Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1891-01-15


settlers in Maiawa-ka Territory, 30,000.0O
Permanent Muster Ground $4,000
Total, 1851 10000
While there was a very general agree
ment among the members of the last Leg
l,atnre a. to the necessity and justice of
these appropriations it is altogether prob
able that a further decrease of taxation
would not have been voted had their number
and scope been clearly foreseen when the
orGrr for such reduction was given pas
sage The Treasurer has founi it neces
>arv 70 make temporary loan in order to
meet the expenses occasioned by these spec !
lal appropriations 1t must be borne in
mind. however that the State still retains
the value of sol 400 Of the 1851 400 TINS
appropriated, in permanent property adj
dcd tp It> possessions.
Whether the low rate of taxation, which
ha> existed during the past year, is to
continue in the future, will depend largely
upon the action Of the present Legislature
In the matter Of establishing a new State
valuation, and the economy practiCed in
the appropriation of public moneys. With
The passage of measures that shall secure
fair and full valuation of all the property
Of the State, there appears to be no reason
why that rate should not be maintained
ludtcl, under the benchCeut operation of
such legislation, believe it will be a que>-
ton Of only few years, at most, when
the State will be in condition to make a
still further reduction in the tax rate
Two years ago pointed out discrepancies
between the State valuation of 1850 and
that taken by the United States Census
/ and expressed the opinion that the latter
cam" nearer doing Us perfect justice. The
valuation accorded rs by the United States
Census was considerably more than dou-
PIE that taken by the State. As | then
said, "Our own State valuation finds too
large proportion of our property IN the
farms Of the State, and makes the farmers
pay an undue share OF general taxes. on
the other Land, the valuation of the United
states Census takes CognizanCe of the less
tangible but more profitable investments
which escape their fair share of the com
mon burdens" This kind of property has
been easily discerned by the nited States
enumtrators but has remained strangely
invisible t. local officials. 1t is to be hop
ed that you will be able to bring large
amount of II within reach of the taxing
power.
Another reason for the difference between
the State and Federal valuations is found
IN the practice, which exists in some parts
~ the State Of assessing taxes upon par
tial property valuation. The report of the
Ian Commission shows that during the
year Just closed, in making returns for the
use OF the State Valuation Commissioners
!Hs towns IN Maine returned their property
at less than the just value thereof re-
qulrtd BY the Constitution of the State
In some Instances assessors felt that they
had fulfilled the requirements OF their office
when they had assessed the property of
the town at one-third Of its cash value"
II is apparent to all that the establishment
OF the lowest practicable rate of taxation |
Is impossible while such methods are in 1
vogue TO secure it, the valuation OF pro- |
perty must be uniform throughout the |
State and such uniformity can be secured /
only by rendering it imperative upon asses
>ors, under severe penalties, to return all
property at It's full value.
EEFt- NbING THE PUBLIC DEBT.
In 1859 occurred one of the most remark
able financial transactions in the history !
of the State, the results of which were /
directly felt by every tax payer in Maine.
BY virtue of the Act of March 10, 1889, !
providing for rcfunding the public debt, |
the Treasurer Of State, Immediately there
after, taking advantage of the condition of |
the money market at that time, issued pro-
pO>al> for the sale Of three per cent. bonds |
to renew the six per cent. bonds falling
due on the first days of June and October |
OF that year. 81 ,G1G, 600 of the bonds |
bearing date June |, 1889. and SOS 900 |
dated Oct. /, 1850. were sold, the former !
yielding premium of lO3 Il and the |
latter l03, or a total on both loans of |
900, which sum was applied directly to
the payment Of the public debt, reducing,
to that extent, the total amount of the !
new bonds issued.
The prompt and successful manner in |
which the matter was conducted by the |
Treasurer, reflects great credit upon that |
officer and must be source of pride and !
satisfaction to every citizen of the State
Had the inlttatory steps in this transaction /
been delayed until near the time of the /
maturity of the old bonds, no such favor
able negotiation could have been made and |
1t is altogether probable that the new bonds |
could not have been sold at par.
TAXATION.
For number of years the opinion has
prevailed that the tax laws of the State
are not equitable in their operation; that
there is altogether too great a discrepancy
between the portions of the public burdens
bore by real and personal property.
Under a resolve of the last Legislature,
a Commission was appointed Ito inquire
into the system adopted by other States to
raise revenue for State, County and NUM-
cipal expenses, and to provide for a more
equal, just and equitable system of tax
alton of all kinds of property in this
State"
That Commission has faithfully attended
to its prescribed duties. The general ques-
tion Of taxation has been closely studied
Other states have been visited and their
tax laws carefully examined to ascertain
in what respects, if any, they are superior
to our own. The able and exhaustive re-
port of the commission will be laid before
you. | commend it to your careful con-
sderation.
1t has been quite common experience,
among the various states of the Union,
that movements for tax reform have been
exceedingly slow in arriving at definite re-
suits. One Legislature, despairing of
reaching a satisfactory solution of these
perplexing problems, has passed them over
to its successor, and thus the desired re.
lief has, oftentimes, been long postponed
With you there will be no occasion for
such a course. The report of this special
Commission furnishes you at the start
with the groundwork for legislation of
this character.
1t will be your duty to examine into the
whole system of taxation, to ascertain
what new sources of revenue are available,
and whether any class of property is bear
ing less than it's fair share of the public
burdens, and If so, to apply whatever
remedy may, in your judgment, appear
best. The Importance of this matter
would seem to require its careful consider
alton by special committee of the Legis- |
lature.
STATE ASSESSORS.
heartily concur with the recommends
tion Of the Tax Commission for the ap-
pointment of State Board of Assessors,
whose duty it shall be to exercise central
supervision over our tax system, and ito
equalize the valuation of the State bienni-
ally, in order that the taxes voted by each