Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-03-08

any instance. has any matter come to
our attention where the provisions OF
that article Of the constitution have
not been followed?
/ say this. and l cite you to the
statement Of the president of the larg-
est corporation OF this State. the Maine
ECentral Railroad, when ne admitted on
the floor Of this House that the corpo-
ratiOne which he represented were pay
ing less than one-half Of one per cent.
tax rate on their property. There is an
instance which comes to your atten-
|stion. Are you to attend to 1t or are
you TO neglect It? Other matters are
outside OF this. 1t is lodging issues to
swing around and talk OF innumerable
matters. Here Is an instance which
demands your attention, and 1t Is the
duty OF every member Of this Legisla-
ture to see to 1t that that matter has
hearing and Is given attention and
that this Legislature decides whether
the Maine Central Railroad should pay
more tax into the treasury of the State
or not.
We have under discussion. this MORN
ing, the question whether the bill now
before the House should be referred to
it's proper committee, the COM
mittee on taxation, or whether
1t shall be by the underhand.
the cunning, the adrOit work OF the
members of the third House smother
ed and strangled and not given fair
hearing. ] say it Is not proper.
Now. gentlemen, you know that this
matter of taxation OF all corporations
has long needed the attention OF the
Republican party. and you know that
the corporations OF this State elude
and evade taxation, and l have cited
you to specific instance. You know
that a combination Of common carriers
stiles competition and evades taxa
ton. You know that the Republican
party. as the paryt in power for many
years. is to blame for this condition.
/. for one. as Republican since cast
my first vote. as a Republican for two
generations. going back to the days of
the old Wing and Democratic. parties.
will not submit to go back to my home
and my constituents on record as
lodging the issue. Here is a matter
that demands attention; give your at
tention to it.
Now. gentlemen. the question OF time
has been given a great deal of impOr-
lance here. 1t has been said that We
have no time to consider this matter.
Gentlemen of superior. ability to my
own have shown you that it is not a
question OF time. but a question OF
our duty. and / say to you that while
we have spent our time recklessly,
while we have spent time on trivial
questions and have considered matters
ranging from hedgehogs to Mormons
in this House, while We have appro-
priated money to go from Fort Kent
to Portland. and no stint to the money
and no stint to the matter brought be-
fore our attention is given, the mo-
ment you bring up a matter that
touches a corporation you find what !?
You find evidences beyond dispute that
they are trying to strangle it. They
do not propose to give it. hearing
even They hope to put it off for two
years. l venture the prophecy that
any man that has gone on record here
opposing these corporations under the
guise Of national issues, such issues
will be subordinate and they will at
least hope to get these matters put of
for four years. l say to you, the ques-
(iou VI uuAdlIucSS, WHAT UclOu&S "
other corporations and what belongs
to other matters. does not enter into
this now. Take what comes to your
hand first and attend to that, and If
there is more that follows it. take it.
AS the party in power the Republican
party of the State owe the people of
this State something, and here is a
case where they can give the matter
their attention. Too long have the
rights ofFthe people been subordinate
to the wishes of the few. and l say to
you, gentlemen, that now when the
issue comes squarely before you is the
time to give this matter attention and
I hope that the members of the Repub-
lican party, the members on the floor
of this House who believe in doing
their duty will not go back to their
homes on record that on account of the
wishes Of the few. on account of the
wishes of the ring. on account Of the
plans and well-laid schemes Of that
ring-we go back to our homes putting
OF matter that demands our atten-
ton now. and our whole attention.
Mr.. HARRIS OF Auburn: 1t seems to
me that the question now is not whether
less. That is what we don't know. But
1t Is question whether it is expedient
to take up a matter Of such impor-
lance ut the present time. SO late in the
session. whether We can do justice to
so important a matter. whether we can
do justice to the rights OF the railroads
and the other property interests OF the
State and to the people Of the State,
and justice to ourselves. 1t seems to
me that we cannot do it. The matter
has been brought up too late. and in q
way to prejudice it to begin with; and
feel that we shall arrive at a safer
conclusion and serve our constituents
better. to postpone this matter and
refer 1t to the next Legislature rather
than to attempt to investigate 1t ut
the present time. ~"
Mr.. CLEVELAND OF Houlton: /
think this Legislature can do no bet
ter than to consider the matter Of just
and equal taxation at this session; and
II, indeed. we are to do the best work
OF the session last. do 1t manfully. /
trust that the motion to refer the mat.
ter to the proper committee may pre-
vail. ,,.,--.