Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1890-09-12
MAINE TAXATION.
The Special Tax Commission
Makes its Report
In Which is Made Important and keCss.
sary Recommendations.
For Charges IN Our Tax Laws
Strong Reasons for So Dsins.

/ The Special lax Ccmmssioners or
Maine have completed their report TO Gov
ernor Burlegh. TIE commission consists
of Hou. Oliver Il. Hsll. of Ws,erville,
Justice Of the Superior Court, Kcnnehec
county, chsitmsn; Hon. John Cutler of
| Bangor, ex-president Of the Senate. and
/ Gen. Samuel j. Anderson of Portland, col
( lec,or of customs for that district. They
were appointed by the Governor under
resolve of the last Legislature, Sih power
to make general Inquiry into tha systems
of taxation of the several States of the
Union and 'to provide fer more equal,
Just and equitable stem Of taxation Of all
kinds ol properly in this State, for State,
county and municipal purposes. They
were also instructed "to provide for bet
ter AMI more efectual system and col'tr-
ton of taxes in this S'ate." The commits
soners entered upon Ii If very orcrous
and difficult task in November, ls>!, Sc
lettiny A. NJ. Goldsri, Esq, of Augusta,
as their clerk, and nov, after about ten
months OF labor, have completed system
of taxation which will 20 before the next
Legislature for its con,i 'eraticn The re
port gives in lucid and eogeut form the
reasons and Arguments upon which are bss-
ed the main features of the sNs'em propos-
ed, which includes many radical departures
from the present tax laws of the State,
= !.
Gins with a br.ef statement of The work Of
til. commissi IN and the cour'e pursued b.
them to learn the precise deticieuces of the
present Law and the improved systems or
methods of ass ssmert IN oti or STATE that
&C n,ain featur,s worthy of adop i'm. The
comm ssione1s Wis t,A many States: exam
inei critically the tax laws AMI their pract-
c-i workings in those States whose laws are
radi ally different from those of Maine
torresponded extensively with municipal
{ file ,rs, farmers ard other busiecss mtn,
and studied the various theories of econo- |
mis,s They were limited by the resolve
under which the were sppoint,d 'to pro-
vide for a more equal, Just and equitable
;, tenn of taxation Of all htddS If prop |
erty;" and were tn reiore preclud, Il, what
ever may have been their private judgment
ilpn dhN ~ ~ W "''''i' '' |
not include every species of property. The |
single tax - stem and the system ox aluii |
all evidences of d-bt as sutj 'cts Of taxa
ton and other fsvorite theories OF modern
writers on taxation problems, had therefore
10 be discarded. The clmmis,ion does not
agree with those who would have the State
t.xes derived wholly from sources indie.
pendent OF general property. On this
moi ft,u Tina
STATE TAXATION.
AT is believed by many that it msy be
possible TO assess upon corporations an
sm-ult sufficient for State expen,c'. ard
mus she l ccessity for n property tax be
avoi led II tLi' were posi- le within the
limit of just taxation of corpurston-
would, 10 a considerable .xt mt rrli 'yr tie
general tax burden Of the people. But there
are ofher ques ions. besides that of Il slight |
decrease Of taxation to be considered in
this connection. Would it BE- wise and
sslutsfy thing TO sever the financial ligs-
me Mt which now closely unites the State
government with tie town and in fac rith |
every ind vidual: Would it be beneficial to
The people at large II have the power aud |
influence Of ccrrora'ions - immeuse'v eT
tended ss they would be in case tIe Statc
were dependent alone on them for its rev
enues; IL does not appear 10 US that spcb
policy would be n wise one and that, t re
sort to it. ponli be 10 sacrifice an imroitan' |
pine pie. a paicrnsl and unifying element
Of State govern rent, at a very cheap
price There is litc DANCE. hoaeyer,
that such a policy will be adop.ci in Ari~
fo- a long time, az IT would rot BE- p'.sIbie,
nth any degree of jIstca, TO levy n onr
State taxes upon corp p>rations. cspa' ia''y j.
our svs'cm of distrlDutors to tDwns for |
school and other purpose, is to be e3r-
tinled. The average amount anfu,.ly de
rived by the State frorn property tsSs,
from lsS0 10 1890 inclusive, was @Sj3.
1872 50. The assessments were as follDwa