The Portland daily press., 1891-02-06
The Tax Hearing,

The taxation of steam and street railroads
telegraphs, telephones and expresses was tn
subject Of the hearing before the special ia,
committee in Representatives hall this eve
ming. The attendance was a little large
than on previous evenings.
Chairman Spear announced that by specia
request the hearing on street railroads wa
postponed until Monday, February 16.
Gen. Mitchell said he was here In the In
terest of the Bangor street railroads, bu
would consent to the adjournment.
Mr.. Hall @. Burleigh of Vassalboro wa:
the first speaker. He said he was hear In the
interests Of the Farmers Protective Union
The farmers believe that they have lone
borne the long end Of the yoke. and tha
there was much property that did not pay 1t:
just 81 are Of taxation.
After looking over the earning and length OF
times we have come to this decision. Fol
the first thousand dollars Of gross earnings
per mile we propose one-half of one per cent
or So; for the second one tn usand one and
one half per cent or SIS; for the third one
thousand two and 0ne-half per cent; for the
fourth thousand three and One-half per cent
for the fifth thousand four and one-half per
cent per mile, which would amount to roads
earning five thousand dollars per mile to S125
per mile. We thus continue In the same
ratio for the sixth, seventh or eight thous-
and. Above eight thousand 1t would remain
at seven and one-half per cent per mile. The
weaker roads would not be cramped, as on
earnings Of one thousand per mile their tax
would only be So per mile. We have come
to the conclusion tnat this is fair and equit-
able rate.
Mr.. ]. P. Bass of Bangor believed the pres.
ent system OF taxing the gross earnings 10
relations to the towns and cities In accord
ance with the amount Of stock owned by
their citizens. The correct one, one rate, oi
course, was to be settled by the legislature
This system has been endorsed by the lead
ing minds outside the state. Mr.. Bass was
satisfied that the present system could not
be improved, the question being for the
committee to determine whether or not the
tax should be increased.
A A Strout of Portland, said he W ould
make a statement In regard to the only road
he was counsel for. The Atlantic d st. Law
renee railroad was chartered in 1845, and
among the stockholders were many prOmi-
nent citizens OF the state: The legislature
made an agreement with the road which es.
tablished method Of taxation by which real
estate should be taxed by the various towns
In which 1t was and the stock as personal
property Of the holder, and after the stuck
paid the holder ten pe0 cent the state was to
no other tax should be assessed or levid upon
the road. Having full faith In the promise
Of the legislature the Grand Trunk offered.
and finally In 1854, with legislative consent
leased the road. Mr.. StrOut wanted the
committee to remember the contract OF the
state with the Atlantic and Pacific which are
still sacred to the lessees Of the Grand
Trunk.
Hon. George P Wescott said he
would like to apply, Mr.. Burleigh's 8
bill to a little road he had operated
ter Mr. se .hs uSacsI Gcnss ns.
tory Of the road. Last year 1t paid a tax of
abodt $500 Including local taxes. Applying
the tax Of 5000 laid by t1e proposed law tD
the net earnings. Mr.. Wesc0tt figured that
OF the net earnings of $4,000 last year the
tax would have been IL per cent. In 1889 a
similar computation shows the tax would
would have amounted to II per cent Of the
cent OF the net earnings. and In 1888, Is per
cent.
Judge Wing of Auburn said few words
In favor of the Rumford Falls railroad. To
involve increased taxes and with the legisla-
ture to lower fares would place the road
where 1t couldn't stand an accident to say
the least.
E. +. Webb of Waterville wanted to say
word for the Somerset railroad; they had AZ
miles of road with earnings of $54. 200 or
something more than $1,000 per mile. IL was
the opinion OF this road that the present
way of taxing was about as equitable as any
one could desire, and he didn't understand
that there was any special demand for a
change. No railroads In Maine are getting
very rich and but few paying dividends al
though don't know whether they are earn
Ing them or not.
Mr.. Burleigh said that under the Vermont
law the second $4,000 would be taxed $40
instead OF $40 as proposed by his law.
The New State House.
Senator Swanton introduced today the
following order which. by vote Of the Senate
was laid on the table.
Ordered. The House concurrng, that so much
of the report of the State House commission, be-
lug Senate document No 3, as relates to the ex-
pendture of money, be referred TO the Judi .iary
committee, and that said committee be directed
TO asceit in whether said money has been paid
out aud expended in accordance with the provis-
ions Of chapter 1888, Acts aud Resolves Of 1889
In favor OF the enlargement OF The state House,
and In accordance W tn law, and that the balance
)i said eport be referred to the committee on
public buildings.
In Regard to Fire Escapes.
Governor Burleigh transmitted a commu-
nication from from Francis T. Garrettson to
the Secretary of State of the United States
In regard to fire escapes, and by that official
referred to the executive department of
Maine. The letter calls attention to the utter
absence OF fire escapes on the Bar Harbor
hotels and suggests some legislative action
to protect the guests in case Of fire.
Mr.. Porter and the Wild Cats.
When the House order directing the com
mittee on agriculture to inquire into the ex-
pediency of placing bounty on wild cats
came back to the House today from Senate
referred to the committee On railroads In
Mr.. Porter of Bangor, re-
ferring to the disrespect shown the House
by the Senate In the matter, and moved that
DraSRnt Or0pF fahIA and
IL was so voted.
In tho House.
Another hospital, on paper, has been add
ed to the list. A bill was introduced today
for the incorporation of the Gardiner hospi-
tai.
Sarah Fairfield Hamilton of Saco, and 276
others, petition in favor Of municipal sui
fIage for women.
One Of the largest remonstrances received
this session Is that Of G. ii. Wiggin and 665
others OF Knox county.
Bessie M. Lang and 16S others Of Park
street school, Portland, petition against the
repeal of the pigeon law.
Bills were presented today fixing the
salary of the register Of probate Of Knox
county at e700, and Of the clerk Of courts for
AndrOscOggin county at the amount of his
fees with $500 for clerk hire.
On motion of Mr.. NOBLE of Lewiston IL
was ordered that the committee on legal
affairs inquire into the expediency of amend
ing chapter Is, X s., relating to ways so that
county commissioners may have authority
to discontinue certain county roads during
the winter months and to open temporary
roads to better convenience travel and
transportation.
On motion of Mr.. Gldden the committee
on agriculture was requested TO inquire into
the expediency of providing for the sale OF
eggs by weight instead Of by the dozen.
Some of the Senate Business.
Mr.. Hunt Of Waldo, presents bill to
amend section 8, chapter 63, Of the Revised
Statutes, so that judges of the court Of pro
bate may interchange their services or per-
form such other duties whenever they mud II
necessary or convenient
MIR, Stewart Of York, presented bill TO
amend hawkers and peddlers so as to exempt
drivers of teams selling products OF owner
thereof.
Mr.. Stewart of York. presented In the
Senate today resolve authorizing the gov
ernor to appoint a commission VI three per-
SONS 10 inquire into the system OF the care Oh
paupers In other states and whether Detter
system cannot be devised than the present
town system In Maine, with especlal REFER
ence to tine establishment Oh q county OF
state system of almhouses. The cOmmis-
sion are 10 report BY November l, 1892, and
are TO receive reasonable compensation and
expenses.
A Recount.
The committee on gubernatorial vote, hav-
ing corrected the errors In their first report,
TODAY reported q ayain as follows:
whole number OF votes. es............11379