Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-04
MlLIrARY. AFFAIRS.

| act authorizing the Centrai Consresa-
| tional Society of EastpOrt to nlre
money.
| MILITARY AFFAIRS. ar.
| BY Mr.. Brown of Falmouth-Hesoive
in relation to re-equipping the National
Guard. .uss
| SHORE FISHERIES.
| Bill an act to amend Chapter 2'S OF
the Public Laws OF 1897. relating 70 the
packing of sardines.
| Was tabled and ordered printed
| pending reference to committee on mo-
ton of Mr.. Wood of Camden.
Mr.. GARDNER Of Patten: have a
bill to introduce and l ask the indul-
gence of the House for few explana-
| tory remarks in regard to 1t. The title
of the, bill is IAN act to amend Section
~ of Chapter & of the Revised Statutes,
as amended by Chapter 166 OF the Pub-
| lie Laws Of 1899, relating to the tax
ation of railroads" This bill is intro
duced. first, because it is absolutely
necessary that the State increase her
| revenue. We must either face the
proposition of increasing the tax rate
and go back to our constituents on
record as appropriating sums sufficient
| tocall for an increasing of the xrates
| or we must look for new sources OF rev.
| enue.
The second reason Is because it Is a
fact which no man can gainsay or dis
pute, that the railroad property OF this
State does not pay just proportion of
the taxes, in accordance with the rates
on other property. 1t is also because
holt NJ
official of any railroad corporation will
move in this matter. There is also a
| suspicion that in framing the present
| law much skill was used to see. not
how large revenue. but how little.
! the State might derive. Now the pres
ent method of taxing railroad property
| is not in conformity with that used on
other property, but is a special rule
and we'll calculated to mystify the av-
erage man in attempting to decipher
what that method Is. Outside of small
amounts paid on buildings and grounds
in municipal taxes, railroad corpora
tions pay on no fixed values, but they
pay on their earnings alone. Now the
result under this system is that the
railroad property of this State pays
about one fourth of the rate that does
other property in the State. To cite you
to a concrete example of method and
result I refer you to the railroad COM
missioners' report, to the State treas
urer's report, and to- the State asses
sors report. regarding the Maine Cen
trail Railroad. To any member of this
body interested for his constituents.
and seeking to do right by the people
90 60 s,,c 10, To-,
terests, these reports will afford food
for reflection.
To speak in a general way and deal
in round numbers we find that the
Maine Central Railroad property's ac-
tual value is about $4,000, 900. A full
two-thirds, or $27. 900, 900 is within this
State. This pays an excise tax, a rail-
road commissioners tax, and a certain
amount Of municipal taxes. Now from
the commissioners report the total
amount of taxes paid by the Maine
Central Railroad for the past year. has
been $114,O0O. While l have not had
time to figure this exactly it is my i'm
preston that that includes the excise
tax and the municipal tax in New
Hampshire as we'll as in Maine. But
even taking the whole amount as paid
in Maine we find that this is about one
half of one per cent. on a very low es-
innate of values-in other words, as
figured in the assessors office, this
morning, about four and three-fourths
mills. So much as to the present con-
dition.
AS to this bill Introduce. it will put
the tax on the railroad property at
1hOnf 10 70
make it law, a very modest increase
and much less than is paid by the peo-
pie whom you represent. 1 ask you to
study the merits of this bill carefully,
remembering that you are here to look
after the interests of the whole peo-
pie of this State. Mr.. Speaker. l move
that this bill be referred to the commit
tee on taxation. and further move that
it be tabled for printing pending its
reference.
The motion was agreed to and the
bill was laid on the table for printing
pending reference to the committee on
taxation.
On motion by Mr.. Fogg of Freeport.
Ordered. That Harlan p. Prince Of
Yarmouth. be granted leave OF alb
sence for 10 days on account OF severe
sickness.
On motion by Mr.. Smith of Pressure
Isle.
Ordered. That on and after March 3,
1899, William c. Farrell Of Van Buren,,
be excused from further attendance
upon the sessions of the Legislature
and that his pay be made up to the
end of the session.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES.
Mr.. Farnsworth from the committee
on agriculture. reported ought not to
pass on bill an act to repeal chapter
1874, of the Public Laws of 1897, relat-
ing to Concentrated Commercial Feed
ing Stuff.
Pending acceptance the report was
tabled and Wednesday next. assigned
for it's consideration on motion of Mr..
Buck of Orland.
Mr.. Smith from the committee on the
judiciary, reported ought to pass on
bill an act to amend section IA, of chap
ter 63, of the Revised Statutes, relat-
ing to registers of probate
Same gentleman from same commit
tee. reported same, on bill an act to
amend section 2, of chapter so, of the
Revised Statutes. relating to sheriffs
and their deputies.
Mr.. Merrill from same committee. re-