The Republican journal., 1907-02-21
THE VETERANS POLL TAX.

II1I VIILNAN0 TVll tAA.
In the Maine House, Feb. It'll. on
motion of Mr.. Skidmore of Liberty,
an act to amend Chapter 1853, Public
Laws of 1905, relating to the exemption
OF soldiers and sailors from poll tax
was taken from the table. Mr.. Skidmore
then addressed the House rs follows:
Mr.. Speaker, in tabling/th bill my
purpose was to call the attention of the
members of the House to the fact that
this bill was treading on dangerous
ground, that it created class legisla-
ton, that is, it relieved from taxation
a certain portion of our people who
were we'll able to pay. The law relat-
ing to a poll tax by some is considered
for me | do not think so. 1t gives to
those who are young and just coming
on the field of action, and who have
not had the privilege that others have
had to acquire property on which to be
taxed, better and more thorough
knowledge of the plan and conditions
of government.
Now there is law on the statute
books which this law calls attention to,
which exempted all soldiers and sailors
of the Civil War who had taxable prop
erty that was not valued at $500. so
you see that in that respect 1t does not
apply strictly to the poor and needy.
There is another law on our statute
books which gives to the municipal otfi-
GERS of every city and town iii this State
the right to remit or abate the taxes,
not onlv of soldiers and sailors of the
Civil War; but of AL persons who in
their judgment were deemed worthy to
be so exempted. So it seems to me
that this law is not called tor at the
present time; and l have as much SYM
pathy as anyone, | care not who, for the
old soldier, for my ,people were IN THAT
war and did what they could towards
its successful termination. But L DO
not believe it is right for any portion OF
our people to be relieved OF tax When
they are able to pay it, and the nation
al government has made ample proVls-
ion-I do not say that In every case IL
has done that which is right and just
to all, but l do say that III majority
of cases they have done that which
was in keeping with the evidence and
conditions which existed and which
have been presented to them. They
may have erred in some cases, and who
can say that they have not, but in
those cases there is a remedy which we
have in relation to widows of soldiers
and all those dependent upon them in
the State OF Maine. And there have
been liberal provisions ill years past
and there is pending the present time
still more provisions to continue the
good wolk; and wherever the national
government has failed to fulfill that
condition. the State government
through its pension clerk has come to
the rescue and done what was right as
far as they were able. So it seems to
me that taking these facts into consid-
Grafton there is ample law upon our
statute books not only to protect the
old soldiers but to protect every one.
Those | have talked with and those
whom this law would benefit have OBJ
jected to me to its passage, that 1t was
wholly wrong and uncalled tor, that
they were ready and willing to bear
their portion of the burdens of taxa
ton. One of them called my attention
to this fact. that there was living be-
side him poor man with large fam
lily who had no property; and he asked
me how it would look for him to be re-
lieyed of a taxation and have one I'M
posed upon that person. And there are
many lust such instances; and have
always found that wherever it was
necessary for the old soldier to stand
mis- burden, not only III time OF war but
i'll time of peace, he was ready to do SO.
If any one has any doubt OF that let
him 90 down into the rotunda vi tins
Capitol where he can see there the
colors which were borne by the hardy
sons of Maine from the time OF the
firing upon Fort Sumpter until the
close of that bloody period, and he VIII
find that the hardy sons of Maine stood
by their country and sought to uphold
the principles of patriotism; and they
are not afraid today to stand before the
people in an honest and just cause as
they did then. They are ready and
Wiling to bear their burdens, and be-
lieve that they are ready, no matter
What the condition may be, to do their
part towards sustaining the affairs OF
government.
On motion of Mr.. Weld Old Town,
the bill was laid on the table for the
purppSp of off rlnu AN amendment