Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-18
EQUALIZATION OF TAXATI N.

Special assignment: Resolve. equa,izA-
ton of taxation.
me that 1t would be well for us this
morn.ng in considering this question 10
come down from the el9quehce anu oia-
tory in which We have been foa tlng l2r
the mast "a hours and possibly IoilSef
with reference to this matter, and COM
slider calmly and dispass.onateiy the
precise question before MS 90 hot
think the members OF the House alsa-
gree in any particular upon the nam
cues ton the. necessity of some. revl-
sion and equalization of taxation ~ the
State OF Maine. | heartily subscribe 10
the views that have been offered, some
of them by the gentlemen who have
spoken upon Mis- subject. most Ger
tainly agree that there Is a necessity lot
a revision and equalization OF taxation
in this State. But the question before
us this morning is not upon theory, 1t Is
a condition and not a theory when we
are ca Ned upon to face in considering IA
resolve now before the I:Go- II - a
specific proposition which we are called
upon to face. l am opposed 20 the pas
sage of this resolve, and l will state
briefly my reasons.
intend to raise the technical point, con-
slider that this whole matter is entirely
out of order This Legishatur Nester-
day morning referred thus Wiole suoJect
matter of taxation 10 the next LeSlSla-
ture This is resolve bringing up again
the same subject matter. and asking TINS
House to make different disposition OF
il, but | do not intend to raise that point
and ask for a ruling upon it. It Is upon
the merits of the proposition ttiat l WISH
to speak and it is upon the merits OF
the resolve that ! shah object. ,,.
We have referred this matter by our
vote of yesterday TO the next Legie'ia-
lure. This is PROPOSITION to appoint or
construct a commission to Investigate the
subject of taxation and report to THE
next Legislature. | ask you, gentlemen,
to consider in all candor and fairness
what is TO he gained IF the resolve of the
gentleman from Skowhegan cMr. Merrlii'
should he given IL passage WHAT does
it mean? 1t means %he appointment ol Il
commission of seven members - go lnu
This waolc subject matter. holding meet
ings ut The State House atld spending
ali the time they may see fit TO spend in
the consideration of the matter, ana tp
make a report of their recommendatl ons
10 the the next LEGISLATURE. Such 4
commission would have $40 power over
the next Legislature. ana whatever thc
findings ana recommendations may he
they are mere recommendations warren
Will be presented 10 the next Legislature;
These rccomnenda lions viii he referred
to fhc committee on taxation in the next
Legislature, and ii is the committee an
taxation of the next Legislature Which
must make its recommendations 10 fle
two Houses.
This whole suhiect matier. if gone over
by such "A commission as is proposed
must be all gone over again two years
of The next Legislature. Is there ANY
benefit to be derived from such i pro-
ceeding as is proposed by iihis resolve?
1T is SIMPLY piowins she ground over
twice, and submit Shrt such a proceed
ing is simply time ana money wasted.
We may know something of the future;
we may. predict something Of the future
by the history of the past.
This subjec, has Il history To winch
we may turn. In 1882 a commission was
appointed for the very same purposes as
and worked day after day and week
after week and made a report to tne
next Legislature and what came of q?
Not one thing bur dog tax; and this
cost the State of Maine several thousand
dollars. | ask You if the peop.e in your
several localities and the people of this
State of Maine are not umaitefably OPP
posed to the creation of amy more com
missions? COMMISSIONS mean expense
ard expense means taxation. me con- ON
mission. which was appointed in 1893
was composed of three members. and
that commission cost the State of Maine
certainly $1,000. thousand dollars
apiece. Ii is now proposed TO appoint
Il commission of seven members, and the
expense of such a commission would %.
from eight 10 ten thousand dollars. ana
perhaps fifteen thousand. Are We ready
10 Vote this matter and settle upon the
people of this State amy such expense
] cannot see how any practical benefit
can be derived from it.
Do you for a moment suppose that thu
taxation committee OF the next Legis "a
ture are going 10 accept as a whole the
proposition and adopt any recommended
fions of any taxation commission? Cai
they do it properly and justly and unde!
their oltas? They would be obliged Il,
invest gate he matter for ,hemselve,
and do this work all over again.
object 10 this commission fnr anotne
reason Have you read carefully am
considered carefully this resolve whic,
YOU are asked 40 pass? Have You care
FULLY considered The construction of