Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-02-08


lie Laws of 1906 relating to the exemp-
ton of soldiers and sailors from poll tax,
was taken from the table.
Mr.. SKIDMORE: Mr.. Speaker, in ia
bling this 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
legislat ton, that is it relieved from tax
alton certain portion of our people who
We're well able to pay. The law relating
to poll tax by some is considered to be
absurd and wholly wrong, but as for mo
do not think so. 1t gives to those who
are young and are just coming on the
field of action. and who have not had
the privilege that others have had to
Quire property on which to be taxed, a
better and more thorough knowledge of
the plan and conditions of government.
Now there is a 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
eriy that was not valued at 500. So you
see that in that respect it does not apply
strictly to the poor and needy. There
is another law also on our statute books
which gives to the municipal officers of
every city and town in this State the
right to remit or abate the taxes, not
only of soldiers and sailors of the Civil
War, but of all persons who in their
judgment were deemed worthy to be 50
exempted. SO it seems to me that this
law is not called for at the present time;
and have as much sympathy as anyone.
I care not who. for the old soldier, for
my people We're in that war and did what
they could towards its successful termi-
nation. But l do not believe it is right
for any portion of our people to be re-
lieved of a tax when they are able to
pay it, and the national government has
made ample provisional do not say that
in every case it has done that which is
right and just to all, but I do say that
in a majority of cases they have done
that which was in keeping with the evil
dence 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 n 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 in years past and there IS
pending Mt the present time still mora
provisions to continue the good work:
and wherever the national government
has failed to fulfill that condition, the
State government through its pension
clerk has come to the rescue ard orc
what was right as far as they were able.
So it seems to me that taking these facts
into consideration there is ample law
upon our statute books not only to pro-
tect the old soldier but to protect every
one. Those l have talked with ard those
whom this law would benefit have object
ed to me to its passage that it was who'll
" wrong and uncalled for. that they
were ready and willing to bear their por-
ton of the burdens of taxation. One of
them called my attention to this fact,
that there was living beside him poor
man with a large family who had no
property; and he asked me how it would
look for him to be relieved of Il taxa
ton and have one imposed upon that per-
son. And there are many Just such in
stances; and l have always found that
wherever it was necessary for the old
soldier to stand his burden, not only in
time of war but in time of peace he was
ready to do so. If any one has any
doubt of that let him go down into the
rotunda of this 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 will
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 will
ing to bear their burdens, and 7 believe
that they are ready, no matter what the
condition may be. to do their part to-
wards sustaining the affairs of govern
ment.
On motion of Mr.. Weld of Old Town,
the bill was laid on the table for the
purpose of offering an amendment.
On molten of Mr.. Lord of Parsonsfield,