The Portland daily press., 1899-03-08

stomach TROUBLES iuaIou hoS.
Il. A. Stuart, Co., Marshal, Mich.
He then moved that 1t be- referred to the
committee on taxation and thereupon
Judge Smith OF Presque Isle was on hand
with the amendment to indsfi nitsly post
nome Judge smith is a good tslker. In
substance, he said this morning;
"Au courts are supposed to be con-
tftsSSad on tbe linss Of fsirnsss, equity ana
Justice. The legislature is the general
oourt clothed with extraordinary powers,
limited only by the organic law OF tne
state. 1t should then give all who come
to1it reasonable time for fair nearing
xow when we are ready to put on our
coats and overshoes comes this measure,
one OF the most important Of the session.
] am not q corporation man. am not
a railroad man as l think my railroad
friends win admit. ! do not Know
whether the railroads In this state pay
taxes enough today and do not believe
any man in this State House can tell TO-
day, IL the tai, should be raised, at whst
point ID should be fixed. Now, then, rail-
roads IN this stat, are taxed on the gross
'traus sportation receipts. 1t has been urged
that they should be taxed on the value OF
the property. The argument Is not with
out reason, but do not believe that any
m IN in the State House can say how this
ch,ng ehould bs made. This bill does
npt provide for such q change. IL the
law Is to be altered other corporations
should be considered. There are the ex-
press, telegraph and telephone companies
1t might be Wise to ask the corporations
organized in this state to pay an annual
tax. There Is the question VI wild lands
and l must say that the method OF taxing
timberlands In this state has seemed to
me as wonderful as the immaculate con-
osption and as mysterious a. the doctrine
Of the Holy Trinity. know of one emil
nent gentleman who owns $4,000 acres OF
timberlands, worth at least s350, 600 and
yislding stumpags income OF over vSa :
900. / have heard this gen ntlsman say that
and roll il under his tongue like . sweet
morsel. / am further informed that on
this property. worth over third OF . mil
lion of dollars he pays taxes Of less than
$1,000. The time will como when there
viii be q general shaking up Of this quss'
tfon. am willing to have this Iesisla-
ture provide for tax commission TO re-
wise the whole system, but shall ws take
Che railroads nrstS Do gsntlemsn want
to stay here all summer. 1t would take
weeks to settle this railroad matter alone
j believe that Maine over muoh to rail
roads. A tax should be just and equis-
able to both the railroads and ..the people
What would the people In tAroostook
county do without their railroad. We
should grub along the best way We could,
but We owe much to the roads. Now
FAY it is too late In this session to consid-
er this matter as 1t should be considered,
but il the members Of the legislature
want to stay here, will stay with them
until the last iaok pot has been opsned.
the last raise has been made and the last
hands shown, down." (Lsughtsr.)
: With this reference to the national
game, the, Prssque Isle orator renewed
his motion that the bill be indefinitely
postponed
A. oostook county Is the home Of ora
tors. Mr.. Pisrce of Blaine was the next
to be heard. de took the other side.
Said MIR. Pierce: The gentleman from
Presque Isle says that the systemic tax
ing railroads should be examined. We
agree with him. He says that the people
of this stote demand revision of the tax
laws We agree with him. He says that
the railro ads should not be singled out for
action at this time. We do not agree to
that Shall we wait to catch the tels-
graph and telephone and express CON-
paniss when we have the case Of the rail-
roads before usS I hope that the motion
will not prevail.
Judge McE adden was the next man te
bs heard. He hoped that the Honss
would nut overlook the question which
was merely that Of references. want tt
get homs, said Judge McksddeD, but
am ready to stay here as long as 1t is nso
essary to secure proper consideration fol
this bill. 81, ~
MIR. Chase of Portland then came intt
the game. He told the House that he WAS
= not corporation. lawyer, but that he saw
difficulty in taking mp question 50 broad
In Its scope ut this late day. What hal
occurred In the last few days9 Asked Mr.
Chase. What is the vital issue that hal
SO suddenly arisen. - 1t looks to me, IL