Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-20
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
from Page Eighty

]. lax machinery. I think that the ac-
~ this Legislature shows conclu-
n. mat we are in sympathy with the
"a. receipts system of taxation at pres
~ use This order simply directs an
..Ir into the advisability of taxing on
.,ttv. but as long us this Legislature
.ser fit to maintain the old system
E.s.ot see the use of an order compelling
...y;ew of this whole subject as the
aept time.
ssmove the indefinite postponemcnt of
q order.
TN PATTANGALL: Mr.. Speaker, |
S.nI1 regret the indefinite postpone
HI Of this order. \ majority of the
{r,.te tax commission recommended the
j n raorem system of taxation of rail
,,.ds and their report is an argument
"a conclusive one that 70 man liV-
- c,,,ld make A tax law on the basis
rbich they recommended for want OF
;,tormation on which to has" the law.
Van If rs on the committee reported
paght not to pass" not because we
| oil tho,aht there was nothing worth
considering in that ad Valorem idea,
Init VIC thought there was no way OF
|tvvng an I'd vdlorem tax on the rail-
rnds If Maine intclIgcntly because
tbera had been no valuation of the
I,,cneftv. Other bills have been intro
auepd in the Senate for an ad valorem
fax Some of the members of this
Hmse believe in the adj valofem tax
NJ A general principle. \ good many
r4ople opt of the LEGISLATURE believe
in the ad yalGrem tax as principle,
bu they must continu" apparently to
tEeorize on the question until some
hOdv gets a valuation of tie railroads
before them in concrete shape in a
mblic document Believing in the 9TH
or theory of taxation myself. rs | do.
till believe that it would be Of great
public value for the people Of Maine
10 know what the state assessors re-
yard as the value of each railroad. |
think it would tend t. 4; REIMBURSEMENT
o. the insome rates on Il fair basis.
think, too that the orGer goes fur
tier than that. Although It says that
this valuation shall be reported for
purposes Of taXatioI-and | confess ]
do not like the wording of the order
IL that respcct-it goes further than
that A report Of the value of the steam
railroads Of Maine ought to be of great
ua in connection with any ratc-fXing
prpostion which might arise: and
rate regulation is coming in the state
|Of Maine to a greater or less cxtcEl in
The future. The proposition to get at
/ tho value of these roads would be of
great public use in that respect as to
|snethcr the rates charged by them are
Ehl or unfair if any rates come be
fore the railroad commissioners for
Enlistment under the present Statute
IT any future Statute that might be
|adopled; and | hope that this order.
which Involves no expense to the State
|out SIMPLY puts upon the State asses
sors an added and necessary duty in
connection with the ir regular duty.
|ndy have passage so that when the
|h'M legislature meets the mon who
|ellfve in the adj valorcm system Of
IHatitn and tn" men who don't can
Dtet and discuss il intclliScntly and
hos what they are talking about.
Ar. DAVIES of YARMOUTH: NJ +.
Naker. | can See no reason why the
.aer should not have Il passage. I for
ne believe in taxing railroads on an
va'orm basis. There never has been
ny logical argument brought to my
uaa which Will enable us to deny th's
IN mat We c@nnot tell what tax =
(.hro'd should pay until we kno"
poW that a great many arguments