The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-02-13


asylum. but nobody appeared
The education committee has voted to
give the academies asking aid S50o an
nually Tor two years. The academies asked
for various sums.
The committee discussed the appropria-
ton for $50, 900 for the Gorham Normal
school dormitory, but. took no action on it,
It was stated after the meeting that it was
not known how the committee stands on
the matter.
The committee on towns will report ad-
versely ON the bill to make town OF Sor-
rento. minority report in favor of the
bill may be presented.
TAXATION OF VESSEL PROPERTY.
When the tax committee opened the hear
ing on the bill for the taxation OF vessel
property this evening, there was large at
tendance in the House chamber where the
hearing was held. II the audience were men
prominently identified with the shipping IN
terest from all parts of the state.
Ex-senator Swanton of Bath, who has
been leader in the movement which mas
resulted in the framing of the Dill, was the
first speaker. Mr.. Swanton traced the
history of the movement of tho vessel
owners o secure system of taxation more
equitable than that heretofore employed.
state Assessor Pottle told of the inresti-
CATION OF the subject made by the state
assessors. Mr.. Pottle said that In 1899 &c.
346,a2S of vessel property was returned; in
1894, S., 033. 1926; loss of S1.022. l0s.
Mr.. league Of Caribou raised the point
that ihe constitution made no allowance
for exemptions, and Mr.. Mars
ton asked how the line was to be drawn II
sectarian kinds of property were to be
favored. Mr.. Pottle said that those were
questions for the legislature to consider.
Mr. W. u. Sewall of Bath, quoted some
interesting statements from the report OF
the commission of navigation. He showed
that Bath puts larger tax on her shipping
tina the North German Lloyds pays TO Ger
many on fifteen millions of property, Port
land taxes hen shipping property more than
the Cunard line pays England on nine
millions. The tax in Bath is S3l ton on
wooden shi ps costing $40 ton. Mr.. Sewall
argued that. vessel property required
little police, fire and other protection ex-
tended 10 property on shore. 1t was put falr
that consideration be shown it. This tact
has been recognized by other states which
have favored or exempted this property.
Mr.. W. W. Merrill of Portland. also gave
the committee some facts and figures lie
told of the vicissitudes OF shipping
property, and how in recent years 1t hao
been SO depressed that the owners were now
compelled TO seek some relief from the Dur
dens of ia ration. Mr.. Merrill said that in
one yard in East Deering in the past thirty
years, fifty vessels costing Sl,696,OUO mad
been built. Great Britain taxes vessels = IL
per cent on the net earnings. many German
ports impose only an income tax. in france
there is no tax except certain port charges
Speeches in the same line were made by
Hon. Henri Lord. Captain Sherman OF
Camden, Fritz Jordan of Portland, Charles
Guptill of Portland, John ". Hyde and
John Patten of Bath, and others. Nohod y
spoke in opposition.
DIR. POTTER'S REQUEST.
The late DR.. Joseph Fitch Potter of Gin
cinnati, was native of the town of Sebago.
and when he died lie left to that town S32,-
COO to found an academic school. but not TO
be used for school building. The town
feels unable to bear the entire expense of
erecting a suitable structure and asks state
aid TO the extent of $4,000. Before the COM
r,ittee on education today Almon Young of
Hiram. Will =. Babb of Sebago. Orrin
Clark OF Naples and Hon. u. A. Pow OF
Sebago, explained the case and advocated
the massage of the resolve. The committee,
after the hearing voted adversely on the
matter, it is understood on the ground that
the town had not, in their opinion. showed
that it would do its share
The committee voted ought not to pass
on the bill to restore the school districts.
THE WESTBROOK CHARTER.
The amendments to the Westbrook city
charter were the subject of a hearing be-
fore the legal affairs committee this after
noon. Mr.. John E. Warren described the
amendments. Now the city cannot levy sewer
assessments upon the property of AUDITORS
until the sewer is entered. The first amend
ment remedies this by permitting the levy
ing of assessment when the sewer Is COM
pIeted. The second amendment provides
that AUDITORS shall pay half the cost of con
structing sidewalks. The third changes the
provision that less than a quorum of the
CITY council may adjourn from day to
day." Taken literally. adjourning from day
to day might prove irksome SO from time
to tiIne,'' is substituted
To these amendments there is no obJec-
ton, but over the other two opinion is
divided.