Daily Kennebec journal., 1893-03-02

is menace to the working men OF thi'
State, but submit that II Is not. Is such q
statute a mensce to any man who wants to
do right, |, is not a menace to any man
who does not want to do Just what this stat
ute specifically prohibits.
MIR. Lyons of Knox; l hope that the
motion Of the senator from Piscatsqais will
not prevail. would say that the committee
not knowing when this might come before
the Senate, are not prepared TO discuss the
matter al present, and they would like Il
have the matter assigned. This measure
comes from the laboring people, and the.
claim that the conditions under which thi,
law was enacted and the use to which it has
been put since il was enacted are detrimen-
tai to their interests.
Mr.. Peaks withdrew his motion, AMI on
motion of Mr.. Lyons the bill was laii OF
the table to b. printed, ani tomorrow as.
sigaed for its consideration.
On motion of MIR. Th4tcher of Penobscot
House document No. l75, an act relating to
the Bangor municipal court, was taken
from the table, read second time and passed
- be engrossesi.
ON motion of Mr.. Ames of Washington
a message was sent to the Governor re-
questing the return of House document No.
lo3, an act TO incorporate the Washington
County Railroad Co.
Subsequently, on return of this bill, on
motion of the same senator the Senate re-
considered the vote whereby the bill was
passed TO be enacted, and the vote whereby
it was passed TO be engrossed, and Senate
amendment A, presented by Mr.. Ames,
was adopted and the bill then passed TO be
engrossed as a meuded.
On motion of Mr.. Seiders of Cumberland
House document No. 1919, an act to incor-
porate the fremont Banking and Trust Co,
was taken from the table, and passed to be
enacted
On motion of Mr.. Holman of Franklin
flowing of Wilson's pond and Hills pond,
was taken from the table.
Mr.. Peaks of Piscataquis said that this
bill was entirely. wholly and fearfully un-
constitutional. He pointed out that when
the supreme court gave their decision in the
mill act case they had said that they could
strain the law no further in this direc-
ton.
Mr.. Thatcher of Penobscot said that
while it was folly for him to enter into a
question of law with the senator from pis-
cataquis, as he understood the mill law this
act would be constitutional. This act
merely gave the parties the right to main
tain their flash boards, and prevented the
boards from being taken away by anybody
who wanted todo so. The parties would
have to pay damages all the same, and
these damages would be assessed on full
hearing as provided by law.
Mr. Holman of Franklin said that he
thought that the senator from Penobscot
was correct, and moved that the matter be
referred to the committee on judiciary to
pass upon its legality.
The bill was accordingly so referred
On motion of Mr.. Thatcher of PenObscot
House document No. 81 an act relating to
the taxation of express companies with
House amendment A was taken from the
table.
Mr.. Hill of Kennebec; simply want to
move that the Senate non concur with the
House in adopting amendment A. This
amendment is made so as to include indi-
viduals in the terms of the bill. There are
IA number of persons who do small ex-
press business which consists principally of
heavy freight and the rates charged by
them are but little more than the rates
charged by railroad companies and steam
boat companies, and it seems to me that
any burden put upon these individuals
would simply result in the raising
Of the rates of expressage. see
no good reason why they should pay such a
tax any more than any other business
should, any more. say. than grocer or
milkman. certainly hope that the Senate
will non-cOncur with the House on this
matter.
Mr.. Deering Of York would state that
the committee on taxation are willing to
accept any reasonable amendment, but we
do not wish to have unreasonable amend
ments thrust upon us.
Mr.. Hill would simply sa. that these
small express businesses conducted by in
dividuals are great convenience to busi-
ness men, and think it would be mistake
to tax them.
Mr.. Thatcher of Penobscot If in order
| move that this matter be indefinitely post
poned. am sorry to differ with the com
mittee on taxation, but | feel obliged to
oppose this bill. 1t seems to me that the
Tux committee thought that the American
Express Co. being a wealthy AMI foreign
corporation, could easily stand the increase
of tax. This company pays about s-ll of
all the taxes on express companies in the
State am informed that the net profit
of the American Express Co. is 10 per cent
of the gross receipts. II this be so, this
company pays the State tax of Z l-2 per
cent on its income. Will any fair-minded
senator say that that is not enough? Thi.
bill proposes tax of l-2 per cent on the
gross receipts, which would amount tt
IL per cent on the net earn
ings. | hardly think that thu
committee themselves would have re-
ported this bill bad they known the facts
Only one other State in New England lay
a tax on express companies and that is Yer
mont, where there is tax upon the receipt
on the actual business picked up and lai'
down in that State, and that tax does no
exceed three-fourths of per cent. tlnnl
tina, the Senate will agree with me tha
three -fourths of per cent. upon the gros
receipts is all that can be justly laid upo
express companies, and | therefore NOV
that the bill he indefinitely postponed.
Mr. Deerinv. am not an exprcssmau
and do no, know the ms and outs of tn
cxn,ess business The committee innui,e
into the facts as far as they coui
and came To the conclusion tin
,ha .Ynress comna,o. could m,
he tax II n verv easy arr,i
mon, IN m.te tn saw tina. the compauie,
c,nno, nav tho tar Rut we belieye tba
sometbino sbould he done in this matte,
II the senate wishes to set its foot on ever
measure reported by the tax committee. II,
senate must hear the responsibility. Frot
tho inves,iga,;op we have made We are "a,
;sfiod that ,his tax will no, cripp,e the Q,
rross co,rn.r;as nor hur, them
Mr.. Peaks of piscataauis: Two year
ayo was the first Ievi,latnrc when we had
.nsc;,i tar committee. and we had one ,bi
ysar Tbe committee tvo vears aoo woke