Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-10
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from Page Four)


going to give a better public service than
they ever did before. l take this road
because it is the one about which / per
sonally know the most What have they
done in financial way? If the Maine
same amount exactly per passenger per
mile which ii received in 1901 when this
law was first passed. they would have
made from passenger traffic alone $o23 ST.
II they had received the same rate per
ton per mile in 1904 as they did in 1901
they would have received from freight
Hf..3"3. This without running an addi-
tiOnal train to the trains that they have
run this year and without mourning any
additional expense, for it would be on
the same amount of traffic practically
and that would amount to s31111. 1s0, which
may he properly considered as a dividend
paid to all the citizens of the State who
nav" used thes" roads either for passen-
ger traffic or for freight. They paid in
dividends s'4s,o so that this one road in
the very last year has paid back. ] NAV
say IN dividends, to the citizens of this
stat" S2i,WU moro than it has paid to its
owners That is to say, this reduction
gratutously made without any urging
has amounted to n dividend to the citi-
zens greater by $4,000 than the entire div
ldends they paid to their stockholders
Does that seem AS though We should urge
upon them greater taxation? If ii does.
then l am in favor of it. II they need
this stimulus | want to give it to them.
Now. in regard to what We ought to do.
-Four years ago this general corporation
bill was PASSED The railroads are not
alone in this, telegraph and telephone
companies and street railroads We're all
considered. A committee of the Grange
Whit h always has had the best interests
OF orr State at heart. appeared and gave
expression to their opinion. This matter
was all talked over and tax bill was
arranged which under all the circum-
stances of the State seemed to be fair to
the State, fair to the electric and steam
railroads, fair to the telegraph and tele-
phone companies, and without dis
senting voice, If | am correctly Informed
those bills were all passed and there was
established the great system of corpora
ton taxation which we now have and
which is working so beneficiany for the
citizens of this State. Why should W."
disturb it? The gentleman from SkoWhe-
gan has said to YOU that it was stated at
that time that if we wished to change
this. the Legislature could do 50 in two
years. Mr.. futile was before that COM
mittee and he made n speech. File was
there once. | am informed. And this is
what he said: IF all the states had n
low stock valuation, it was because of the
unrrofitableness of the railroads. This
State does not tax upon the stock but
| upon the Gross earnings; but III other
states where the stock would by reason
ri the prosperity of the railroads. be
high. they said: That is an easy w;iy-
let us fix it that way. You have tried
both. This has stood the test of years.
1t has been to the supreme court of the
United States, if / recolcct right. and
been pronounced legal, and if you ask my
a,ivice-I do not like to intrude it
should say: Keep your form of law. maxi
such changes as are necessary to bring
! an increased taxation and wait. You have
| another Legislature two years hence; and
| if YOU are not satisfied you can make
yourselves satisfied. This IS not for all
time
That is he evidently meant if this
| method of taxation is not satisfactory
you can change your method at amy ses-
| sion OF the Legislature. IL is Il we'll
| known fact of course that We can change
| it, but ! do not think it is fair to these
| gentlemen to do So | do not believe for
a moment that any business man would
| propose a matter of that kind. You know
| that the roads of this State could not
| conduct their business interests under
| such Il shifting form OF taxation.
| Where has this hill originated? The
| gentleman from SkOwhegan, l under
stand prepared series Of petitions. With
| them he prepared a letter setting forth
what it was proposed to do. and ne gave
them to the members of the House and
others and they were sent out in consid-
| cradle numbers. This bill WAS tabled on
| the 18th day of January. it WAS the sec
| ond bill | think. introduced in the House.
| 1t has laid on the table all these weeks.
But why does not the gentleman from
| Skuwhcgan refer to the petitions? Why
don't he show this popular demand, tins
| risirg up of the people. this resistance
| to wrong? He tells you that lobby oil
The Grange are here to prevent the ptS-
sage of that bill. Who in the lame OF
| Heaven ever before heard in this state
or in any other, of n lobby oil the Grange
To defend a railroad? He attempts TO ac-
| cllsr this great organization winch repre-
s.nts more men and women than any
| other in this State. all dsintereot"d. In
the DAY of the railroads. What are they
| here for? | tell you, gentlemen, IL the
| Grange is here today represented ny a
committee. they are here to keep f;uth
with the people; they are here to Keep
| faith with the corporations; they are hefe
| for the purpose of undoins what they De
Iieye is an injustice or to maintain what
| they believe to be just The strongest
| argument | could put before this House
| is the lobby, if you choose to call 1t sucl.
| nf the Grange opposed to this minority
| report. | am willing to leave it right
| there: and gentlemen. if in regard L"
| measures of taxation We Will loiiow me
Grange. we shall not very far err IN our
conduct.
What | mean to say is this: The law
AS We have it is just and fair. far To the
| roads. fair to the State and working wen
| i'm practice. There is no reason iof
singing out the railroads alone to tax
| Let il alone Just as it is. and rest as
| surcd that when the people OF TINS state