Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-01-23
STATE VALUATION
Statements Regarding 1t by a Com
missioner. which Differ from Those
OF Judge Hal.

The following communication, from the
sion is . lf.expIans,ory, and will be read
with much interest by commissioners,
assessors and tar pa, ers
AUGUSTA, Me, Jan. %, 1890.
Nh EDITOR II noticed in the Journal
of the 22i an art Gle from the peu of Judge
Hall ia which he says 1T is 4 rare hing TO
find any money at interest to tax IN Name"
| find III At more or less money is returned
by the ssseseegs OF most of the toms in the
State. The Neeord hardly jus,ities the gen
ersl statement. IL is 20 he regretted that
ali mon y. and securities liable 10 taxation
are not returned. yet the fact IS thai a very
large amount - returned and taxed. The
Judge says The same kinds of stock
are valued in one town at $40 pr
head and in ano'ber near by at SIS
This last statement nay be true. but
surt q instance has never ONE TO my
know ledge IN the examtn. It on of the yalua-
ton Of stock in Large number of towns,
though the valuation differs some~ hst
wi ieiy, but thiHk careful enquiry Will
show that the valuation of the different
kinds Of stock d ffers little more than their
actual value. A comparison of the safue
placed upon the same kinds o. stock in all
the towns in Maine shows more equal
valuation thsn one would think possible,
everything considered. The writer further
asserts that "'iand' in one town are valued
at not more than one third actual value and
IN another at full value Sdch an IN
stance of under valuation did not come To
the knoelsdge o. the Valuation Commits
sion of 1880 nor has the present Commis-
sion vet discovered such reckless valuation
of lands The writer further snys that
..in the one case the per cent of tax is high
and in another low, the valuation being
fixed In each locality with reference 10 its
feet on the State tax for the place" In
regard to the tax il NAV be said the State
tax ia the same per cent in all towns. and
III. munici ,al tax depends largely upon the
pru,leuce and economy OF the officers of
the town and upon the Indebtedness of the
town incurred for variou. purposes. II Is
a grave charge to Assert that the owners
a jng under oath IN matters that effect the
substantial interest of their tom act so
corruptlv Ms to uni, rvslne property for the
sake of escsping so small matter as the
amount which might possibly be saved
from the Stote tax ia that way. 1t would
seem that upon a candid consideration OF
that statement il would require more propf
than q mere assertion to give 1t currency
1t is further stated in the same article
,hst The last Commission alone cost $40,
TOO" IL it could be shown how much
il cost towns and individuals to SEND
delegations before the Commission al
Augusta to secure reduction in vslustion
i, their new locsitieG. or increase Ia the
valuation Of neighboring localities 1t wonld
he found that SIG 900 WAS but uihina
mart of the cost of the decennlai attempt 10
law the assessment through the STATE
I have no doubt, though | have not ex-
.mined the record 10 ascertain that the iss'
commisson cost SIG 900. but the state
ment to the expense of parties attending
before the Commission needs Confirmation
Hmm examination of the minutes taken by
the Commission in 1850 and inquiry OF mem
her, of the last Commission feel author
nod tn state that the entire expense IN
curre d by all parties for all imposes Al
lending before the last convention was Tess
than A. 600 | think not more than mar
that amount.
The writer further says, at amounts 70
. d,cernisi war smorg the counties ana
/ hundreds of town skirmishes 10 beat the
valuations which are to furnish the ossi-
of State tsxes for ten years thereafter.
have never be fore heard Of any suca con-
,.n,ion. and would ike to have the
writer furnish me specific Information
upon that point and at the same
time furnish information as to VIVA
towns have vslustion Of one-ihir'
N .ir actual value. l he same sriicle con
! -. ,a,ts,p oth,r statements which mika
H., ..,;s~ sd with interest | agree full,
with the learned Judge that There may snc
ouvh, to be some careful, well CONSIDERED
Legislation in regard to the matter 4 tax
anon With A view to its equsllzaton' no
because just taxation i. burden or oush
IN he 80 considered. We get in return foi
the taxes raid. schools. WAYS, and all ,n'
prot, ction and advantages whica make III
in a State Ike Maine go desirsoie An
happy. HIRAM