Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-10

ANA while the Legislature. of 1899 d;,,
h"tf'hS along these lines, some good
c"ihe OUT OF the agitation for it secured
!" 'he people the two-cent mileage and
'he"Ier transportation generally.
Out the agitation did not stop there
ne question of securing more reyenu.
Tor the State was kept before the nnh,ic
III such way and to such an extent that
when the Legislature of 1871 onened i,s
doors this matter had to be faced and
'r'e.fe eofsideration at its hands. but
shan not weary you with any details
nuiEce II 10 say that the committee on
iaxation Tor the year 1901 took the mai
ter up, and through the ordinary channels
advertised its meeting. Gave HEARINGS
which We're fully attended; and upon the
paramount issue that the State naedad
more revenue. a general law was nassau
giving the State revenue sufficient 10 nee,
hnnorably all its obligations then and for
time to come
This adjustment of taxation giving to
the State an Increased revenue proved
true and satisfactory. as it had been
prophesied and anticipated. So that after
1otr years the House gets it fresh from,
the Governors lips that orr finances are
not only in good condition. but in such
good condition that the taxes can and
should he reduced.
The railroads which are singled on. in
the bill under discussion have paid. ever
since. an increased tax
One railroad paying n tax then of sl45.-
600 paid sl62,00O in 1902. an increase of 81
80. The same road paid in 1893 1884 ono
$aUS.to in 1904 and will pay under that
same law s2l5,0O0 in 1905. An increase. as
can be seen, every year. and no reason
why the increase shall not continue wear
after year under the laws of 1901
Now. why so soon change the law? And
I now submit, Mr.. Speaker. that since
such was the evidence before our commit
tee that there remained but one plain tiu-
t. to perform, and that duty was to re-
port to the House. as il did, that this bill
fought not to pass
And Notwithstanding the amended mi
nority report. also now before us. the
question is changed in no particular. The
question continues to be: Are We in need
of more revenue?. 4 member of the fl
nance committee tells me that unless the
unforeseen happens. taking into consider
itHli ifP 81 litI N't'-u anu
now in process of becoming laws. that
there will remain Il surplus of S:00,000 to
500 900 in our State treasury after the ad-
iournment of the Legislature.
Is that revenue enough?
The argument is advanced that we need
other institutions: that We need the rev
enue for other worthy objects. That all
ma: be. but when this Legislature shall
have passed upon every measure that has
come before its committees it would be
neither more nor less than going out OF
its wiy to provide for unborn projects
and imaginary Institutions.
This legislature would not he justified
in raising more revenue than the need OF
the State demands. Where there is no
sickness, the doctor is not needed. But
I shall go IL step farther: II the State
needed more money. the time has not
come that it should discriminate between
the railroads and other money-inakine
institutions OF the State. 1t may be that
tho railroads are not paying taxes
enough 1t may he that railroad property
should he taxed like any other property
It may be that none of us arc paying oul
fair share of taxation. 1t may be that
the wild land owners are not paying what
they might and ought to pay to the State
for taxes. 1t is the case of hundreds Of
men throughout the land.
1t was pretty clearly demonstrated to
our committee that one hundred millions
of stocks in this State pays not Il copper
of taxes whatever. | haze known men to
pay taxes on just a house when they We're
rcputed worth Il hundred thousand in
cash. The assessors are simply not dom.
their duty. We have law enough
MIR Speaker in conclusion ! repeat that
if the State should be in need OF more
money, then no discrimination should b"
practiced bet tween railroad property and
any other properly. Our duty would sim
ply be to bring all under the same roof
and make one and all pay their fair share
Of the entire burden. But. Mr.. Speaker
if We are to believe our honored Govern
or and if We can rely on the Judgment on
the committee on finance. the State has
al the money it shall need until the Leg
isllturc meets again. And it Will he an
easy task and a pleasant duty for this
House to stand by the report of the ma
iorIty of the committee on taxation.
Mr. HASTINGS of Bethel: Mr.. Speaker
and gentlemen of the House. at this lat"
hour I do not propose to tresntss upon
the ratience of the House by entering
INTO Il discussion of this question. Th"
ground has been fully gone over ny the
gentleman from SkOwh"g:tn. and this is
the second time that | have heard il dis
ctiSsrd. | have listened to the cloquanc@
of the gentleman from Portland and tn"
gentleman from Lewiston; but the more
have heard this matter discussed. the
more thoroughly am | convinced that tn"
position of the minority on this question
is correct: anG as one of the SI@nerS of
that minority opinion | wish to stand
here and reiteratc my belief in the sound
ness of the position of the gentleman
from Skowhcean. and my confidence tina;
his argument cannot be assaulted. 1t is
my Judgment that it has not been assaulted
successfully today and that his position
on this question is lmpre 9nabie.
Mr.. SW EFT of Portland: Mr. Speaker,
at this late hour | shall endcaVor not to
occupy the attention OF the House longer
than to present one fact to demonstrate
the correctness of the position of the COM
r'ittee who favored the majority report.
| merely wish to quote the opinion of a