Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-17

semblcd on the first of last January IL
the present hour--I do not mean the rail-
roads. but ! mean to include them with
the rest--that every corporate interest ,cf
the State of Maine has been represented
under the dome of this Capitol by the
strongest ablest and most energetic men
that the Stale Of Maine can produce. Am
] right? You all know that I am right.
and there has not been a bill Introduced
into this House from the beginning to the
end but what that able body Of gentle-
| men who have been here in the interest
of the corporations. and they are honos-
| able gentlemen.in the interests Of the cor
porations or against them: and every bill
has been scanned. every letter and every
II and the dot over 1t, and the cross
over every 81 mas been carefully
scanned by the third House. s
J. believe In the third House. I think
| they are a benefit 10 a Legislature, per-
haps. Why are they benefit to the Leg
| isiature? Because they are men that come
here to represent the interests of the
great corporations of this State. at the
head OF which corporationsare the bright
| est and most intelligent business men
within the State: and they come here
armed with every argument that can bc
produced from a lifelong Investigation OF
the interests Of these corporations, OF the
interests of these institutions. They come
! here and they are perfectly cognixant OF
the whole subject matter. They know
what is right for their institution.
Gentlemen. they stand in the same posi-.
ton that l stand. or any other attorney
at law stands. between client and
attorney. They are to work for
the interest of their clients. They
work nobly and hOnOrably. / do not
undertake to say there are any
dishonorable means used here. but they
come here in the interest of their clients
and to work for their clients. L have oa-s
cupied that position, not as a member Of
the third House to any great extern, but
/, as an attorney at law for Is years. say
that l give my best efforts in behalf Of
my client. They do the same thing ami /,
| is all right and they. as l say. represent
the corporations. and every corporation
within the borders of the State Of Maine
| is represented by that thru House. and
they are looking after the interests oc
| those corporations. ~
! am not opposed TO corporations. 1 am
not opposed to concentrating capital All
of the great advances of this State are
attributable to the efforts Of these corpo-
rations in gathering together under the
direction and control Of these able men
large amount Of capital and thereby ad.
vancing treat interests inat are develop.
ing our State.
And now l want to call attention to a
few matters which l think will be of in
terest to you. 1t interests me. 1t inter-
ests my people at home. 1t not only in
terests the people of my district but It
interests the people Of every district and
every hamlet in the State Of Maine.
want to call attention .or a moment to
some of the unequal taxation in corpora
tons. Railroads are taxed according to
their earnings, and if they earn a certain
amount 1t is a certain rate upon that
amount, and If they earn 500 more, then
another jump is made. and If they earn
$1,000, then another jump of quarter OF
per cent. is made.
Now. l will call attention to another
thing. and that is the franchises that are
given by the people of this State to tho
corporations of this State, and will cali
attention to the franchises that have been
| granted by this and former Legislat lures
| to street railroads. Whar nave they given
| them? They have given them the right
to put street railroads into our several
towns and cities wherever they have
asked it. They have given them the right
to run right through the middle of our
streets which you and have paid humid
reds of dollars to build. Their roadbed is
given to them by the granting Of the
franchise that is given by this Leglsla-
ture. and for 5000 or 5000 or $4,000 per
mile they can build one of the best s.rees
railroads.
Let us see how they are taxed compared
with steam railroads. take. for IN
stance. as it is the first one on my lis;,
and l know whereof speak. the XAu-
gusta. Hallowcll 4 Gardiner Road. 1t
pays a tax to the State of SECS.
six mills on the dollar. What
would that railroad pay If 1t was
taxed upon the basis of steam road?
1t would pay $707.09 to the State.
Which road cost the most per mile. to
build. equip and run? Why. you all
know. Almost three times as much as
they now pay into the treasury Of the
State they would pay If they were tax
cd at the same rate that steam rail-
roads are taxed. Then come to the
Bangor Street Railroad. and find It's
tax to be s5li.33. What would bc its
tax if it was taxed under. the system
that the steam railroads are taxed? 1t
would be $l607.2S. Is that just right?
Answer that question. gentlemen.
when you come to the order. s+'s
l take next the Bath Street Railroad.
which pays $99.51. What would 1t pay
IL it was taxed like steam roads? SOS.
take next one of the richest railroads
in the State. one of the richest corpora
tons, the Portland Street Railroad. ana
what does it pay? 1t pays to the
treasurer of the State. $3573.W. What
would it pay. were 1t taxed as the
Maine Central Railroad Is taxed. to-
day. 1t would pay $s932.J3. almost
three times as much. 4... ~
Now. say to you. gentlemen Of the
House. while there have been many
murmurings against corporations. how
is it. pray tell me. that this gross In
equality. and / say injustice is done be-
tween the taxation. OF street and steam
railroads. M .,,Is
1t is through the efforts Of the third
House, and why and how? EA
You have not found the interests Of
the street railroads and steam railroads
and water companies and electric light