The Portland daily press., 1894-12-21
Especial to the PRESS

Each Year-Portland Ship Owners Who
Were Present
Especial to the PRESS.)
Augusta, Decem ber 20.-An important
meeting was held at the State House
this morning at 10 O'Clock, in the de-
partment of the board of state assessors,
when the matter of vessel taxation was
discussed by the members of the board
and vessel owners from all over the state
Hon. Hall G. Burleigh, chairman OF the
board of assessors, presided IN very
able manner. This meeting had been
called in response to the action OF the
last legislature in reference to the Dill
entitled IAN act relating to taxation OF
vessel property by the board of state as
sessors,n which provided that they op-
tain all possible information relating TO
this matter, and report at the next ses-
sion of the legislature.
The owners of vessel property feel that
thew should be levied as with railroads,
upon the gross earnings and representa-
tives at this meeting were present VINO
argued in the interest," OF cnanso III "s-
sessing taxes.
THE assessors have visited several of
the shippingsports and collected informa-
tion that will be presented before the
legislature During the past two years
vessels have not done as fiourlsh1ng
business as their owners expected, espec-
tally large vessels.
Among the prominent men present
were Hon. j. Bass of Bangor. 81. W.
Swanton, Hon. Arthur Sewall, J. II Nc
Lellan. 6 G. Deering, J. Fl. Kimball, and
Amos HaegetG, all OF Bath; II. M. Bean,
r. Frank Knowlton, of Camden, W. w.
Merrill, George Russell, of Deering; Cap
tain P,J. Carleton of Rockport, Captain
is. Winslow, Mr.. Charles GuptilI and
A. York of Portland; ID. NJ: Sargent OF
Falmouth. Hon. AlonZo Nickerson OF
Roothbay Harbor, and others.
Speeches were made by Hon. j. 2.
Rass. WV. Merrill, Captain J. S. Wins
low. a. M. Bean, Alonzo Nickerson, Hon.
Arthur Sewali, H. W. .Swanton, and G.G.
Deering, advocating the following bill
to he presented to the next Legislature:
An Act Relating to Taxation of Vessel
Property:
For purpose OF taxation it shall be the
dnty Of the Board of State Assessors, as
often as once in two years, commencing
with the first day of April, 1898, to es-
t.bIish uniform standard of valuation
Of all enrolled and registered sailing yes-
sells. owned wholly or in part by resi-
dents of this state, upon the Following
"@9 On or before the first day of A pril in
everv other year, succeeding the year
1909 if shall be the duty of said Board
81 State Assessors to inquire and deter
zine the per cent of net income, not
cnaroing the cost of insurance and de-
nreciat1on, earned by the average of
spnch vessIs during the two years pre-
oeSino such valuation, and wherever
oh lnfa aI hC
said hoard to be not less than 90 per
cant on valuation of new vessels at $50
,,or Ton. and of vessels of greater age at
d nor ton less for each additional year of
aaa the valuation of said vessels shall
he fxed at $50 per ton for new vessels,
and 50 less per ton for each additional
year of age until the limit of ten years
~ aoe for such vessels shall be reached,
below which limit no VesseI snail pe
subiect to taxation.
Wheneyer such net income shall be de-
termined by said board to be not less
than is per cent, and not more than 20
rar cent on the valuation aforesaid,
the valuation shall be fixed at 25 per
cent less than the above valuation for
vessels within the limits OF age aforesaid
Int the reduction of said valuation shall
he q 70 per ton for each year of addi-
t;onaI aae of such vessels in place of So
as above specified.
~ Whenever such net income shall be de-
ternined by said board to be not less
than 10 per cent or more than 10 per
oant an the valuation aforesaid, that
va1nation shall. be fixed at SO. per cent
less than the valuation first above men
tioned for vessels within the limit OF age
aforesaid, but insthat case the reduction
of valuation of said vessels shall be $1
ner ton for each year of additional age
Of such vessels, in place OF S2 as nrst
above specified.
Whenever such net income snail Dc ue-
termined by said board to be less than
10 pei cent in said valuation, the valu-
alton shall be fixed at 66 2-3 per cent less
than the valuation fisrt above mentioned
for vessels within tne limits of age
aforesaid, but in that case the reduction
in the valuation of said vessels shall be50
cents per ton for each year of additional
ACE of such vesstels in place of So as first
above specified.
/ shall be the duty of the Board of
State Assessors to noulIV the
assessors of all towns, cities
and plantations within the state of the
valuation fixed by them of such vessel
property within one week after the same
is made by them from time to time, and
the valuation SO fixed by said board
shall thereafter be the basis of taxation
of such vessels for state, county and
municipal purposes, until the same shall
be altered by said board as aforesaid.
This act shall take effect when ap-
proved.
1t was voted that comm ittee, con-
sisting of Captain P.J. Carleton, W. W.
Merrill and Fl. W. Swanton, be selected
20 confer with the board of state asses
sors in regard to the bill. At 11.45 the