The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-04

TACT that none of the state officers In Maine
received as high salaries as those paid In
other states. Mr.. Peaks called for vote by
yeas and nays on the amendment. The vote
was ordered aud resulted as follows
| yEAs-Messis. Allen of Denmark, Burgess.
| Chadbourne Clark, Cote, Crocker, Cummings.
Dunn, Ervine Fuller of Hallowell, Gentleman.
Ksegan, Kelley. Kimb4ll. knight, Leighton OF
TrescoIt, Leveqne, Marston, Martin, Monroe,
Mullen 3sgSod Parker PPayssOn Payyssn Pssrier savage
land, Stearns, Taft Thayer Wescoit. Whltten-
NAYs:-Messrs; Adams, Allen Of Psesque Isle.
ard. Brown, Bucknam, Callahan, ClasnD, Coolidge.
Davis, Dearing Of WATERFORD, Deering of Saco,
Of EdssHs Fsn.r Eues
| fremont, Gilmore, Glidden. OF Newcastle. Gould,
Graves Greeley Gqsnsss; Ham q Lisbon Harrl-
Hill, Hussey, Jones Of Athens, Jones of Brooks,
| vile, Kaier Kane, Kendall, Lamb, Leighton Of
dish, Lltledeld, Maxim, .McAllister Merrill OF
| EddiDgton, Merrill of St Albans, Miller. Mitchell,
Moore, Morse, Nash Newcomb, Newell, .Nicker::
| Searsport, Patterson, Peaks, Plummer, Rand,
flicker. Rldeout, Ridlon, Roberts Rollins, Russell
Sargent. Sewall, Skoldeld, Smith Of Turner,
Snow Stone, Totman, Trafton, Trussell, Vaughan,
| Weeks, Wymsn-88.
| ABsENr-Messrs. Cousins, Dennen, Dlcxey Of
| Hargraves. Harris, Herrick, Hersey, Hiscock,
Howes, Hunt. Leavitt Mooers, Nelson Newton,
house, Webb IA
The Tax Hearing.
A goodly number of the seats in represent
ative hall were filled this evening when
Chairman Spear of the special tax commits
sion announced that that body would hear
all persons who desired to speak upon the
listing system, state board of assessors, in
come ana poll tax. Mr.. Halle. Burleikh OF
Xassalboro introduced Judge o. G. Hall of
WateIville, who served as chairman Of the
special tax commi- sion, as the first speaker.
Judge Hall said he came TO speak by invita-
tion and not as the advocate of any pet the
DRY. he would say Few werds on the list
ing systom. The chief objection he heard to
this system was that 1t was inQuisitoral and
would drive property out of the state. As to
the hrst, what tax law Is not 1nQuistorial?
AS to the other objection, Judge Hall did not
think, that 1t amounted to much. Where
would man go who sought to evade such a
law? He could not go to any New England
state without finding similar law more or
went to New York, he might escape
taxation on personal property perhaps
tut only because the New York law
is not enforced. Laws providing for a list
Ing system exist IN 10 states In regard to
another question for discussion this evening
the formation of state heard OF assessors,
1t seemed to Judge Hall that no valid OBJ
lection could be raised. To show that
Maine is behind her sister states 10 this
matter of state assessors, Judge Hall said
that these boards were not generally estab-
llsbed throughout the country. In reply to
question as to how the listing system
pleased the citizens of other states, Judge
Hall said that the Vermont law more than
quadrupled the valuation Of personal prop
erty In the State of Vermont in single
year. This seemed to Judge Hall a cogent
argument iu its favor. He found the law
there popular with all classes Of people. The
Vermont law too has not increased
the rate being so much lower.
In response to another question as to
whether means had been found to evade the
Vermont law, Judge Hall said that no means
could be devised to make the unscrupulous
tax dodger make truthful returns. Ali these
laws In the United States have sprung up in
the past ten years. They were made necess-
ary by the fact that pers0nsl property In the
fndS nsed states 5 , was sinh sinking M ons OF sight:
which has now grown so that it is known as
the American system, is not popular with
economists, whose theory seems to be that as
It Is not possible to make man make trath-
full acknowledgment of the ownership of
personal property, 1t would be better to
leave such property untaxed. His investi-
cation In Vermont had not shown Judge
Hall that people had left the state to aveid
the requirements of the law. The law
recommended by the tax commission for
Maine left the assessors very little discretion
they were required to put every man on oath
under penalty so that all would be treated
alike, Judge Hall said that under the Yer
mont law, 50 far as he knew, no difficulty
WIS experienced in finding suitable assess
OrS.
w. H. VintOn of Gray, said he happened
to be here tonight not for the purpose Of
attending the hearing but thought he
would speak. 40 had examined the
question for years and was fully con-
vinced that something should be DONE
He was interested in farming and
unless something was done for the farming
interest they mnst 60 under. His town. of
Gray had lost 3te population during the last
decade. Something must be done but what
Is to be determined.
1t seems to me that there can be no objsc-
tion to the listing system, and il not, why
not have IL? Mr. Vinton rscited an instance
wnere mortgage was given to a neighbOr
VINO made 1t to man in Boston, and had it
recorded in that mans name, and he knew
nothing about it. This man he spoke of
had "a 0f such mortgages. In the town of
Deering there was list Of mortgages as
long as his arm running to a man in New
Hampshire and all negotiated by a we'll
known Portland citizen. Mr.. VintOn would
have law to prevent this money from es-
Gaping taxation and would make severe
penalty for the man who had his mortgage
recorded to man out OF the state or TO a fic-
tlciOus name.
He thought the poll tax was all right as it
Is, put tnat an income tax should apply to
salaries. He noticed that the legislature
was given to increasing salaries and creating
new ofnces and they should help out taxa
tioD. Court business had fallen off one half
Ia the past hve years, but judges and Officials
nad the usual salaries. There should be an
income tax. No man lives so we'll and happy
as saaried man. 1t makes no difference
whether stocks go up or down, or the crops
are good. the man draws his salary just the
same. FIX rate for different salaries; say,
man nan who has $500 let hun
Pay Sao or Sl5 or some suitable rate;
he regarded wild lands which had escaped
taxation and the railroads as good subjects
1or liberal increase of taxation. Railroads
were not taxed in this state anywhere near
as much as In other states. The great point
+ |. 70 md relief for those who need relief.
Ii new property is found and taxrd, and the
taxes spent In various wages, their Is no re-
llef. A vast amount Of money goes to
schools. lie didn't know as it was too much,
put ne Thought there should be, relief. Tne
money had In increased 20 (aud possibly 50)
times and the rate of taxation reduced only
from one dollar to eighty cents.
| Collector John l.. Crosby OF Bangor SAID
that he was all at sea upon the question.
under W. the law proposed BY the commission. CO
Mr. crosby said that the labors OF assessors
would be greatly incrt ased. Mr. Crosby
was not certain about the listing system, but
was willing to try it. He was afraid, how
ever, that the law would Work hardship to
persons of small means who cOnscientiously
obeyed it. while others, OF larger. incomes,
| would fud WAYS to evade its requirements.
A. NJ. Goddard of Augusta said. in regard
| to taxation, that the state needed board of
assessors There is a general feeling that
everybody is trying to dodge taxes and that
| 1t Is a credit to do so.
Hon. Rufus Prince OF Turner is an adyc-
| cate of an income tax.
Mr.. ii. c. Burleigh of Vassalboro was also
| a firm believer in graduated income tax.
Judge Hall said that an income tax 10 the
ery is a success, but in practice 1t is differ