The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1821-01-25
REPORT
OF THE COMMITTEE APPoISTED BIZ THs
LEGISLATURE OF MAINE,
JUNE Is, 1890,
ON THE SUBJECT OF THE
ST.aTE T.aLUaTION.

| To the Legislature OF the State OF Main
| The Committee appointed by the order Of To
Legislature, passed June 28th, 1920, convened a
the Senate house on the 18th day Of Dece mbeI last
Il Proceeded 10 perform the duties assigned then, 81
examining the returns OF the Of the sever
Al towns and plantations in this State made, IL
| pursuance 10 an act, passed June 9th, 1870, ell
ed " Nm .4ct 10 ascertain IRE estate TdldbIe DtIh
IA this Statsl''
The Committee after examining the returns made
by the assessors Of the several towns and pIanta
tions and correcting such errors appeared tht
face of the returnsl projected 10 estimate ID:
several items OF taxable property az their true value
according 10 the best information IN their power to
obtain as will appear by the Journal Of their pro-
ceedlngs, which s herewith communicated, and
made part of th,s report.
When the Committee have been under the ne
cessity of exercising the discretionary powers with
which they were vested, III charging any towns, OF
plantations according 10 their judgment, orincreas
lBg any specific article of property, they have EN-
deavored 60 obtain the best evidence the nature Of
the case admitted, and il has been their constant
endeayor 10 do justice, that IN the apPottIon-
ment OF taxes by this valuation, the assessment may
be equal among the different sections Of tue State,
according 20 their true value.
This valuation being made by charging unim-
proved land, at It's true value, instead OF third
as in the last valuation OF the Commonwealth OF
Massachusetts,, would render any comparison with
that valuation deceptive, respects the different
parts Of the State this with the great change,
which has taken place III tie relative value of the
several species OF property since 1911, has pre-
vented the Committee from comparing the aggre-
gates 10 the schedule herernio annexed, with the
aggregates exhibited into the valuation Of L8l1.-
They have also omitted TO assess each towns pro-
portion of ore thousand dollars because toe rela-
tive value OF the several towns and plantations
may be as well seen BY the amount OF estates, as
by any apportionment OF any sum, and which might
be subject To error.
With regard to estimating the polls at one sixth
part Of the amodnt Of the value, the Committee
have done no more than exhibit the whole number
OF polls aud the amount of the value Of the estates
and il viii be at the election of the Legislature in
assessing any future tax TO estimate and such
proportion thereof, Oh the polls as they may judge
expedient.
Owing TO the unavoidable imperfecton OF the
tFeasurers returns, and the want Of tune to complete
the schedule Of wild lands, out of the bounds OF
any towns and plantations, there probably some
tracts omitted IN this report. But the insertion
of them hereafter cannot affect the relative value
OF the different towns and plantations 10 the State
they may be added or omitted as the Legislature
may deem proper.
All which is respectfully submitted.
JOSHUA GAGE,