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


frS railroads on gross receipts, and |
am ii'' unmlndful of the fact that that
system vas recommended by the dis
tlliguish"d gentleman who is the Gov
ernor OF this state; but I do believe
tcat the gentleman from Portland
(Mr. BeyeD was in error in stating
tfat the tax commission which render
cd It's report to this legislature an
proved unanimously the taxing of rail
roads on gross receipts. Now it can do
the railroads no harm. 50 far as
can see, if the people in this State
know what the state assessors of this
State believed WAS a fair valuation Of
their property, and as has been Sug-
gcsted by The gentleman from Water
vile, at the next session of the Legis-
laturC those who believe in the two
Inherent systems or methods of tax
ing railroads, would have an opportu-
nifty 20 consider the matter Intelligent
~ III that they would have the infOr-
nation as to what the railroad proper
ty in til" State was worth
Mr. BEYER: Mr.. Speaker: | am
sorry if | gave the impression that it
was the unanimous report of the tax
commission which reported against
the adj valorcm system. | think | said
majority of the commission reported
for the ad valorem system. Now in
regard to this matter-here are the
State assessors. I personally feel in
regard to their action in taking Port
land, as we see it there, that they do
not do the city of Portland justice
in inspecting its valuation they don't
int,
details, because they have too limited
time in which to cover this whole
State and rearrangc and equalize the
valuation III the city Of Portland. |
mean that they cannot give the city
of Portland due consideration and
still attend to the equalization of the
J rest of the State. 1t is perfectly true
that this order does not call for any
expenditure, but it gives to the State
assessors an added duty. the magni-
tudc of which perhaps the gentleman
from Watervlle and the gentleman
from Yarmouth do not appreciate The
duty imposed upon the State assessors
by this order | should say would be
enough to keep 10 or - men busy for
q number of years Just how Il man
would go to work to determine the
value of a right of way of Il railroad
! should think would be a little
pulling 1t is generally admitted
even in states which have the ad va
loren law that it is Impossible to get
at the value of Il railroad. | know
man who was state assessor IN a
certain Western state where they have
this ad valorcm law. and he told ne
that it was his opinion that in all the
states that have this al Valorem law
the basis on which they valued the
railroads dWindlcd down in the final
consideration to either Il basis of gross
earnings or net earnings. That is t"
sav the franchise value of II railroad
is absolutely determined by what L
can earn. He said that those asS"S-
sors in this state where they nave tniS
ad valorrn law simply cam" down IN
the end to the principle of how much
= railroad can earn as its value, FRANK
" desnairing of ever putting any der
mite price or actual cash Nalu" on me
railroad property. Consequently ''ri-
ing very strongly as | 10 mat III"
gross earning basis is tn" most luS'.
tho most equitable and the most Sclen-
tiGc feeling very strongly That th''
theory has been supported not only
III, orr EXccutiN" Department h'il oF
no act ion of this Legislature, Shout"
dislike to see this duty imposed upon
tho State assessors. [ believe mat
had lob would again lnN"lVc 'h'9
I;coisI,t,lrc in a very prrpleXiS anu
nerhaps uuarrclsomc consideration