Daily Kennebec journal., 1901-12-24

unless we find other subjects of taxation
ana 1t is the duty or the committee whom
YOU shall appoint on this question of tax.
atlon ana leslsla'ion, to carefully study
sources OF revenue. and to suggest 10 tha
coming Legi"latir irc such changes in the
law rs they fhinI! wise and prudent.
1T is to he specially recommendeI tho 4
your committee exercised inst v,n,cr ,.''
conservative spirit. They did moi seer.
to radically cnanse any law, to brin.;
any unjust burden upon amy interest. AN
ii is believed that those YOU may appOiI I
ut this 81 ssinn Will meet this great uiiea-
ton In the future as others have in the
1T ''-"'.' '''' ~ nonoraDic. conSer T.
Vative, public-spirited manner. The acts
winch your committee recommended and
which became law necessarily increase
the revenue. Many OF them will have to
- ;tnendrd and changed and the tax
increased from tiIle to time.
Certain that Lh,Ic will iur demand for
increase in revenue To che State what
ar the new sul:,es from winch We may
hope to derive taxation?
First. probably hat which cNcites the
most attention ~ The tax upon our wild
lands. The ST. rc assessors II is believed
value these lands too low They have
Increased II y"iHe with marvellous ra-
piditE within IT" last few years and their
valuation should DC laree.y increased
Whether any special tax can be assessed
or levied against the wild lands ui ,Ec
State is 20 rs determined These lands
Il.
ut individuals into the hands 81 corpor:l-
tious. They constantly increase in value
demanding pforortiona.c increase Il
taxation.
1t is firmly believed that the taxes on
steam ana electric railroads will con-
sftptiN increase as the result of the con-
stant growth of thcir business. The tax
upon corporations, it may be found, can
ne increased rhe great bulk Of property
that escapes taxation is personal pro-
perty- Just how TINS can be reached has
always been a question of intense inter-
est, ana mas never been thorough,
solved. There are many arguments IN
favor Of the listing bill. but that has
been generally discarded, and never
adopted save by a very few states
Wherever it has been adopted il has been
found not 10 work satisfactorily ana per
sonal property has, after one or two
Years. easily found way 80 cVadc its
provisions.
our local assessors should tie men vi
the highest class ana calibrc. ut busin. -
experience, ana with knowledge Of the
duties pertaining t" their Office. Thc>
- ~" ri"utN - iaV now tn compel anN
person to render true inventory Of his
',,s'tr. ana nave me power 10 seek -pIl.
personal property Tor taxation. 1t shoIld
be the duty and aim Of everyone vino
serves in this responsible office to see t.
il that he discharges his duties borough
II ANA acccptahl; fairly ana honestly.
ON" important SIbject of taxation Is
special or ptiN".r ieGislati"Il- MANY
states impns. taxes Tor ;,t private ilni
special acts of legislation. " hiir II ~
thr duty uf the legislature tu enact uIi
law NECESSARY for IN" hv"ctit Of irivat'
parties Vt It's "r'-at object j. IT, enact
general Laws for lli the people. bUt VI"
nlI tuHt INC !-"-tSlatui- is rriucipaIi.
.ctur.td IN investigating thr ilrptiety ot
sage Of private bills. The tim,. taken j.:
Mas ktnu nT IrGi>I.,uun udrrnN$ aud lc--
sens TIE timr Devoted 10 pablo ,lIs!n,s..
IS nc cause "f la's,r "Np'ns, {" the STAT.