Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-01-19


the Committee on this subject met with unan-
imous approval of the committee, with the
exception of the gentleman from Washington
(Mr Bliss, and he did not think the House
would be disposed to override this conclu-
sion made up after very thorough Considera-
ton. @ M
The same gentleman moved to lay the re-
solve on the table.
Mr.. Bliss hoped the resolve would not be
tabled, although he had always been of opin-
ion the leading members of the House would
be opposed to attending in body, but rather
have a select committee. He was willing the
legislature TO be represented by committee,
but that it shonld be represented in some way
ought not be disputed. Mr. Bliss said his
duty in the premises was done, and although
the passage of the resolve might be defeated,
those who voted to defeat it, would live to re-
greet their action. Constituents never forget.
Mr.. BARKER gave clear and succinct his
tory of the matter since its introduction to
the notice of the legislature, and concluded
by favoring the action of the committee.
On motion OF Mr.. BLISS, the question of
laying the resolve on the table was ordered
by the House to be taken by yeas and nays
by vote IS in favor and 80 opposed.
The Clerk proceeded to CALL and the fol-
lowing is the list
Bearce of Lewiston, Bird, Bonney, Boyd, Boothby,
Bradford, Drawn, Brown, Burnhain Burgess. Camp
bell, Chamberlain, Chase of Woodstock, Chase Of
Crockett, Daggett, Darling, Davis, Dunning, Far
well, Folsom, Foss, Gannett, Colt, Gould, Green
Greenlef. Guptill Hamilton, Hartman, Hathorn
Halves, Kinks, Holbrook Hume, Irish Jordan of
Brunswick, Lane, Leighton, Lewis of Liberty,
Lewis of Pittston, Lord Main, McGilvery, Nc Lain
Paten, Phillips, Pierce, Purinton, Sargent, Smith
of Hodgdon, Smith of Litchfeld, Smith Of Parsons
r neai w s,en Wheeer wSen' whitelonse
Whitney, Wilson, loung.-79.
NAYs-Messrs. Adams of Mayfed Bearce of
Turner, Bean, Berry of Damariseotta, Blake, Bliss
Bracket Clark OF Holden, Dearborn. Dickey,
Gates, Ham, Hammond of Westbrook, Hammond
Of Paris, Harding MnmphTey, H"sseH Jordan Of
kown, Mears, Mildram, Nickerson, Peavey, Pow,
ers, Ray, sherman of Islesboro', skinner, Smith of
White Wilbr-ss
ABsENT-Atiams of Bid,leford. Alexander, Ames,
Bartlett, Berry of Buxton, Bunker Burbank, Cot
ton Cousins, Gushing, bennett Douglass, Duncan,
Foster of Argyle, Holman, Jones' Libby, May
Mayo, Paige, Plummer, Pray Reed, Riggs, Sawyer
sherman of Camden Smith OF Warren, Sturgis,
So the resolve was tabled.
On motion of Mr.. BRADFORD, the report of
the committee to which was referred the joint
order relative to the attendance of the legis-
lature upon the reception ceremonies Of the
remains of the late Geo. Peabody, was taken
from the table and accepted.
On motion of the same gentleman, resolve
relating to the same subject was taken from
the table and indefinitely postponed.
\ communication was received from the
Secretary of State transmitting the annual
report of the Trustees and superintendent of
the Reform School for the year 1869.
On motion of Mr.. BARTON, resolve in rela-
ton to the Valuation Commission. was taken
g., IL, 81 ho.nn tba
adoption of the amendment offered by Mr..
Hartman yesterday.
Mr.. BARToN accepted the amendment
Mr.. BAKER thought this was opening new
grounds. He did not know but such might
have been the practice heretofore. He sup
posed the last session of the Legislature that
created this office had carefully examined
that matter and laid out the grounds ON
which they wished to have the valuation
made. And if they have that power now by
the resolves of last year, certainly we do not
need to pass this order. If they have not
that power by that resolve, at this stage of the
proceedings of that commission, he was OPP
posed to giving them any new power or in
trO9uce any new grounds on which the valu-
alton is to be based.
He saw some very singular grounds con-
tanned in the order. Instead of making up
the valuation upon the returns from the sew
eral towns of the state of property on the
first day of April last this order contemplates
that they shall receive new evidence of a
change in the state of property since the first
day of April, and go into the question of the
Indebtedness of towns, and prospective adj
vantages and disadvantages of different towns
in making up the valuation.
This was new matter to his mind, but it
struck him as very singular and remarkable
basis on which to put the valuation of property
in the State of Maine; for he understood that
a valuation to be taken is nothing but a valu
alton of property, not valuation of specula-
tive advantages or disadvantages of any part
of the State, and that that valuation should
be based upon the condition of property as it
existed on the first day Of April last and not
as it has been modified or changed since. If
these views were erroneous he desired to be
corrected.
Mr.. WHIDDEN hoped the resolution would
be duly considered by the House. He was
opposed to the passage of this resolution.
Still he did not concur exactly with the views
of the gentleman from Augusta, (Mr. Bakery
in relation to the powers and duties of the
State Valuation Committee. The first part
of this amendment he had no doubt was right
and correct in principle and law, viz: That
the Commissioners upon State Valuation may
take INTO cOnsluefatlOH OtHeT IlldtteTs anu
other evidence than is contained in the re-
turns of cities, towns, and platatiOns, as a
basis upon which to form State valuation.
The resolve forming Valuation Committee
also provides that the cities, towns, and plan
tations in this State, shall return their valua-
ton for the ten years preceding ; also the
cash valuation for the year 1869, that this
may be as much evidence upon which they
can base State valuation for the ensuing ten
years, not as conclusive, because if con-
elusive then there would be no necessity for
a State Valuation Committee, and the work
would be simply ministerial and not judicial.
Where work of that committee is judicial it
is within their powers, within their duties,
within their authority to take evidence that
they may deem proper and advisable, in order
to arrive at a correct and true valuation for
the next ten years. What is that evidence
1t is the valuation of the several cities, towns,
and plantations for the last ten years. But
they may be controlled by evidence. There
fore he did not agree with Mr.. Baker that it is
simply the amount of property of a city, town,
or plantation of the State on the first of
March, 1869, because if that property has since
been destroyed the Valuation Committee may
take evidence of that fact. 1t may enter into