Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-09

when we were here and as We come to-
day. can be 10 more flttingly expressed
than these words in tie inaugural address
of your own Governor
"Maine's progress in the past, is her
best encomium; her advantages for future
development are everywhere recognized,
and her people are approaching that con-
centration of effort and capital will bring
forth the grandcst results. Employment
of labor and production at home should
be the sentiment Ct our people; loyalty
aud devotion to Names interests, Will
enable us to reach the coveted goal of in
dustrial achievements; the present is only
the beginning CT the great future that
awaits her, and the harvest will certainly
come
Mr.. Jor6 an read communication from
the Speaker of the Massachusetts, House
of Representatives to the chairman OF the
committee on arrangements in regard to
this trip, expressing his regrets at not be-
ing able to join the party.
L mfr. Speaker, the sons &c 4aaire,> now
residents uIs. Massachusetts,, went forth
from their native State not as prodigal or
wandering sons They return today with
pleasant memories of the past and to re-
vive whatever associations there may be
connected with thi visit with those whom
we have seen in former days. And as
sure you, Mr.. Speaker, that so long as
memory endures, so long as this native
State of ours shall hold the remains of
those who are near and dear to all of us
and our COZ, mon ancestors, so long viii
we treasure the memory of this as n most
enduring pleasure.
The question being on the motion to
take a recess for Is minutes,
1t was agreed to.
Alter Recess.
On motion of Mr.. Noble of Lewiston,
House document No. 296, an act to
establish police commissioner for the
city of Lewiston, was taken from the
table.
Mr.. Noble offered an amendment, which
was adopted, and the bill passed to be en-
crossed as amended under a suspension
of the rules.
Special Assignment.
An act relating to the taxation of vessel
property.
This bill was tabled by Mr.. Twitchell
of Bath pending adoption of Senate
amendment a.
Mr. Twitchell moved that the amend
ment be adopted and the bill pass to be
engrossed as amended.
4 Mr.. Abbott of Bucksport said that he
wanted to say few words in relation to
this bill and amendment. The commit
tee on taxation gave a hearing in this
House on Feb ~, and who appeared be-
fore that committee? 1t was the ship
owners from Portland and Bangor. They
in, favor IF This hill | the
only one who opposed it, and feel it is
my duty to explain to this House the rea-
son why oppo.c this bill. Notwithstand-
ing that the State assessors introduced
this bill and the committee on taxation
reported favorably, 1 object to 1t, and
am going to try to give you my reasons
why object to it.
In the first place what do they claim
this bill will do? This bill, they claim,
is to relieve and encourage ship building
i'm the State of Maine As l understand
it, the new vessels are to be taxed $50
ton, regardless of what they cost in con
struction, and then n reduction of ~ per
tonDper year until they are go years old
and then they drop out of taxation.
Gentlemen, fail to see wherein it is GO
ing to increase ship building unless we
accept the amendment that has been
offered The now vessel which Is taxed
500 ton has got to compete with the Old
vessel that has the same carrying capacity,
the same tonnage, and which demands the
same price for carrying cargo and which
is exempt from taxation while the new
one has got to pay the tax. fail to see
where Il is is going to be any encourage
ment to the vessels of the State of Maine
If the old ones go free and the new ones
ars taxed am in sympathy with the
ship owners of the State and want to do
whatever is right. i told them was In
sympathy with them. All l wanted to
do was to equalizc the taxation OF ship
ping itself as well as relieve the other tax
payers of the State
BY what authority do our ships go out
ON the ocean to transport cargoes? They
have to have a permit from the United
States government. There arc two classes
one class are enrolled vessels and the other
class registered vessels. The registered
YES sells have to go out on the ocean and
compete with every nation OF the worid
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