Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1874-02-19
State News.


Hon. A. W. Paine, OF Bangor, appoint
ed by the Governor. Commissioner To as.
certain il there is any property In The State
not now taxed that can be made available
for taxation. has submitted his report
In reviewing the statistics given by the
Commls sloner, the following seems to be
adapted as items OF taxation and revenue
by different States for the support OF state
government beside that OF Il direct tax
Interpretations In general, and espcc-
tally railroads, telegraph and express
companies, canals, iusura nee companies
mining and manufacturing corpor ations
Savings banks, State and National banks
gas companies. and toll bridges.
2d-Licenses OF different kinds to inn.
keepers, retailers of merchandise. brokers.
anctioneers, peddlers, circus and other
shows, theatrical exhibitions, illiar,l
rooms, and for the sale OF foreign drugs
aud medicines, and for marriages.
3d-Fees for legal instruments OF dffer-
ent kinds, such as wills, deeds, contracts
writs etc.
Ith-Collateral inhe ritance tax
5th-Bounties for legislative private acts
and acts OF Incorporation, to be paid be.
fore the acts can become effective
Several OF the States have adopted
each other, and therefore the commission
er finds il difficult task to suggest any
definite plan to be adopted here. 1t is I'm
portaHt to guard against double taxation.
Whatever rules are adopted, great regard
is to be had to the relative ability of the
citizens by classes, in their private or cor
porate capacity, TO bear the burthens OF
government.
Maine Is new State. comparatively,
and being somewhat removed from the
large business centres, is cut of from a
great mass of activities and means OF Iiv-
ing and acquiring which others enjoy.
The policy is commended Of encouraging
the establishment and development OF
manufactures. These already bear their
full burdens Oftaxation, and this may be
also true of other industries, which are
spoken of at length in the report But
there are corporations whose object is the
acquisition of wealth. The State has thus
far largely exempted them from the pub
lie charge until they have matured a
goodly strength, and no reason is seen
why they should not now assume the du-
ties which all other subjects Of govern
ment OF business character are compel-
ed TO perform. The class spoken of en-
braces not only Railroads but Insurance
companies, Telegraph and Express COM
panles. and perhaps some others. Some
OF these. however. and especially telegraph
companies, BY tax on their stockholders,
pay full share of the burthens. and so
far should be exempt from farther taxa
ton. After giving his reasons at length,
why certain property should be taxed. the
Commissioned arrives finally at the follow
ing conclusions and rscomme ndations to
the Legislature
lst-That all property OF private cor
porations be taxed the same as that of In.
dividnals. in the place of its locality. or
use, the valuation TO include all benefits OF
its franchise; the tax to 20 to the town or
city. and to be in full of all tax on stock.
2d-fhat public corporations, including
railroads. but excluding telegraph CON-
panies. be taxed for the sole use of the
State. Railroads to be assessed on a val
uation Of all their property and franchise
and at the rate annually fixed for State tax.
Such valuation to be made on the same
basis Is other State. and valuation, BY the
Valuation Board Of the legislature. In
surance companies, IF taxed at all, to paw
q tax Of one per cent. OH their premiums.
Express companies to pay like tax on
their receipts. jbc VS. s.iI le -. Y5
3d-Lesislative acts OF incorporation and
private bills to pay duty to the State of
4th+ Collateral inheritance 10 paw duty
on all property passing BY death 70 Others
than issue, parents, husband and wife, Of
one to hve per cent, according 70 nearness
q sth-Ice gathered on I'd. wsster, for 4,
PoItation 70 pay 10 cents per ton Tor the
ys9ess ~ c9s.ytt Sui ~ jH9f3lllife s5Yi9o