The Portland daily press., 1891-02-03
A Suggestion Worth Considering
About the Insane hospital.
Perhaps Camden Town Will Divide.
Perhaps Not.
Especial to the Press. I


consin, Kansas. Minnesota, California, New
Jersey. Rhode Island, Virginia. West Vir.
ginia, Oregon, Missouri, Georgia, Kentucky
South Cw0lina and Arkansas, In some form
or other. use the listing system. Maryland
really throws the listing upon the assessor.
who are required to hunt up taxable proper
ty and add 1t that for which man is already
taxed, so that a taxpayer once taxed on :
piece Of property is taxed on 1t forever aftel
unless he shows that he has disposed of II
and the use he has made of the proceeds. In
Georgia, no oath Is required, but c0nstitu
tional provision makes tax defaulter inelig
ible to seat In the legislature. In New
York aud Pennsylvania. the assessors make
up the lists and no 0aths are required except
In the latter state, In the case OF moneys and
certain securities, where the holders are
required to make return of the same under
oath. By the present law In this state, the
assessors may require taxpayers to list their
property under oath.
Another matter which will be given a
given hearing this week Is the taxation ol
mortgages. Here In arranging tax systems q
stumbling block is met In the question OF
upon 1t, to which the objection is raised that
such proceeding results in double taxation.
But, on the other hand, II only the property
Is taxed IL Is urged that the money lender es-
capes taxation. As this is question which
closely affects all classes Of people, 1t Is like
ly that some interesting arguments will be
made during the hearing
The question of taxing collateral inherit
ances will also be raised by the committee,
so that there may be an expression OF opin-
son by will or under the laws Of the state, 1t
urged that, except In cases OF direct inheris-
ance, as from parent to child and child to
parent, ETC., the person so receiving property
should pay to the state tax or lee. The
person who receives the property, say those
W ad a
strumental In earning 1t and 1t Is but right
that he should give to the government whose
laws make 1t possible for him to enjoy his
inheritance, q small share of its benefits. In
their report to the legislature. the special
tax commission recommend a law
which shall rebuire the payment OF tax of
q per cent on collateral inheritances. ex-
ceeding In amount $500 within one year from
the death of the testator. The commission
say tina. this tax Is imposed In several states
In this country, and has long been familiar
source OF revenue in several European coun-
tries. Its constitution ality has been upheld
In every state where the question has arisen,
except In New Hampshire. There the court
held, 81 the case OF law taxing estates set
tied In probate courts, except In bequests
from parents to children, etc, that such a
law was repugnant to the Bill Of Rights of
New Hampshire.
Among the other hearings deserving of es-
pecial notice at this time, Is perhaps, that
fishing franchise or emolument tax on COL
p0ratiOns organized under the general laws
OF the state. The tax commission, In recon-
mending this, point to the fact that under
the Maine law every opportunity Is offered
for the organization OF corporations not only
for legitimate business, but also for purely
speculative purposes. The commission say
that by exacting tax from corporations up
on their organization, while the revenues OF
the state might not be materially increased,
t.Af khn NfeQT
ef concerns organized here whose prospects
might be regarded with suspicion.
Besides the subjects mentioned the COM
mittee has announced hearings for this
week and next on the questions of the for
nation of state board of assessors income
and poll taxes, the taxation of timber lands,
railroads, telegraphs, telephones and ex-
presses, and savings banks; the taxation Of
electric light, gas, water and insurance COM
pauies These hearings are advertised In
the PRESS.
the Valuation Commission.
The valuation commission will report to.
morrow, in response to the resolve, recently
passed, directing them to make their final
report as soon as possible, that as they have
already notified the legislature, 1t is impos-
sible for them to complete their labors at
this time. They hope to get through within
80 days.
The New insane hospital.
One of the leading members Of the upper
branch makes this suggestion regarding the
new insane hospital to be built at Augusta.
he says that. in his opinion, instead of erect.
ing new hospital for the reception Of all
classes of insane patients, the state should,
at Bangor, provide quarters for the care Of
certain classes only Of these unfortunates
The senator's plan Is to confne al
Bangor the more violent patients. and
especially those whose cases are
hopeless, keeping at Augusta the patients
treatment. a OF course, it would not be posi-.
BILE to classify the insane by an enactment
of the Legislature. The apportioning of the
inmates between the two institutions would
fail either upon the physicians In charge or
upon joint board of directors, and would
be dependent, somewhat, upon the number
of inmates already in each.
That si5o.ooo.
There seems to be feeling among the
members that an appropriation to make
necessary repairs in the old part of tht
capitol would pass both Houses without
difficulty but that an attempt to secure $50.
900 for its remodelling would be of doubtful
success. The plastering In the rotundi
needs replacing and the floor should IN
doubtedly rebuilt. Besides this. the pres
ent quarters of the Secretary of State coult
| be remodelled at comparatively small cos
| and the building could be improve In some
| other respects at no great outlay. To an ap
| preparation for these purposes there nov
seems to be little or no objection. There /
q decided opposition, however, to tearing ou
the whole Of the interior and building
new structure behind the ancient grant,
walls.
The Camden Question.
The desire of the village of Camden /,
become town by itself, retaining the nam
Of the present town and leaving the residue
to be called Rockport, will be explained T.
the committee on town tomorrow afternoon
Many Camden people are here tonight to as
sist In the explanation. There are man,
others here from the old town who will tel
why they think the carving process shoul,
not be allowed.
The plan Of many OF the Rockport naomi
is to secure city charter so that the Camde,
| village people would vote at home instead n,
in Rockport as they do now. The city woul' n
be 50 divided into G WARDS h as to give them hal
| equal chanch with the rest of the citv /,
| eIectipg mayor. The centennial ann}vov
sary of the town Of Camden is on the 1ot
instant, whether 1t will be celebrated bv IN
city or two towns remains to be seen.
Maine and the Militia,
The friends Of the militia are uneas,
about the appropriation for the state troon.
It seems proposition Is being discussed h
some members to cut the appropriatio
down to the old figure of $4,000. II this |
done, those interested In the militia her.
say that it will result In serious damage !
the service.
More Hospitals.
Today two more hospitals appeared. On
is provided for In bill to incorporate Al
Augusta city hospital. The other forms IN
subject for another bill to incorporate a pen
eral homeopathic hospital at Portland Ge,
S. Hunt, John Z. Dewitt and others ay
named as corporators.
A Portland csmpany's Bill.
Mr.. Payson of Portland introduced toda
bill which authorizes the Consolidate
Electric Light Company to buy the propert,
rights, ETC.. Of other gas and electric lIrf