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

1 *
/ appeals to every member of this House
ana IN consldering.it / have no doubt that
we all wish to reach practical rcsu, T.
do not question the motives of the gen
tieman from Skowhegan tMr. MerrilD ,.
the gentleman from Patten (Mr. Card
ner) or any other gentleman on the floor
OF this House. and do not expect they
Will question my motives.
! ms Is great question and should b.
considered carefully and have heard
with pleasure the remarks Of the gentie-
man from Skowhegan.s that il any Claim
| can be presented that will accomplisl
the result, he will be glad to adopt it.
| Now, the fundamental law of this state
provides that where amy public expenses
have been assessed. a general valuation
shall be taken. at least once in 10 years.
| IN 1871 there was general valuation. rs
you may verify by looking in the, laws OF
that year. The next 10 years will expire
IN 1901. and it viii be the duty of the next
| Legislature to 20 into this question,
whether you appoin. this commission now.
or not; and | have no doubt at that tire
they will go into the matter thoroughir,
| and the matter will then be sifted au-l
taken care of as it SHOULD be taken
| care Of.
We have heard on the floor of this
| House that in 1899 a commission was aD-
pointed 10 sift t.is entire question. The
commission Was appointed and 1t held its
| sessions. t sifted the material that was
| brought before it. The Legislature of 1891
created a Board Of State Assessors II
was their duty to equaliZe the State tax
| ii'lbNS the several towns ana I'm the VIZ
uatton of real and personal estates On
which taxes should be levied, and it was
also their duty 10 visit every county once
III Two years To see if there had been any
| property left untaXed according to its
| true valuation. submit that you have a.
! tribunal under the law created for the
very purpose intended to be covered by
| this resolve. If anybody knows of AIRY
| property that is not taxed. it is the duty
| ~ that person to make known those facts
To the state assessors. If this resolve has
| 4 passage Il Is reflection upon th1t
Board OF state Assessors.
The question being on the indefinite
poStponement of the resolve,
The motion was agreed 10.
On motion by Mr.. Virgin tne resolve in
regard to investigating taxation and t.
report TO the next Legislature. was taken
from the table.
On motion by Mr.. Chase of Portland,
the resolve was indefinitely postponed.
A resolution was offered by Mr.. Guern-
sey requiring the Governor by the con
sent of the Council, 10 appoint a commits
sion to investigate and see what reduC-
ton can be made in the expenditures of
the government without impairng public
service. said commission to examine the
public contracts now in existence and all
public expenses of other classes
The Speaker recognized Mr. CT -ERN-
SEf. who made the following remarks:
offer this resolution at this time as
have learned from experience and believe
the expenditures of the government cam
not be curtailed by any other method At
the beginning of this session | saw the
members of this House vote away on a
single bill nearly all the money that coull
possibly come from the estimated income
of the State for the present year. The
next important act that was taken was
when soldier asked for Il 81 overcoas.
and the House vote was taken, and tht
cries of No were so fierce mat that bill
was actually blown from The Speakers
desk
The reasons for the vote on the first APP
preparation bill as given to me by the
members afterwards was that they sup
posed all the amounts were fixed by law
and that no action OF theirs could change
them, that they We're new members AMI
knew very little about il. ! believe II Il
commission was appointed that could re-
port and lay before the next Legislature.
which will be composed largely of new
members. substantial recommendations IN
regard To the reduction of the expendj-
lures of the government so that when
the first appropriation bill is brought be-
fore them they can act understanding y,
and make this reduction and not Jc
obliged to vote on bill which may ~
brought in at night, ana they be calle
upon TO vote on. the next morning. I'm
less something of this kind is done each
succeeding Legislature will vote for
larger and larger appropriation bill at the
beginning of The session which has been
The experience of Legislatures for the
past 10 years. and further than that. theSr
recommendations can cover the Seconi
appropriation bill which is to be brought
before YOU in the closing hours of this
Legislature. and which say 10 you now
needs to be more carefully scanned than
The first appropriation. which we voted
on al the beginning OF this session.
! trust that there are members here.
enough OF them, to vote on this PROPOSE
ton at this time and represent for once,
at least. as | believe. the best interests
of The people and the taxpayers of the
State of Maine.
The objection has been raised TO the
other propositions for the commissions
that they would carry heavy expenses fpr
service; the present resolution does nr'
provide d dollar for services, only sucn
as are required for actual expenditures.
My Macomher moved riiat the resolve
he indefinitely postponed.
\ division beng had. the motion was
agreed to by a vote of 20 for TO % against.
The order that the committee on agrl-
culture make their final reporf this morn
ng. came from the Senate Indefinitely
postponed.
the iiousr r.ronSdered its action ard
couCurred with the Senate in the lndetl-
mite postponement of the order.