Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-20

| do not believe that the State assessors
are able. in addition to their present
| duties or even if they neglected their
present duties absolutely. to render an
adequate report of the value Of rail-
| roads III this State to the next Lcgis-
| laturc. believe they are a very able
set Of mon but no three men if tn y
should give their whole time can fur
niSh an adequate report of the value of
tn" railroads in this State; and | 40
fear that a bad report will not only
be misleading but will plunge this
legislature into Il great deal of I'M
necessary work at the next SeSsio 4:
and | therefore ask the House to vote
with me in indefinitely postponing this
order
Mr.. DAVIES: Mr., Speaker: have
tried to appreciate To the full solicit
tudc which is exhibited by the gentle
man from Portland in regard to the
duties OF the State assessors. | know
that the State assessors are an over
worked body OF men, but so far as
the discussion in the Legislature is
concerned, assuming that we had one
at the next session on this question OF
railroad taxation and assuming that
the matter was thoroughly ventilated
for the benefit of the inhabitants OF
this State. for my part ! cannot see
as it WCu d do the least harm. Neither
can | understand the sOlicitude on
the part of the gentleman in Directing
so earnestly to having valuation up-
on the railroads established by the
State assessors Certainly he does not
distrust this body of men as 1t might
meet two years hence. They are per-
fectly competent to consider this ques-
tion and think we can all rely upon
them not to do the railroads any in
iurv. and if they decided after a fair
valuation Of the railroads. as returned
bv the assessors. that it would not be
the part of wisdom. that it would not
be scientific and would not be proper
to tax the railroads on an assessed
valuation. of course the Legislature
would not do so, but I can see no valid
objection to the State being III pos
session of that information.
Now all our property, speaking very
generally. has to come under the eagle
ev.. OF the assessor. He establishes q
value upon it, The farmer whose every
single dollars worth of property H"S
ont Ct doors and is inspected pN the
assessor, he is obliged to pay ms tax
on an assessed valuation. | DO not
know of anv reason vet why the rail-
roads should not be subjected to inc
same scrutiny looking toward a val
u ton of their property. ana tiliilk
We can very safely trust the state OF
Maize through its Legislature and its
Executive to treat the railroads OF TINS
state fairly and honestly: and | SIN
ccrely hope that that information VIII
be brought forth. / think 1t is import
ant ana | think it is proper and | can
not for the life of me sec any reason
whv the railroads should objecl to IT.
Mr. BEYER: Mr.. Speaker. don
know whether it is a proper procedure.
but the gentleman from Yarmouth
feels perfcctiy sure that the State as
SCISSORS ar capable Of valuing the
railroad property or that they nave
plrntv of time in which to do so. Now
nn that question should ask tho Chair
to appoint the Gentleman from Var
mouth and myself i committee to 90
to tho State assessors and as men be
inc. best equipped to know whether
they are capable of dong this WORK
ask them if they feel that any report
which they could render to the next
LEGISLATURE would do justice to TINS
question; then if they feel that thrir
duties would allow them to DO justice
to this question | would be glad I"
Withdraw all my objections to- the or
der NV point is. however, that
would rather not see a poor job doh"
which is likely to be misleading ana
which is likely to lead US into grave
mistakes.
Mr.. PATTANGAlL: Mr., Speaker.
think the suggestion of the gentleman
from Portland tMr. Bey"n with regard I"
Il consultation with the State assessors
in this matter might he a wise one II II
was slightly amended. should add I"
it the suggestion that if the state asses
sors said they were not capable OF dong
this work during the next two years
that They should be requested to resign
their offices, LaughtcrD
| am. as have said two . three times
in favor Of the present method of taxa
ton of the railroads. | believe it To he
the best way, but | concede the right To
Their men to differ with me. | know a
great many men 90 tliiti WIZ n.y. '''''
they can the ad valorem method better
method: and | further know that these
men and | cannot meet and discuss ques-
lions of which is the best way. ntelli-
gently. until those facts are brought out
ANA somebody knows the valuations OF
the railroads One objection which mas
been made over and over again is tha'
YOU cannot value railroad. say tlat
is absolute nonsense. because they 40
yalue them in 40 states of the mon. ana
7 feel confident that we can get poatu
of men in the State of Maine VINO are
inst as intelligent as the assessors OF
New Jersey. where they value raliroads
ON the ad valorem basis. There IS noth-
ing very mysterious about the value OF
railroad that | know Of. Railroads nave
heen bought and sold. 1t is not very lolS
ago that the Boston & Maine acquired
rho controlling interest in the Maine ,eh-
trail and I presume when they bought 81
per cent. of the stock Of the Maine ,e"-
tral and acquired an interest IN II 'hose
mon GOT some vague idea of what tle!
bo,1ght and what the Maine Central anu
and