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

Majority and minority reports, commit
tee ON taxation, relating to cxempting
from taxation property of Incorporated
Yong Mems Christian Associations.
Mr.. Tolman of Carroll moved that tho
minority report be substituted for tho
majority.
Mr.. Tolman of Carroll said that there is
nothing but the increasing clamor that is
constantly knocking Mt the door Of this
House, by the agent of some society or
association, great and small, old and new,
demanding either an appropriation or TO
be exempted from taxes. Nothing, / say,
could have induced me to mir myself be-
fore this House, but that felt 1t my duty
to protest against exempting from taxa
ton almost all who ask for it.
There is bill coming into this House
in few days to exempt agricultural
societies and their exhibits.
The farmer has not asked to have his
exhibits exempted as yet He is q little
slow, but will be here sure, II you exempt
others.
Now IL you exempt the agricultural
societies and Young Mems Christian As
sociations, II these are to be exempted, tho
claim is equally good for all beneficiary
societies, thus leaving all the tax on the
common classes and business corporations.
Now why not exempt them and then we
shall all be on common footing every ono
for himself.
What is called the Young Mems Chris.
tian Association in Bangor have build
ing that cost about $4,000, building
that was given to them that MS an asso-
citation, IL did not cost them a cent There
are other associations that 1t Is presumed
that they acquired their property in tho
same way, by gift They are still ut II.
They are still soliciting subscriptions from
all over the State for similar purposes
Are there any gentlemen in this House
that claim that they are not amply able
to pay the tax assessed against themg No.
The men that run these institutions are
men of substance. Persons or societies
receiving valuable property as a gift, it
would seem as though they ought to be
| able and willing to pay a tax on It. All
the property you exempt from taxation
eventually comes out OF the producer. All,
say, of the property that you exempt
| from taxation only adds to the burden
that you heap upon the poor mems
| shoulders.
Now, gentlemen of the House. II you
grant this ass ociation all that 1t asks, and
all others that will come with the word
| Christian tackled at the head OF their petit
tions, you will raise up o power that In
the future you will find hard to handle.
More tbansst that, you will raise up gigan-
| tic mutual admiration society TINT will
get together and vote to thank God that
they are not as other men. Now do not
anita onize this association ont Of any Ill
motive. II they are doing good . am sure
am glad Of It.; but II they are sincere
| they ought to be willing to put their bands
in their own pockets and help pay the
| bills.
am told by one Of the memters Of that
organization that they do not pretend to
be q charitable society at all, it Is not In
their line. Their business Is to save young
men. The class that they usually induce
to come into their society is class who
ought to be willing to try to save them
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