The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-02-12
Tax Commissioners Report.

The brief telegraphic synopsis of the report
of Hon. A. w. Paine. Tax Commissioner, did
not give so complete an idea of the kinds of
property that he recommends for taxation as
the following abstract from the Kennebec
journal:
In reviewing the statistics given by the Com
missioner, the following seems to be adapted as
items of taxation and revenue by different
States for the support OF State government,
besides that of direct taz:
1st-Corporations in general, and especially
railroads, telegraph and express companies,
canals, insurance companies mining and manu-
featuring corporations, savings banks State
and national banks, gas companies and toll
bridges
2d-Iicenses of different K. nds to inn-keep-
ers, retailers of merchandise, brokers, auction
GERS, pedders, circus and other shows, theatre
cal exhibitions, billiard rooms, and for the sale
of foreign drugs and medicines, and for mar
rIages.
3d-Fees for legal instruments of different
kinds. such as wills, deeds, contracts, writs,
etc.
4th-Collateral inheritance tax.
5th-Bounties for legislative private acts
and acts of Incorporation, to be paid before the
act can become effective.
Several of the States have adopted means of
revenue directly the reverse of each other, ard
therefore the Commissioner finds it difficult
task to suggest any definite plan to be adopted
here 1t is important to guard against double
taxation. Whatever rules are adopted, greater
regard is to be had the relative ability of the
citizens by classes, in their private corporate
capacity to bear the burthens of government.
Name is new State, comparatively, and
being somewhat removed from the large bust
ness cenrres.is cut off from great mass of acti-
vites and means of living and acquiring which
| others eujoy. The policy is commended of en-
| cOuraglng the establishment and development
| of manufactures. These already bear their full
burdens of taxation. and this may also be true
of other industries. which are spoken of at
length in the report But there are corpora.
tions whose object is the acquisition of wealth.
The State has thus far largely exempted
them from the public charge until they have
matured goodly strength, and no reason is
seen why they should not now assume the du-
ties which ali other subjects of government of
business character are compelled to perform.
The class spoken Of embraces not only Rail-
roads but Insurance companies, Telegraph and
Express companies, and perhaps some others.
graph companies, by tax on their stockholders
| pay full share of their burden, and SO far
should be exempt from further taxation. After
giving his reasons at length, why certain prop
rives finally at the following conclusions and
recommendations to the Legislature:
1st-That all property of private corporations
be taxed the same as that of individuals, in the
place of its locality, or use, the valuation to in
clude all benefits Of its franchise; the tax to
| go to the town or city, and to be in fnl of all
| tax on stock.
2d-That public corporations, including rail-
roads, but excluding telegraph companies, be
| taxed for the sole use of the State. Railroads
to be assessed on a valuation of all their prop
| erty and franchise and at the rate annually
| fixed for State tax. Such valuation to be
| made on the same basis as other State, and
| valuation by the Valuation Board of the Legis-
latnre. Insurance companies, if taxed at all,
to pay tax of one per cent on their premiums.
Express companies to pay like tax on their
receipts. .ir ~
3d-Legislative acts of incorporation and
private bills to pay duty to the State of $25
each. sulJ -
4th-Collateral inheritance to pay a duty on
all property passing by death to others than
issue, parents, husband and wife, of one to five
per cent according to nearness of kindred
5th-lce gathered on tide waters for exporta-
ton to pay 10 cents per ton for the rteht to cnt