Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-03-14
MIME LEGTSLATURE.
Remarks Of Mr.. Tobey Of Athens.

MIR. SPEAKER AND GESTLEMES 1t II "th
known Cor the fact can be ascertalnedl y that
In is55, when the poll tax was raised from
two to three dollars, it was to meet the ex-
iyencies OF that year, and 1t was the SPECIFIC
reason alleged for the increase in the debate
of that season. Now what is the fact in re-
gard to that particular year! Why, sir, the
State tax assessed was over twenty-tour hun
dred thousand dollars, and the towns were
deeply indebted on account of bounties paid
to- soldiers, and, as matter of course, the
per centage of tax on the property was very
large, therefore the legislature increased the
rate on polls from two to three dollars.
How stands the case to-day! Does that
state of things exist! DO We propose to put
any such sum upon the people Of the State
this year? No such thing is entertained by
this legislature. Our State tax will not be
more than one half of what it in ls65-
when the poll tax was raised. Now, Mr..
''pcaker. how is it with majority of the
towns? Why, sir, after applying to the
liquidation of their debts, the bonds issued
(to them) by the State on account of the mu-
nicipal war debts. they will be free from debt,
q say a majority and many of said towns
will have a fund on hand and some contem-
plate the purchasing Of farm for the support
of their poor, with the surplus fund. Then
I ask if the very unusual large tax that was
to be assessed the year of 1865, was the rea-
son of the increase of the poll tax! Why not,
when that reason has been removed make
corresponding reduction OF tax upon the polls!
And do believe that majority OF the legis-
lators that voted for that increase. did not in
tend that so high a poll tax should become a
permanent law. 1t seems to me that this in
crease was to meet that particular case-the
object being obtained and the cause removed
The law, in my Judgment, should die with it.
l will now say word in regard to the
principle of high poll taxes, and will ask.
lis 1t right and just. or is it wrong and OPP
pressive-is il good. political economy, or is
it an unwise and narrow policy for State to
adopt" These, sir. are questions that we
should well consider and decide them upon
their real merits. regardless whether we are
affected in our dollar interest, either one way
or the other-I mean, sir, as Legislators of
the State. Now, sir. believe it is wrong in
principle, and in many instances oppressive.
The law, as it now stands, puts one-sixth OF
the whole amount to he assessed upon the
polls and not to exceed three dollars; the old
law was for years before the war onc-eighth
of the whole, and not to exceed one dollar.
This bill provides two-dollar Limitation,
which is higher rate than any other State
that have any knowledge except New Hanip-
shire and some one or two other States. The
great West, as rule, has no poll tax or a
mere nominal one, cash tax being the ex-
ception to the rule.
1t is said tn 1t we have, in this State, about
one hundred and forty thousand polls this
will give you four hundred and twenty thou
sand dollars under the present law that rests
arbitrarily upon the bone and muscle of the
State, and thousands of them were at the front
at the time this unfriendy legislation was go
ing on at home. This class of men should
not, in my opinion, be obliged to relieve
property in this manner, when they, by their
valor and heroic efforts, have saved the whole.
Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen, can we afford to
be unjust to one of these? Many of them are
now working hard to support themselves and
their families, and yet they must pay this ex-
ira amount that was assessed when one dollar
in currency was not worth fifty cents, and a
paper man would fetch four hundred dollars
of these same promises.
Mr. Speaker, have called this law the re-
suit of unfrendly legislation and wrong in
principle, (athough it was not much so at
that time as it is at the present time). What
are the facts? Why, sir, we must all admit
that it dscriminates against the poor and in
favor of the rich Figures demonstrate this
and it cannot be refuted. The reason of this
is that the more we put upon the polls the less
there is for the property to pay. 1t is prin-
ciple in moral philosophy that a community
or a States civilization is measured by its
benevolcnce, and this is seen in the many in
stitutions which it conceiyes and creates. and
the laws that govern them; and as this law is
not, in my opinion, the result OF pure benev-
olence it does not tend to a higher state Of
civilization. But on the contrary it is the
legitimate offspring of the.war, the war re-
snlting directly from principles of barbarism
which undertook to ride rough-shod over our
benevolent institutions, and thereby crush out
true civilization.
But | am told there is no complaint on ac-
count of this tax. This is not the case, al
though there has not been much complaint
made here from the people in regard to this
particular tax or any other, yet we all know
that they feel that they are burdened with
taxes. Shall we wait for floods Of petitions to
come up here before we will change this law !!
Why, sir, they have petitions last year and
this; now shall tell you why We are not i'm
portuned upon this subject every day? 1t is
simply this, that the class of our citizens that
are wronged in this matter, are the men Of
small property and the poor man of no prop
erty except that which makes poor men rich
a. e., a large famly,) this class of men never
comes here to lobby the members of this
House. But, sir, when the money power is
assailed look out for your own seat or you
will lose it and if not they may have your
head or addle your brain. Capital is ever on
the alert. always vigilant to protect itself and
seeking new opportunities for profit and pow
or of this need only to remind You OF the
many projects and bills pointing in that direc-
ton, which have been and are now pressing
themselves upon the attention Of this House,
and Sir, that same vigilance is wide awake
whenever the assessors are trying to peer into
its pockets and measure its depths. No dam
ger that it will not make its own abatement
of tax before it is assessed.
Mr.. Speaker have thus far been talking in
regards to two classes only, the ups and dozens
and that this law is benefit to the one and
detrimental to the other. Now let me just say
that there is large class in the centre of the
extremes that are not interested in this quarter,
SO as far as their pockets are concerned, (and
here let me add that high poll tax is unjust
ia my opinion, for the reason that 1t is I'M
equal; it is unequal because it has no regard
of mans ability to pay,) then let us value
the man or reduce the tax.
Now Mr.. Speaker and Gentlemen. the mex
question that arises is this, is it expcdient, il
il good policy for the State to so shape hel