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

the owner Of a house and lot or q
homestead. il is paid by wealthy men
mostly. There are two men in the town
Of Honit"n-the tax of one, an eX-(iOv-
ernor. being over $50, 900 money at in
terest: another gentleman over $4,000.
These two pay about half the total tax
upon mort cages on real estate in Houl-
ton; besides them there is about sli0,-
GyG more which is taxed to about -
other individuals.
What is that practical effect of this
bill? YOu pass il and you will reduce
the amount Of taxes paid by the
wealthy people of Houlton by 10000
You take out one-tenth Of the taxable
property of IOuliOn and instead Of
helping the poor man, as the Senator
from PenobscOt would have you be-
licve, you take off One-tenth Of the tax
able property Of Houlton and put il
where You take it from the tax Of
the wealthy man and put il upon the
neck of the poor man. You Increase the
tax. Our rate there today is $50 or
$50. If you pass this bill it will in
crease il two mills more. That is the
practical effect in Houlton Of the pas
sage Of this bill.
Come TO the town of York: There IS
| today a tax of STAG. 900 on money loaned
out Gil mortgages upon real estate and
it would yield probably $500 or $4,000
in taxes. If YOU pass this bill it cuts Off
| that much from people of wealth and it
places ii upon the POI man. AT the
hearing upon this some two w eks ago
! / was present a part OF the time. and
|
TO the arguments of my friend. the
senator from Penobscot. in favor Of
this bill that we would see y gathering
of poor men and of small owners of
property CRYING out for THIS Bill. | came
here and WAS surprised TO find hat not
Il poor man was here asking for this bill
not Il representative Of the Gr;lnee was
here. | Was here, and saw one gentle
| man. 4 millionaire from Bangor. and a
number of gentlemen from Portland
| Many wealthy men OF the city of Port
lHnG working for this bill before this
committee. And | saw many hired at
tUrneEs here. gentlemen who We're for
merry members of this Senate. and of
tire House of Representatives, We're
here in the Suse of attorneys working
Tor this bill in behalf OF wealthy eli
ents.
1t seems to me that the renresenta-
tive people here before this committee
that evening We're enough to kill The
senators who may have been present
at that hearing cannot fail 10 have
been impressed by the class OF penrl.-
who were here asking for this bill. and
not by the class of people opposed TO it.
1Ti or IN. Of bN
Legislature W. have had efforts from
members to find more taxable proper
tE in the State. | have listened TO ;he
earnest and able efforts of the Senator
from Knox TO increase the tax on rail-
roads. What did we do? Instead of
adopting this bill. and try to get more
money ont OF the railroads and wealthy
corporations we turned il down. Yes
tcrtt:y and today in the House of Rep
reSentatires they are listening to the
Very able argument of the gentleman
from SkoWhe2an. and are attempting to
get more of Il tax out of the railroads.
| 10 not KNOW the fate of his bill. but
can imagine what it will be. We have
listened to the reading of petitions and
bills, asking for Increased taxation on
wild lands. do not know what the fate
Of those will be, but l imagine they will
Ne turned down.
Now. instead of this Legislature
adopting any of those measures which
ere just and light, and which scheme
TO increase the tax upon the right man
and the railroads and the wild lands
and other property which can bear it,
hat are we doing? Why. we are pre-
S"nting the exhibition at the end Of
this session o. trying 10 exempt thai
ciass of people from paying the tax
they ought TO p%y. | say again the
'"hole cause of this is nol the justice
of taking this tax off from these peo-
pie. but because At :he present time
they are only paying q part OF the tax.
They fear that in Ia igor. Lewiston.
Portland. and other places there will
De elected municipal officers as sincere
and earnest in The perfo, nance of their
duty as there ale il HcUitUn and in
York. who will take this property. and
hence come heIe ana propose 10 wipe
This deal OF The taxation states. 50
there will be NJ further danger of their
paving taxes on this property.
! asked a rrw days ago Il prominent
gentlemen Of the city OF Augusta about
IT. and he SAYS Why. gosh, don't let
this pass: | have $4,000 at interest to-
day. and if this bill is PASSED they
will find out who pays it," That is the
sentiment animating the millionaire
and the wealthy men Os our State. If
you want to exempt then: from taxa
ton and place it upon the poo" man,
this hill will do il.
l move that when the vote is taken
i. will he by a yea and nay vote.
MIR. GARDNER of Percbscot. Mr..
President; naturally W" have all listen
ed with interest to thu able discussion
% this matter by the Senator from
Aroostook. ! realize it is late. and
shall ask the Senators here, in view IF
the senatorial courtesy o: which ] gave
a fair exhibition, that they listen pa
tienty to me, for it is Il subject it will
take some time to go over. I have the
laborinS oar: ! have the statistics and
figures necessary 10 convince you if
possible that ] am on tn" right side.
The gentleman who opposes me is on
the popular side: he appeals to preju
dec and talks about the rich man.