Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-03-20
NO. 60
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
SENAvE.
FRipAY, March ~

Met aCCNrutny To atucufn0cnt
Prayer by Rev. Mr.. FuILER Of Hallowell.
| Papers from the House disposed Of in con-
| currcnce.
| On motion OF Mr. PARcnER the order eN-
cusing Senator Parlin from attendance on and
after Thursday. 18th. was taken up and
passed.
| Rill an act relating to the taxation Of rail-
roads came from the House amended. by
| making the tax one per cent. instead Of one
| and one-haf.
Mr.. PArrKN moved that the Senate recon-
| slider the vote passing the bill to be cngrossed
for the purpose of adopting the amendment.
Carried. and the amendment adopted.
The question then came on passing the bill
To be engrosscd.
Mr.. HAwss said he was fearful that the
committee of which he was the chairman had
not been truly represented here. The impu
tai,on had been made that the matter had
been smothered in the committee. and failed
Ia report upon i, for the purpose Of stining II.
The first order on the subject was introduced
in the House on the llth of February. and
referred to the Judiciary Committee. and an
other on the 18th of same month. The mat
ter did not come fully before the Finance
Committee until the 9Th of March, (thc bill
of Mr.. Perry and the committee reported
on the ninth, that it ought not to pass. No
This bill is pushed IN here without a hearing;
under such circumstances il is not fair to
change the base Of taxation on such vast in
teres,s. We are taxing the savings of poor
people who have their money in savings
banks a portion of whose securities are in
railroad bonds. We need more information
ON the subject, and he moved that the Senate
go into committee of the whole for the pur.
pose of listening to gentlemen who are well
informed upon the subject.
Mr. DrNaLry was a little surprised that at
this stage of proceedings on this bill, mo
ton of this kind should be made. This mat
ter having been acted upon by both branches
and passed by a majority of three to one. TO
have interested parties come in here and ask
IA hearing, is unparalleled. The Senate is per-
fcctly competent to act upon this matter with
out outside influences. This matter has been
detained now in the committee altogether tI0
long. 1t certainly looked to him as though
the matter was stihcd in committee. There
are no parties here on the other side, and 70
considered it entirely unfair to open thu
doors 10 outside parties.
President LoCkE said the whole subject
matter had been reported upon in the House,
and it should not have been introduced again
without giving three days notice. Yesterday
when the bill came up few knew of its efccts.
affect Portland, or Cumberland county, and
wished to obtain information upon the sui.
ject. This is not an unusual course to pur-
sue. in asking for q committee of tine whole.
1t has been stated that there is no one 10
speak for the other side lie thought the
honorable Senator from Androsrogxin fully
competent 10 take care of the other side Of
the question. He thought there ought not
to be disposition to shut out
light on so important matter.
Mr.. ELLIS thought we were not working
in the dark on this question. 1t had been
fully discussed in the Senate and House, and
he was opposed to opening the subject to in
definite debate.
Mr.. DEARnoRN was opposed to commit
tee of the whole. Senators pretty well un-
derstand the matter now.
Mr.. BERRY thought the question was well
understood already. II has been in the
minds of all talked about at hotels, in this
Capitol and by the people of this State gen
orally He thought that Senators were ready
to vote inteligently.
Mr.. PATTEN said it was unjust, and discour-
teous to ask for committee at this time, when
there was no opportunity to present the other
| side He didn't believe in asking these in
tercsted parties TO instruct us as to what We
shall do. The reason he spoke so sharply was
because VIC have been so bored with lobbyists.
lie was ready to vote for this because on the
principle of right and justice, and leave the
event with his constituents in old Penobscot.
Mr.. LOCKE said the reference to LOBBYISTS
was extremely unjust. He did send for one
gentleman that he might receive information
on the subject. lie didn't believe in the
Senate doing an unjust thing The talk
about lobbyist is the fling Of a man who is
bound to carry his point, right or wrong. He
thought there were none too wise TO receive
information.
Mr.. ELLIS said the committee would cause
delay. and no one could tell what the end
would be. He found no fault whatever with
| lobbyists. People have tn. right to come
here and talk with members of the legisla-
ture. II is their right and privilege.
Mr.. DEkETo.S did not wish to inpupn
any mans motive. He trusted that all acted
upon principle.
Mr.. WAKEFIELD said VIC are all asking for
| light. and he could see no objection to hay-
ing a further hearing lie regarded it as
just and right, and was in favor Of it.
| Mr.. DISGLEY opposed the committee on
| principle. 1t will give bnt one side an OPP
portunty for hearing. If the proper time
| had been set, and all parties heard, il would
! be different.
| Mr.. LOCKE called attention to the bill, and
claimed that under it not cent Of tar could
be collected. If the roads refuse to pay the
tax, and you attempt TO collect it, you must
resort to simple action Of debt, and what
are you going to enforce 1t against. The
Maine Central for instance, has a debt Of
80, ,00O, 900. and floating debt Of 81, 1000, ,0IO
more. Pnt on tax Of one per cent on the
road land it would not be valued for LEES
than its bonds, and you will have tax of
$4,000 The net earnings Of the road last
year were $40, ,6o0--not enough to pay the tax.
The result would be, the tax would not bs
paid. The case would go to the courts, and in
the course Of four or five years Judgment
would be rendered against the road. and yon
would have nothing behind Il. Judgment
against the Maine Central would nos be worrfl