Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-11
Property recommended TO be Taxed-Mr.
Pntne's Report.

1
Hon. A. W. Paine, of Bangor, appointed
by the Governor, Commissioner to ascertain
If there is any property in the State not nov
taxed that can be made available for taxation
laid his report before the legislature yester
day. The Commissioner has given to tn
subject all the attention possible in the littl'
| time that has been afforded him, and ha;
personally visited several Of the State cap
tals.
In reviewing the. statistics given by the
Commissioner, the following seems to bt
| adapted as items of taxation and revenue by
different States for the support of State gov.
eminent, besides that of direct tax:
lst-Corporations in general, and especial
ly railroads, telegraph and express compan.
les, canals, insurance companies, mining and
manufacturing corporations, Savings banks,
State and National banks, gas companies, and
toll bridges.
2d-Licenses Of different kinds to innkeep-
ers, retailers of merchandise, brokers, auc.
tioneers, peddlers, circus and other shows,
theatrical exhibitions, billiard rooms, and for
the sale Of foreign drugs and medicines, and
for marriages.
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,
and therefore the commissioner finds it diff
ficult task to suggest any definite plan to be
o11 taI harn "a itup m rH
against double taxation. Whatever rules are
adopted, great regard is to be had to the rel
alive ability of the citizens by classes, in
their private or corporate capacity, to bear
the burthens Of government.
Maine is a new State, comparatively, and
being somewhat removed from the large bust
ness centres, is cut Off from a great mass OF
activities and means of living and acquiring
| which other. enjoy. The policy is commend
ed Of encouraging the establishment and de-
velopment of manufactures. These already
bear their full burdens of taxation, 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 ac-
QUESTION 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
other subjects OF government of a business
character are compelled to perform. The
class spoke of embraces not oaly Railroads,
| but Insurance companies, Telegraph and Ex-
press companies, and perhaps some others
| Some of these, however, and especially tele-
graph companies, by tax on their stockh9ld-
ers, pay full share of the burthen, and SO
! far should be exempt from farther taxation.
/ After giving his reasons at length, why GER
| tain property should be taxed, the Commits
| sioner arrives finally at the following conclu-
| sions and recommendations to the legislature
lst-That all property of private corpora
tons be taxed the same as that Of individuals,
! in The place o. its locality, or use, the valua-
/ ton to include all benefits of its franchise
the tax to go TO the town or city, and TO be in
| full OF all tax on stock.
| 2d-That public corporations, including
railroads, but excluding telegraph companies,
be taxed for the sole use Of the State. Rail
roads to be assessed on valuation of all
their property and franchise and at the rate
| annually fixed for State tax. Such valuation
| TO be made on the same basis as other State
| and yalua ion by the Valuation Board of the
! legislature. 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.
| 3d-Legislatiye acts Of Incorporation and
private bills to pay duty to the State of So
each.
| 4th-Collateral inheritance to pay duty
on all property passing ty death TO other'
than issue, parents, husband and wife, of one
! to five per cent. according to nearness O.
| kindred.
5th-Ice gathered on tide waters for ex
portation to pay 10 cents per ton for the RICH
t to cut