Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-03-08
THE TENTH WEEK.
Taxation Question May Cause
Longer Session.
House Expresses Willingness to Fight
All Summer. n
Representative Prince Mourncd Conn iltee
Work Notes ei Tuesday.

had considered the matter that two
weeks more would complete the work
of the winter. But when adjourn
ment was made at =. NJ, after busy
and lively session, the f1nai ADJOURN
ment seemed thing far away IN the
dim and hazy future The lawmakers
have undertaken to wrestle with the
vast problem of revising the taxa
ton system of the State. and the
amount of time and work which may
he required cannot be estimated. The
taxation committee, TO which this task
was assigned by action of the House,
Tuesday, may decide To refer the whole
matter to the next Legislature. This
is not the most unlikely thing which
may happen, SO perhaps the session
may not get the expected extension.
The whole great question Of taxation
was precipitated by the bill of Gard
ner of Patten, to increase the tax on
railroads This bill was introduced.
Friday. and tabled for printing. MIR.
Gardner moved. yesterday. it's refer
ence TO the committee on taxation.
This brought ON a debate, continuing
an hour and half and engaged in by
a score of members. Judge Smith
moved to amend Mr.. Gardner's motion
by indefinitely postponing the bill. He
hrged that it is too late in the session
10 take up so important measure. He
Said the whole matter of the States
'taxation system needs revision and
should be handled by the next Legis-
iature. Chase of Portland and Harris
Of Auburn. supported his views. Those
who urged that the bill be sent to the
taxation committee and considered
this session, even if there is no ad-
journment till mid-summer,were Gard
ner of Patten. Pierce of Blaine. Nc
'Fadden of Dresden, Walker of Starks.
Merrill of Skowhegan. Cleveland Of
Houlton. and King of Caribou. The
debate was warm and interesting and
the general subject of taxation was
we'll discussed. The full report of the
speeches is given in the stenographic
report elsewhere. Finally the motion
of Judge Smith was defeated, and the
bill was referred to the taxation COM
mittee without division.
No sooner was this done than Ma
comber of Augusta, presented an order
for the committee on taxation to in
vestigate the entire subject Of taxation
and recommend any changes desired in
the present system by which Maine
reaches the corporations. real estate.
wild lands, etc. There was debate on
this order, and a vain attempt to table
1t. but 1t at last followed the bill to the
taxation committee which will now
proceed to perspire until further orders.
This taxation business was the main
feature Of Tuesdays work. No prophet
knows what it's effect will be on the
length of the session. The rest of the
forenoon WIS devoted to r0utine work;
There was IA lot of committee reports,
and a big stack of printed bills to be
| read ....'...... ..... ...
The session, Tuesday, was at 1870 A:
| Nj. This later hour than usual was
chosen to- give those arriving on the
morning trains from both east and
west the .opnertunty of being present
Almost Everybody had been' at home
| over. Monday, and the two chief topics
Of dotlnyersa ton as the members assem-
bled: we're the municipal elections and
the. dea tn of Representative Prince oi
Yarmouth. which had occurred during
the recess Mi. Prince. was a member
of the last Legislature. as we'll as TINS
one a,il was well. known and univer'
sally res teemed. Fits sudden death i:
sincerely inourned by his associates
A Special committee was appointed
yesterday. to attend his, funeral this
afternoon. His seat, number S5. mex
to the rear seat in the fourth division
was cleared Of all papers and larg'
mourning wreath was placed upon th'
chair before the, morning session. A
a further mark of respect the Capito
flag was placed at half mast where i
will remain until after the funeral
This was done at the request, Of Gov
ernor : Powers and Speaker Stetson.
Asato the municipal elections. tn
victories and defeats in various town
and cities. were. talked over and ex
p,aiuea. II The Democratic: representa-
tiyes from Lewiston were especiall
iubilant. Added interest was given t
the elections in Waterville, Eastpor
and South Portland from the fact tina
Representatives Philbrook and Leavii
and Senator Reynolds were electe
mavors of these three cities Messr
, phi,brook and Reynolds were bac
from their triumphs and received cor
gratulations right and left.
There was only one new measure {
..o,,a Tuesday, Chase OF POr