Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-03-08


not adopted by the Legislature as whoie
the report is important as pointing ene
way under the constitution in wnlch
revenues may be raised without resort 70
direct taxation upon property. +! shall
not weary you by taking up much OF your
time with this matter, but want 10 reaa
you few quotations from his report.
Here is one: 1.-THE system as it is actually
administered results in debauchlng the
moral sense. 1t is q school of perjury. IL
sends large amounts of property into MD
ing. 1t drives capital in large quantities
from the State. Worst of all, it imposes
unjust burdens upon various classes in
the community; upon the farmer in the
country, all of whose property is taxed be-
cause it is tangible; upon the man who IS
scrupulously honest, and upon the guard
ian and executor and trustee, whose ac-
counts are matters of public record
These burdens are unjust, because by the
existing system, as it is in actual practice
administered, these people pay the taxes
which should be paid by their neighbors.
1t violates the principle of universally,
which demands that all property should
be taxed alike-that all persons shall con-
tribute according to their respective abili-
ties to the support of the Static.
And here is another extract from this
report: sit may be remarked that the
listing system in Ohio is one which has
been abandoned in many other parts OF
the world. The assessment lists used in
Germany in mcdaeval times Q53D were
like those now in vogue in the United
States All this has been abandoned
everywhere in Europe"
I simply want to call your attention
further to one of the recommendations OF
this Ohio commission. They recommend
"the repeal of the tax inquisitor law
And now, gentlemen, you can see for
yourselves that instead of doing what my
friend the gentleman from Aroostook
thinks this bill would do, it has done ex-
actly the opposite in the places here it has
been in operation. will say here that
have letters from Vermont, saying that
that law has driven millions of dollars of
capital from the state and into Western
and Southern investment schemes.
l had letter this morning from a
gentleman outside of the State, asking
where this bill stood, and stating that be
and his associates are considering an in
vestment in Maine, and are waiting till
they see how this bill goes before they
decide to invest in this State If it is
passed they will invest elsewhere, but if
| it is defeated their capital will come into
this State.
could say great deal more on this
subject, and could read you great many
strong and practical letters on this mat
ter, but l believe it is useless to argue
more here and now think that you are
sensible men, and that this bill will be
defeated.
On the motion of Mr.. Warehouse to
amend the motion of Mr.. Wiggin by sub
shutting majority for minority, 81 voted
in the affirmative and 2 in the negative,
and the amendment was accordingly car
ried.
On the motion of Mr.. Wiggin as
amended, to adopt the report of the com
mittee, 81 voted in the affirmative and ?
in the negative, and the majority report
A (ought not to pass was accordingly
adopted.
On motion of Mr. Higgins of York,
House document No. 16S and Senate
document No 1871, bill an act to incor-
porate the Castine Water Co., were taken
| from the table, and House amendment A
adopted in concurrence, and the bill read
second time and passed to be engrossed
as amended.
On motion of Mr.. Higgins of York, the
Senate adjourned.