Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-03-18


taxation, he will strive TO accomplish hi
purpose, whatever may be his occuption, o
wherever he is situated.
| Upon this topic the language of the repor
! is as fellows:
The legislature in its discretion, ha
always exercised the power of exemptin,
certain kinds of property from taxation. Or
the theory that taxation and protection ar,
reciprocal, no exemptions can be defended
As all property receives the equal protection
of the laws, all should be made to bear it,
proportionate share of the public burden
The exemption of any species of property
is not equal tavation, and can only be de
Tended on the ground of "A subsidy: for it j,
the same thing granting to the owners o.
the exempted property, a considerable sun
out of the public treasury"
Nor does the matter of exemption as found
upon our statute books, afford much ground
for complaint. This language is sweeping
and without exception under the law, as Goa.
strued bv the courts. Except in special in
stances. exemption is confined to the prop.
erty belonging To the State and the United
States. such as school houses. court houses,
custom houses. postoffices and other public
buildings; to household furniture. wearing
apparel. the tools of the mechanic, horses,
mules. neat cattle, swine and sheep less than
six months old, the polls and estates of In
dians and persons so poor that they cannot
contribute to the public charges; the prop.
erty of literary, benevolent and charitable
institutions, meeting houses and vestries.
and the furniture therein, and parsonages
for which no rent is received. and the hay.
grain potatoes, orchard products, and wool
in the possession OF the producer. As have
hoe a s1,.. Al.
emption by towns and cities of probate prop
erty belonging to manufacturing corpora
tions to be without the warrant of the consti-
tuition. The report mades an attack upon
all exemption without discrimination, and
declares that 1.-THE exemption of any species
of property is not equal taxation, and can
only be defended on the ground of a sub
sidy. Shall we tax those who from infrmity
cannot contribute towards the public charges ?
Shall we tax the inhabitants of an island for
highways, where there are no highways?
Shall we tax our Maine General Hospital.
our school houses. our orphan asylums which
give shelter TO the helpless little ones. who
have no father hand 10 provide for them, no
mothers care and solicitude to protect and
cherish them: Shall we tax the coat upon
vour back? Shall we tax the hay. grain pO-
tatoes, apples and wool and young stock. in
the hands of the farmer. and necessary to the
support of himself and family? Shall We tax
the church yard where repose the ashes of the
dead? Shall we tax the church and its yestry
and the parsonage. devoted exclusely to pur-
poses of the christian religion? know. sir.
that it is quite the fashion in these latter day S
to urge the taxation of places Of public wor-
ship. In 1879 the legislature passed law
making all churches property, except the
church and its furniture and the parsonage
subject to taxation. This was Intended to
make taxable property which was owned by
religious societies winch yielded an income
But when you come TO tax the temples dedl-
cated I" puoiic ~orship, then you violate the
'eaehings NOT Only Oh our ne" Eng'ahd
ancestors Dut yo" 10 violence 10 the oetter
sentiments OF the people at large. ror what-
ever may be our dl1erences OF political opln-
IONS we snaii agree mat some KIND OF relig-
lons falth Is necessary TO the stability OF the
State ana the permanency ot free gov
erhmeht. Ana IL VIII 1urther De cohceued
'nat no lal'n mas ever prove" Hseit more
efhcient Tor these purposes than the
christian Religion, with Its pure mo-
raiity. ana It's subiime doctrine of MINOR
taiity. by Its teachings. the nerce passions
OF humanity ar" restrained ana governed
snect for the RIGHTS nf norsona and nronerty
- stranr,honod ond contrmod ana r,onL;na
ara ,anal,, ,h., ,ho, ,rara horr 90 das,;n,.
-, s..Ia -, a. ~ is
"s r. h,,n,an o,;",n,oa =. Ias,;a 81,
VI ".'e .u"" al
ou, i"s.i'u'iv"s' anu """e'er IL may pe as,
saiieo' WIN continue ~ pe c"erisheu &h1
p'I'uo.eu, pn, 81 ,o"s as "en ueie ., secuIny an.
e.""'' ~ . nv anu ~.
VI ."e ", VI ''e '"h''s' VI
'oees All" VI '"e "'"''
hope TINS language OF the message con-
tanned IN the report was not well considered.
and tha' the writer did not intend the full
e"eo' Vi '"e s'",e"e"'- pu' ~ so"e'ihes
''sppe"s 'l'a'' !" ''e ge"era' Po'uca' drht o'
uoGu..en'' .he consequence, OF It's recon-,
'.ena,'.'o"s ,., an. o'er'ooNeu' sna.l ho' iee'
AZ i.oe'v III '''is ,p"'ec''o" W u'scuss ,ne
."Na''o' Vi oa''o'a' oo"'>' 'or Tue reason ,',A'
II ""s peo"e "sa''>oIne anu unproh'aoie'
ne ecn"es VI .ne controversy nave oeeh
ne. a Il. !" .y "" ""u olt. Vi ''e ",a'e'
"nu VI. Pup. U, '"ls eoHn'sY ,e ha'e Io"e
sinee uee,ueu eI ~ 'ones'iy .n Iuln' IN 'ime ol
pe"'e anu P.en.y' ,ne co"'rac' na1e "hen
Tue cieu,' vi ,"e >a'io" was shaken anu
NeaAenru ar, ps 'ie herce "h'ri~iHu OF civi
u' in's 4ue.uoh "as nee" Passeu upon ps
'"e ""o.e oou"'','
The democratic party, grounded in the
teaching of its founders and great apostles
believes in a metallic standard of values Gold
and silver have been and are now in the judg
ment of that party the proper metals to coin
into money. for the use of the people. And
however they NAV now and then sfeu All 10