Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-22


Stunning the responsibilities that you and
/ assume today. The best thing we can
do is to throw moral influence around
them, and il we can assist this organ1za-
ito, say for one, let us do it and do it
like men.
Mr.. Howe of Milo said he hoped the
motion to substitute the minority report
for the majority would not prevail, but
that the House would grant the indul-
gence asked for by the gentleman from
Portland. Churches, Odd Fellows ana
Masonic associations are exempted from
taxation and want this society to be:used
the same as every other.
Mr.. Moore of Deering offered an amend
ment making it read 9 All such property
as is used strictly for educational, relig-
ious and charitable purposes shall be ex-
empt from taxation"
Mr.. Noble of Lewiston said: If we can
find reason for the passage of the bill
through this House exemptiag the prop
erty of our agricultural fair societies from
taxation, we can find as safe reason Tor
exempting the property OF these lnstitu-
tions which are recognized as important
and valuable lights of the christian
church and which are recognized as I'M
portant bulwarks Of honest government
tApplause).
Mr.. league of Caribou said that the
evidence before the committee was that
none Of these institutions were taxed at
all except the one at Auburn. fThat as
ISOLATION was taxed and it was carried to
the court. The court decided that any OF
their property which was used exclusively
for charitable purposes was not taxable.
If the amendment which has been offered
prevails, you are just where you were be-
fore. perceive no object in it. All OF
their property which is used exclusively
for their use is now by the decision OF the
court exempt from taxation.
Mr. Hooper from Castine, said while
he was not opposed from exempting these
associations from taxation, he thought IL
would open door for other organizations
| to come in here and ask that their halls
be exempt from taxation. l would ask
the gentleman from Portland if a person
does not belong to the evangelical faith,
can he become member and vote ana
have voice in the association? Ii they
can, they have changed the law, or am
not correctly informed. THINK
If we pass this bill the Odd Eel
lows and Masons and thousand and one
other organizations will come in here and
want their property exempted from taxa
ton. l think it is wrong.
Mr.. Howe said that the halls of Odd
Fellows and Masons were exempt by law :;
and the churches are exempt from taxa
ton.
Mr.. Plummer of Dexter said: If we
exempt the property of the Y. M. G. A.
| Association from which they derive an
| income, because they use the proceeds in
religious, charitable and educational
work, what reason under heaven
can we set up if the clubs which
are springing up all over the country, and
which are engaged in educational work,
in physical culture and mental culture,
which have libraries and reading rooms
what reason can we offer to them why
their property which they accumulate and
invest in stores and buildings, from
which they may derive rent, may not be
EXEMPTED also? That is what l OBJ
iect to in this matter Why does
not the decision of the court, as
stated by the gentleman from Caribou,
and the law of the land, as stated by
the gentleman from Milo i'll regard
to Masonic and Odd Fellows associations,
meet all the reasonable requirements of
the situation? AS the law is now all the
property absolutely used by these associa
lions in order to carry on their work, Is
exempt from taxation. This House has
refused to exempt the soldiers of the
| Union. who stood by it in the hour Of
peril, from the payment of the poll tax
| thousands of them sent petitions asking
this exemption and yet we refused it.
With what sort of grace can we do that
and give these societies this consideration:
| am in favor of the work they are doing
and in favor of the exemption.
of the buildings so far as they use them
which are exempted under the law of the
State as stated by the gentlemen to whom
have referred.
Mr. Wclch of kcnnebunkport said that
he gave a certain part of his income to the
church. Why shouldn't come forward
and demand that ! should be exempt on
certain part of my property? | am OPP
posed to this legislation.
Mr.. Tibbetts of Charleston, said he
signed this report for tho reason that he
didn't consider that the organizations
over this State wanted anything of this
kind In the committee we only had evil
donce from one society that they were
taxed. All the others, so far as we know
are exempted from taxation, and it seems
to me as has already been said that If we
exempt this society from taxation we open
the doors for other societies to come in. /
for one agree with what the gentleman
from Dexter has said. / hope that the
minority report will be accepted.
Mr. Fairbanks of Bangor said that ref
erence has been made to the number of
petitions that have come in here to ex-
empt the soldiers from poll tax. have
interviewed personally every single man
| In this body who has served in the army,
and am proud to say that not single
man asked for or was in favor of that
measure. Not a single man. / am glad
that the gentleman from Dexter has Civ
en- me an opportunity to state that. In
! regard to this bill, gentlemen, don't take
a step in the wrong direction. Let us not
exempt the property which ought to pay
stipend to the institutions of this State.
1 If you do this thing you will do a thing
that you may be sorry for in the future.
! (Applause)
| Mr. league of Caribou said: In regard
| to what persons could be members of the
Y. NJ C. A. Association, /, myself, asked
/ the gentleman who was the spokesman