The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-02-03
Glimpses of the Capitol.

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The fixing Of the sum at which the polltax
Of this State shall be assessed, has excited as
much interest in the Legislature as any sub.
ject yet proposed. Notwithstanding the very
decisive vote of more than two to one, on
Tuesday. in the House, passing the Bill to be
engrossed, with three dollars as the poll TAX
Mr.. Webb of Portland, (who presume voted
with the majority for the purpose) moved
reconsideration, in order to introduce an
northumberland his motion prevailed. The
amendment was, that one-tenth of the tax
should be raised on the polls. This opened
the whole, question anew. and it was debated.
with much zeal. Mr.. Webb defended his mo-
ton with much ability, Mr.. Weston OF Cor
ham, also spoke well on the question: Other
members followed-and the argument of duty
tocountry-th blood of thepoorman is pour
ed out in our defence, which was the highest
kind of taxation duty Of capital to pay the
taxes and the usual array of arguments about
labor as against capital-all were expressed
with great zeal and warmth; and other rea.
sons cogently urged. But. the policy had been
too well defined the day before. The House
could not be moved from it, The debate on
the amendment went on for an hour or two.
but when 1.-The tombstone was reached. the
proposition of Mr.. Webb went by, and the Bill
was again passedito be engrossed fixing So as
the tax. That matter is settled in the House.
| 1t will be that sum or the tax will remain as
| itnowis. "A = = nv II =
| What the Senate will do with it is quite un-
certain. That body had set its standard very
high. One sixth of the tax to be raised on
polls, was their mark. The House refused
this,on the yeas and Nays not solitary vote
being in favor OF the measure. l think new
er heard the yeas and nays called before, but
what there was at least one minority VOTE
There was in this trial none SO poor as to do
that feature reverence. Sothe question hangs
between the, two houses at this time.
The next question of interest came on the
heel of the tax and that was the legallzing the
Bounties paid, and directing towns to pay up
In four years. The Bill came up in a new
draft. 1t was SO torn to pieces when up be-
fore, that 1T was returned to the Committee to
be revamped. Various amendments were at
once offsred-and the Bill became a football,
for any body who chose to give it kick.
! Some judicious amendments were offered, as
itseemed to me. Mr.. Porter of Burlington,
| put in the following To hffa ga 4eGS ec,syi
THAT nothing in this act shall authorize the
| Municipal officers, after the 18th of January,
1855, or the State to pay or contract to pay
bounties to any persons who have already
been enlisted and mustered into the military
or naval service of the United States and now
standing to the credit OF this State, but not
assigned to any district on account of such
persons being hereafter assigned to the quota
ofany city, town, or plantation, without re-
enlistment, nor to pay any sum tosanyi person
for PROCURING the assignment of such persons
to the quota of any city, town, or plantation
Mr.. Webb OF Winthrop, proposed an amend :
ment that any town might fund its.debt in
cured in raising bounty money, to be redeem
able any time within twenty years. This
amendment was adopted-and knocks entire
ly ontsof sight the original proposition that
the whole debt must be paid In four years.
That measure is evidently in minority in the
House. ng7sHnna gF48g pk.7gYQHa
The debate took a wide range, and the
ablest Speakers participated. The situation,
Of our finances-the large and constantly in
creasing State debt-the disposition to rush
in still deeper-were all commented upon
with seriousness and ability. The debate
took very wide range. hli fhlIJaa
The forenoon having been about all taken
up with these two important questions, the
House adjourned, leaving the other features
Of the Bill to undergo a searching review to-
day,-when it will probably be perfected and
sent to the Senate. sisss,eaN PELHAM. brs