submitted for the original plan
will become obsolete when the govern
ment money is expended, or else the
=. trunk line development will be less
l rapid than now. so that what he COM
mended at that time may not now re-
ceive the same approval. His Excel
I lency further says, in speaking of the
< BOND ISSUE: Such a program ap-
! peals strongly to the imagination In
the near future we MAY reach a point
S OF development which would warrant
, its serious consideration. At present,
t however. the limits imposed by labor
e conditions and the equipment Of our
s existing organization permit us to
e continue only at about the current rate
OF State highway construction"
, II is. of course frankly admitted that
: labor at the present time is scarce, but
0 | think it is the general opinion that
| this is distinctly war condition which
f will right itself and become normal
e soon after peace shall have been de-
D clared. AS the bond issue plan wculd
Y not 60 into effect until at least a year
from now, may we not be optimistic
, enough to believe that the war will
r then be over and a normal labor mar
e ket prevailing? By getting ready to
provide more funds we are but antic
:, ipatinS afterwar conditions. another
form Of preparedness for peace.
Y If. on the other hand, peace is not
e soon Forthcoming, then as a matter of
= pure self-interest we should make ex-
a traordinary efforts to obtain sufficient
funds and sufficient labor to rush our
: roads toward completion, because we
s VIII thus continue to get constantly
= increasing amount Of the tourist travel
$ that usually goes to Europe
= AS for the highway department as al
t present constructed being limited in its
k capacity to handle more than $500 0oC
e IN trunk line work, I wish to call at.
e tention to the fact that in 1914 the to-
tai expenditures from bond money
were practically $500 900 and the
amount laid out and contracted for
$ exceeded 100000. If they could do I,
u then. why not now? Furthermore II
e is usually the case that overhead ex.
9 pense does not increase in ratio to the
IL increase OF capital or expenditure. and
1t Will. In my Judgment, be a compar-
dINeiS slillple Haller TO SCfticientlV In,
e crease this organization for larger Of.
fort. especially as it will have at least
: years advance notice of the required
n change. And If the State shall de.
e mand that our road building proceed
o with much greater speed, some organ.
e ization or some method can be found
l. to manage this work
Road Building Too Slow
6 Now l contend that the State
= SHOULD demand that our road build
r ing proceed with much greater speed
believe the benefits derived from i'm.
t proved roads, both trunk line anG
e market are so quick, so certain ant
: so sure. that we should make every
: possible effort to rebuild our highway:
a In the shortest possible time
s The State highway commission ha.
: been in existence practically three anc
e one-half years. and 1t has taken tha
e time and an expenditure Of nearly two
:. million dollars to do what? To bulk
= 2eo miles of a trunk line system o.
e rearly 1900 miles. Then speaking gen