Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-09

how far that ought to act in the judg-
mcnt of the House against the PROPOSE
ton Of taking the railroad companies and
assessing them on their valuation?
| MIR. MERRILL: And that question suG
costs to me what Mr.. Tuttlc, the prcs-
dent OF the Boston e Maine and Maine
Central railroads. said here at the hear
ing before the committee -four years ago.
and also il brings to my mind the reports
that have been going around this House
ever since this bill was Introduced II has
bc,n ciirrcntly reported by tho lobbyists
,rouud this House and by certain grdnG-
orc Who have come here lobbying in the
interests Of the railroad that there was
lJistinct understanding. an agreement
made. between the railroads and the com
mittce and TIC Legislature that if they
vouId increase their rate of taxation four
wears ago as they did. It Should be final
FOR 4 series Of years. ! was informed d
il when that report started by " mem
her of the committee on taxation. an!
he told me I could get his name. and il
vas Senator Gardner of PcnobScpt-h'
s.ud that tn, re- WAS no such understand
inc. in any way or in any particular and
M agreement of any kind rs IS claimed.
|
tIc.s talk before the committee in 1901 in
| relation to this question nf taxation Of
The railroads. He goes on to Stnt". first.
| That the system Of TAXATION winch has
been adopted by the Legislature OF Main"
Is The best to his mind Of any yet con-
cniyed. that it is the most equitable and
the most just. Now. what docs he say in
rcl,tion to K" He SAYS: "Ihis has stood
system If taxation. the cAcis" tax. thu
tax on gross transportation. "rhis has
stood tho test OF years 1t has been t.
the supreme court of til" United States
if I rccollcct right and been pronounced
legal: and if Won ask my advice do not
like To intrudc til should say. keep YOU"
form of law. make such changes as are
necessary to bring an increased taxation,
/, and wait. You have another LcriSlItur"
wo Years hence, ana if You are not salts
fed YOU can make Yourselves satisfied.
This is not for al time" Now, gcntl"
Nor Of the House | know You have had
it sad to YOU and argued to YOU a
reason why YOU should not support this
bill that it WAS not keeping good faith
with the railroads. Right there is the
language Of Lucius futile made four
years ago. l heard him when he madc
, II: he m ldc it on tho floor Of this House
before the committee: and he said to vow:
, You have another Legislature two years
hence and II Won are not satisfied ynn
can change it, This is not for all time"
That is just what this bill proposes, to
change it.
Now. as TO the question of the gentle
man from Bath CAIr. Scwal'-is it right
to Tux the railroads and not raise til"
tax on III other corporations in tn" State?
| say to you. Mr.. Speaker and gentle
mon. if any of YOU will take any line of
corporations and thoroughly ln>cstisat"
them You will find you will have about
all or your hands TINT You want to attend
to during one term of this Legislature. If
YOU think You can take up Il proposition
that involves 500 000. COO worth OF property
and 20 over il with care. go over it with
anxiety. go over it with a feeling that
You want to lind out what is right, if you
undertake to take up all the express and
telephone and telegraph and other cocpor
ations in this State and investigate them
~ like manner. YOU will find it is more
| than one nG!n can DO during a term OF
| this Legislature. | will say to You. and
| | will answer my friend from Bath. that
believe these other corporations should
he taxed. and that they should pay more
tax. | say to YOU. my friend. that ] be
love tn, wild lands OF the State Of Maine
should pay moro taxes. ] say to you,
gentlemen Of the House, that believe
that if the corporations of the State of
Maire today were paving a fair ard rcls-
enable rate of taxation as compared with
other property. there would not he the
necessity Of assessing one bit OF taxation
on the general nron"rty of tie State of
Name for State purposes. There would
he no State tax. and the farmer and tn"
ni1n who owns property. Instead of pay
ing two and thrccfourths mills on cv-
cry dollar that he Owns. that two and
ti'rccfourths mills would hc wiped ont
entirely and there would h" no State tax.
The State tax would he paid by the cor
porations of the State Of Maine.
They have IN immense amount of prop
crty that goes mt'Nrti. and | say ii is
For the interests Of the people 1t Is for
the interest of good government. ii is in
keeping with the constitution of the Stat"
of Maine. it is in keeping with good NOR
dlS that those properties should l." taxed
| And ! Hgrcn with the gentleman that
| these other properties ought to be taxed. |
| i;ut will the gentleman say. bccaus"
| somebody has not put in Il bill to tax
other companies. that the railroads should |
| not nay their tax If ono man gets rid Of |
| paving his tax is it any excuse why an
other man should be relieved from doing |
| Sc and instead Of one man not paving. |
let two mon go and let the balance of the |
| community pay taxes for two instead of |
| fo- one? Every dollar Of tax that any
| man lodges, somebody else has to pay.
| And who arc tho ores that have to pay |
| it? 1t is the man whose property li"S |
right out open, the man who owns his |
| farm. his little nome. his horse and his |
| COW Those lie wide open; they can be |
seen, and they are taxed; but the man |
WHO has hundreds of thousands Of rail |
| road securities or bonds. they are locked |
M in Il safe locker and go untaxed. while |
| if that money was taxed the result would |
be that your taxes and mine would Dc
reduced.
|