The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1900-04-19
The Problem of Taxation.

the Candidates for The speakersbip Of the
Next Maine House.
: To the Editors of Lewiston journal =
Replying to your inquiry of the 22d
ult., as to what will be the most import
ant question for the consideration of the
next Legislature, | answer that it will
be the question that has to be met by
every property holder in this state, at
least once year, unless he is shielded
by some special legislation that protects
him from 1.-THE question of taxation.
Every citizen of the State fully realizes
the necessity of raising a certain amount
of money each year for State, county
and municipal purposes. Every citizen
is, OF ought to be willing to pay his just
proportion of that amount, and should
do it with as cheerful hand as he pays
for the bread which feeds his family
When any one class of citizens or prop
erty holders, either under the protection
or by the evasion Of the existing law
fails to do that, he fails to perform an
obligation of honor, and, at the same
time, places the load that he ought to
carry upon another and thereby in
NACoSOo hhJuc'iJ hEiEhOOt
The true principles of taxation are,
equality, certainty and economy. Every
class of property should contribute TO
ward the public fund, proportionately
TO its true value The State promises
to every man protection in his person
and property, whether he be rich or
poor, whether he have much or little
1t provides equally for those who can
help themselves and for those that can.
not. The funds required for the educa.
ton and upbuilding of society, for the
protection of the poor and unfortunate,
all have to be raised by taxation. The
expense of our courts which protect and
guard the property of our citizens with
Jealous care must be paid out of the
same fund
One able writer has said, "a state can
be viewed as great corporation, every
citizen thereof being stakeholder; and
after deducting the necessary running
expenses from the gross income, the
balance goes to each member in proper
ton to the stock he holds. Thus each
would pay his just proportion"
Exs mine the r, ports of our great cor
poratioLs and you will find the amount
of gross income from which is first de
Quoted all running expenses, improve
ments and repairs, leaving the net in
come to be divided among the stock
holders, not per capita, but IN the pro-
portion that their holdings of the stock
bear to the whole stock of the corpora
ton
In every business where there is a
combination of men and capital the
same principle is employed in "a division
of the net gain or loss That is right
and just Every one interested bears
his just proportion of the burden; lie
ceives his just proportion of the reward.
The expense of running state may be
likeued 10 the expense of carrying on a
great estate owned by joint tenants. Ev.
cry tenant is obliged to contribute in
proportion to the interest he owns in the
estate. Should one fail to pay he com
pels his CO tenants to pay his share. He
gets what doesn't belong to him; they
do moi get their own.
1t is the long continued violation of
this fundamental principle of equality
that has caused the people of the state
TO cry out against the inequality of the
just tax and the imposition of the unjust
that causes the rich to grow richer and
the poor, poorer. here are millions of
property today, in the state of Maine,
one cent of taxes If a man owns one
thousand dollars of a bank stock upon
which be receives a six per cent divi
dend. he is compelled to pay from SIS 0C
to $50 90 tax out of it. 1t he owns 81 ,00C
in the stock of railroad, electric light
or water company, corporations toward
whose support the poor have to contrib
ute, and whose franchises are granted
by the State and protected by existing
laws from honest competition, and that
stock declares dividend of six or ten
per cent, he does not have to pay out OF
it one dollar of dilect taxation. This is
not equal or just taxation.
You ask with what spirit the members
of the Legislature should meet this prob
lem. | answer with the spirit of men;
the spirit of fairness. They should
meet it in the spirit of the constitution
of the State and repeal all laws that al
low one class of property to be taxed
upon different basis from another
Let all property be assessed equally &C
cording to the Just value thereof, as iht
constitution provides, and none will
complain
Taxes should be so levied as to involve
equality of sacrifice on the part of every
tax payer. Equality of taxation means
equality of sacrifice. This principle
may not be fully realized at once, but is
the true basis of reform. When taxes
are justly assessed they will be viewed
from the proper standpoint, that they
are the payment of just debt due from
the taxpayer to the municipality, county
OF State for services rendered, privileges
enjoyed and protection received To
accomplish this reformation will require
great care, patience and study to bring
about the desired result without iHjus-
uce to any.
1t is the average tax payer who suffers
under the present system 1t is the al
most numbt rless corporations and cor
porate properties that escape. Their
interests are always looked after as well
on the floor OF the house as in the ap-
proaches thereto. They have a right Il
look after their interests and they do it.
They form powerful combination. Let
the farmers, householders, artisans. mer
ehants and manufacturers form a ike
combination, and RS vieitantly look after
their interests, and they can a success
fully protect their nights The power
to do SO is in their hands and by the
selection of the right men To represent
them they can ensure for themselves
just legislation. Z \. NERRIII..
Skowhegan, April Q, 1900
/
The South African War,
General Gatacre has been removed
from his command in South Africa and