Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-02-28

50 '''N ''N Ntt. Iit iliSt Wcek tI tHlS
session we passed an appropriation for
the Eastern Maine Hospital of 500. 600
we thought that was an enormous ap-
preparation. 1t was a large appropria-
tion. but we all acquiesced in it cheer
luity, because we believed the con-
Sested state of the asylum over the
river was such that it demanded it to
be done as quickly as possible: but, to
my surprise. yesterday. l found that
S6o,0o0 was not enough. that they want
$4,000 or $4,000 more to put that hos
pital in running order: and | ask YOU
with your debt limit that you nave
upon you by the constitution of this
state. where are you going to get the
funds to pay it, unless you tax some
thing beyond what you have taxed
ask of you, gentlemen. each one of
You, is 1t not fair? Can you give me
any reason why your neighbor who has
>loooo in the savings bank should pay
no taN? | ask you. can you give me
any reason why it should not be taxed
just the same as your other property"
AS Tor me, believe in it. Why, They
say that other states don't do it.
don car" what other states do. ]
must act as | see my duty. and must
DC it according to my own dictation
found. in looking at a paper the other
day-and | was glad to see it. because
believe ii will come in every state in
New England New York state to
day which has an enoromus sum Of
money in the savings banks Of
Inc state, has Il bill before
the Legislature now TO tax saw
h n i,tNt
of a bill that have in nv hands here.
Now do not know what you may do
do want anybody to think in this
senate have too much confidence in
the integrity and honor of these sena-
'"tS-that introduced this bill for
Iohtical capital. ! do not do il simply
pccauSe am minority party in this
senate. | do it because | believe il to
bc right Long before | came here. |
nave advocated, and will advocate il
until 1t becomes "A law. which | believe
the people of this State demand shall
be done. | have confidence in the de-
Tositors. | believe that out of that
iS5a depoSitorS in this State that one
half of them will be willing to pay the
TAX upon their property. just the same
as am paying upon my property. I
know that a great many of them laugh
Wnen the State eNemptS those deposits
from taxation; and that the poor man
that has his farm and is struggling
the best he can to get Il living and to
educate his children. has to paw Il tax
upon his property. Now, while there
may be some excuse, while YOU nav
argue that it would tax widows ana
orphans, guardians and executors |
say TO you that that 1859 depositors
represent a capital of, ST.. .0o0. 600. which.
IL you should tax it the same as anv
other property, would amount to ST.
2"oco. Let us do it. An appropria-
ton has been called for for 81 500 600,
and say To you. by the resolves that
nave been coming in here. and the de
hciencieS of departments. that Won will
at least have more than $500. 600 ,nore
OF appropriations than you will be
asked to vote for, before the second
appropriation is through with. 1t will
make this Legislature give appropria-
tions 10 the tune Of 1000 900: and fo,.
that reason and in the interests of ms
tice. in the interest of the tax navers
81 the state. i'm the interest Of the
prosperity Of the State. in the interest
C'''i' IN '7Nctt VI Maine. let us
say to the world: We are willing. down
EtFe-Nea. we demand that all property
shall he taxed wherever situated ana
wherever found
introduced an order here this morn
ing. / am one of those that alwavs he
leVed that To give a poor man the ncc-
essitie5 of life just as far as you could.
YOU should tax the luXuries of lite. |
was told, by a prominent man-and he
did not belong to the Democratic party.
eithcr-that there was. at the best cal
cUlation, in this State s. 900 900 of Jew
eldy and silver plate that was EXEMPT
from taxation; and that is why put in
that order. He said-while | have been
standing here ! have seen three men
pass me who wear diamonds to the ag-
greEate Of $1,000 That is why | put in
that order. In this case is there any
r"aSon-can there be any reaSon-takc
il right home to yourselveS-why this
S1,0ho.oo0 should not be taxed. You
know, as well as | do. that all tn"
monies in the trust companies of the
state are not taxed at all. They do not
pay even thrce-quarters of one per
cent. toward the mill tax of the State.
Let us be fair. Let us be honest. let
us be just. Let us say To these deposi-
tors: We will tax those deposits just
the same as any other property is
taxed. If a man is not content to pay
a tax upon his deposit in the savings
bank. let him take it out. ! hope il
would drive out of the savings banks
of this State $40 600. 900 Of dollars. Why,
Because | should find that $40, ,00o. 900
put into enterprises in this State that
would give employment to our young
men and women, and keep them at
home. As long as you look it up. as
said to my friend who advocated it
here. the other day. it is idle capital.
In his reply he says, 1t is not idle
capital. it is disposed of. SO and So
il look at the bank examiners report,
and | find $45, 900 900 of that money in
bonds-in government bonds-scatter-
ed broadcast over this union of ours,
and when money is in bonds. it is idle
capital Idle capital, Now, further
more ! say to you this, that if you
proceed in this way, and allow money
TO accumulate in the banks, then you
must expect that the State Of Maine
will grow less in population. and less
in valuation. | cannot see why it is
that the savings banks of this state
are so anxious to keep the accumula-
l, u