Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-09-23

George PottIe of Lewiston, member
of the Board of State Assessors of
Maine. a body corresponding to the
Wisconsin State Tax Commission, is
in Madison investigating the tax laws
of the state, and the methods of the
commission in handling the several
problems encountered by it in its in
yestigations. Mr.. Pottle is the Demo-
cratic member of the board, the other
members of which are Otis Hayford
and f. NJ Simpson. He is on a tour
of the North Mississippi valley states
for the board and goes to Minnesota,
Iowa, Illinois, Michigan and Indiana
before his return home. He will secure
copies of the tax acts of each state
and investigate the methods pursued
| in listing, classifying and valuing
| property.
The Maine board of assessors was
created in 1891, after the people had
become tired of the State board of re-
view" said Mr. Pottle this morning.
| 1T has not achieved the millennium
during the past eleven years but it IS
considered by the people of the State
to have justified it's existence by the
| reforms it has advocated. Our tax
| laws are very similar to WiscOnsin's,
which, | am told. were modelled some
what after those of the state of New
York We have the full valuation
provision for all property and rigidly
limit the tax levy rates.
do you tax both property and mort
| gage, the part of the system objected
to in Wisconsin," was asked.
Yes, we do. Nearly all of the
states do it," answered Mr., Pottle.
| What remedy have you to suggest
| against so-called double taXation?'
was asked.
II admire the Michigan law. There
mortgages are not specifically taxed.
The property owner is allowed the OPP
| ton of paying all of the tax upon a
| Inortgaged lot or farm, or he may
show that another person has a mort
| gage interest in it and cause that per-
| son TO pay his share. In no case does
| the state directly Interfere between
the mortgagor and the mortgagee. 1t
leaves them to fight the matter out be-
tween themselves
DO you approve of that SYSTEM"
was asked.
Yes" answered Mr.. Potte. 1T
docs away with double taxation and ii
| leaves the borrower and lender free to
| make their own arrangement. Under
it the rate of interest has fallen to
| five per cent.
The Michigan tax commission has
made Il very elaborate investigation
into the valuation of the railroad prop
erty of that state, arriving at exact
| figures by sending engineers over the
several lines at a cost of 100000.
| But it has the facts
! 1T is my view that the ultimate So
| luton of the taxing problem of munich
palities will be the abandonment Of
the taxation Of all personal property
and the basing of all taxation upon
real estate. This is not a new view,
but | believe it will be- the final con-
| clusion of the tax commission of the
several states. 1t would be just be
| cause il is upon the real estate that
the bulk of personal property rests
| Judge ellison. president of the tax
| commission. suggested that a national
convention of state tax boards and
commissions be held in the fall Of
1903. following the meetings of the
several legislatures. He believes that
O great many problems now awaiting
| solution, that cannot be properly
| reached by means of investigation, or
| which would require in 'estigation of
| a character not feasible of employment,
might be hurried to- solution by the
| discussions of a convention of tax eX-
|