Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-10
Maine Assessors End Meeting

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Franklin county-Nineteen towns
and FIVE plantations. Five towns and
one plantation report $z71O0.
n . eek county-Thirty- -four
towns and three plantations. Eleven
towns report $34s,25o.
ksnnsbee county-Thirty towns.
Seven towns report $20s.4S5
Knox ceunty-Sixtesu towns and
two plantations. Four, towns report
$e3,125.
Lincoln County Ninteen towns.
Six towns report $27.400.
Oxford County towns and
three plantations. Nine towns re-
port $11.12s. O
Psnebsset County Fifty eight
towns and six plantations. Seven
towns report $ss3.73z. OF this Bangor
reports $3.50. $50. leaving about $4,000
for all the rest Of the towns in the
county.
Piscatasuis csunty-Twenty towns
and four plantations. -Four towns re-
port $3.50.
Sasadahee county-Ten towns.
Three towns report $2s,050.
Somerset County - Twenty five
towns and fifteen plantations. Three
towns report $13,s30.
Waldo county-Twenty-six towns.
Four towns report s24.ao0.
Washington ceunty--Fofty -seven
| towns and four plantations Eight
towns report $25,s24. OF this Calais
has $22. 3e0. Eastport, none.
Yertk county-Twenty. eight towns.
Six towns report $s1, 400.
The cities. most Of them, seem to
have taxed furniture, but very few
of the towns. Az to any suggestion
In this matter, I will~do the same as
the noted humorist did with the
punctuation marks. Put them all at
the end of the book and make the
suggestions later.
Automobiles
| There seems to be no. Uniform
method Of valuation for automobiles.
can see no reason why a machine
actually worth $1,000 in Portland
should be valued In different towns,
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Bank Stocks
Bank stocks have almost as many
values as there are different towns
where the same is owned.
But little, If any change appears
from year to year in the valuation of
money at interest bonds, stocks, ETC.,
even when parties move into the
towns having large amounts OF
wealth. Others where the probate
records show large amounts in es-
tates Of deceased persons, show nc
incYease In this class of property
Mao other classes of property nigh,
be subject to some criticism. Later
on may make some suggestion as
to remedy.
I Real Estate
Such a wide difference exists in
real estate valuation that it is hard
to tell just where to begin. You who
were here last year will all remembe,
the remarks Of the gentlemen who
stated that his town never had and
never would pay taxes on more thar
5000 Of its value and further that hi
knew large number Of towns, two
thirds of all in the State, think hi
Esaid. who did not pay on more thar
5000 of their worth. I think now
and thought then, that that was al
unjust charge to make and reflected
on the State Board who believed
were making an honest and earnes
effort to equalixe taxes. 1t is a hi,
1oo and only by the assistance Of
local boards will it be possible. Lee
me give you few illustrations.
There was a timber lot in a certain
town in western Maine, which fo
years had been valued by the loca
board at 5000. The State Board in
sisted that this amount should be in,
creased and the local board finalI,
put 1t up to $1,000. The man wht
owned and sold this lot, sold it To-
$4,000 and more than $50. 600, wortl
OF lumber was taken of this lot.
, I believe that the town was eouit
ABLY entitled to q fair proportion O
the natural increase. AS an illus
tration. A man has 81, 900 and puts i
INTO q business. He pays taxes O,
what he has, works hard. is pruden
ana saving, and each year adds a lit
ue and Is taxed more. At the ent
OF twenty years, he has, by his ow,
EFFORTS. saved enough SO that he ha,
$4,000 and il taxed for It. Anothe
man puts the same amount into ,
timber lot gets taxed for one-haIf O
, It's value and bides his time, pays n,
taxes on natural increase in valu,
and at the end Of twenty years sell
mis- lot for double what the man i,
trade has. I can see no justice O
equity In such procedure. I believ,
that certain percentage of increas,
IN value. due solely to nature, Shout,
be added each year.
Again there are sections Of thi
State where all, or nearly all. III,
townships are owned by an individua
or corporation, where the value zoe
on year after year just the same
When the State Assessors get ate
them. they put 1t up a little. On,
excuse that has been told me VIII,
The assessors did not put it up wa,
this: Why, we work in the woods 70
them winters. Hnd In the mill sum
mers. and IL we put up their assess
ment, we would lose our job. Thes,
corporations have no sentimental re
gard Tor the mans job. but as 500,