Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-19
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
SESArE.
THURSDAY. March Is.

|
PRAYER by Rev. Mr. GgovESoR Of Halo
well.
| Papers from the House disposed of in con
currencc.
Bill an act To amend chap. 81 of the re-
. vised statutes, came up for its first reading
Nr. BRADFORD said i: might be expected
that the judiciary Committee would explain
this bill Some three years ago the vesse
referred 10 in the bill was rebuilt. at an ex
pense of several thousand dollars. A lier
claim was put ON the vessel. which has been
living in dock. and this act is necessary in or.
der that the lien NAV be enforced.
The rules were suspended and the bill
passed to he enerossed.
An act relating TO the taxation of railroads
was taken up.
Mr.. DixoIrv said this is bill that all will
admit as une of great Importance While il
is late in the session, this cannot by any
means be regarded as new matter. In 1874
an act passed the legislature taxing railroad
companies. based upon the shares of such
roads. ON this basis the tax on railroads has
been raised from that time. The law tested
the validity Of the roads, as they claimed to
be exempt from taxation under the provisions
of their charter But the law passed. and
the roads were taxed on the basis of their
shares They refused to nav and appealed "a
the courts. The highest tribunal in Maine
decided apainst them. and the railroad COM
panies carried it to the Supreme Court of
the United States and after A long contest
the court approved the decision of the Su
preme Court of Maine. and that the railroad
property of the State, under the constitution
and Law s, was taxable like other property.
The bill proyides that railroads shall be
taxed like other propertv, and nothing else.
II will be seen at once that railroads are now
taxed on the value of shares, which is based
on the the worth of property less liabilities.
That in his estimation was the great pcint.
and will show this difference between the
present bill and the law as it now stands.
Farmers, mechanics, merchants and man.
ufacturers, and in fact all others owning pro-
pertv are taxed, regardless of mortgages that
NAV be upon the property taxed. or the
debts they owe. The great point is that the
tax upon railroads is not fair and equitable.
as regards other property. The constitution
provides that all property shall be taxed ac-
cording to its true cash value. The great
bulk of the property in the State is thus tax
ed. Why should this be made an exception?
There is now in the State some $40. 900. 900
invested in railroad property. There may be
more.
The roads are taxed by their shares. and
the towns and cities where depots are loca-
ted have this benefit of municipal tax.
but outside of that the larger part of the stock
is ned out of the State, and escapes taxation
Is it right and equitable that men should
come here from beyond the State. and own a
species of property not taxable? This prop
ertv. living within the limits of the State should
be taxed The Boston & Maine Railroad is
mostly owned ont Of the State Why should
that corporation, composed mostly of wealthy
men, have special privileges i'm the matter of
taxation Property must be taxed under
the law and constitution He saw no reason
why the bill should not pass, and railroads
be taxed the same as other property. This
is not to impose burden of taxation upon
the corporations. A tax of one and one-half
per cent. which this bill provides is less
than the average tax on other propertv.
throughout the State. In taxing this 500
600, 900 worth of property. deducting the local.
municipal tax now paid, there would accrue
$50. 900 to the treasury of the State: while
during the past year the revenue
derived from that source has amounted to but
S35. 900. He did not see why any distinction
should be made in the taxation of property.
When other property is taxed, why should
this be exempt. While these stockholders, liv-
ing out of the State. have all the advantages of
our business, he could not see why their prop
erty owned here should not be taxed.
People are thinking. all over the State. in
regard to this matter. and thev will not be
satisfied until these large corporations. COM
posed mostly of rich men, are made to paw
taxes on an equality with themselves. The
bill is in every respect we'll guarded 1t does
not interfere with the municipal taxes. and is
emineptly lust to all concerned.
Mr.. Hill objected to the massage of the bill
at this late dav. The committee on finance
had considered the subject matter embraced
in the bill. and had unanimously come to the
conclusion that it would be better for the
State to tax this year under the
old law. The figures and facts have
been looked up and that opinion reached.
Should the road-bed be taxed some of the
roads in the State would be compelled to sus-
pend business. as they are now earning moth
ing. and could not pay the tax. He moved
that the bill be referred to the next lepisla-
ture. As he was satisfied that more revenue
could be derived from the presen. law than
the one proposed.
Mr.. DrxGLEY said the matter was submit
ted to the committee on finance several weeks
ago he had several times INQUIRED concern
ing its progress. but for reasons best known
TO themselves no report had been made. Yes
terday morning he had first a.certained that
the committee would not report. and the
excuse that the matter now comes up late in