Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-01-08
Relief From Excessive Taxes.


tax commissions report for relief from
excessive taxes on real estate and tang
ible property in general. and the placing
of larger proportionate share of proper
ty reached by special taxation. In Maine.
we have relied too much on direct prop
erty tax. The burdens have been inequi-
table. l think it is generally agreed that
some of our public service corporations
and the largely appreciated values in
wild lands should pay larger relative
tax than hitherto. and I hope that the
legislature will meet no serious opposi-
ton in the determination of fairer levy
upon the same The method by which
this is to be done is for you to deter
mine. l hope 1t may be simple, as far re-
moved as possible from manipulations by
interested parties. equitable and FEAST
BILE. The method in Maine long has been
to tax railroads on gross receipts; I
have always believed in this method as
scientific, practical, and especially easy
Of application. since 1t Is absolutely I'M
der the control of the legislature. BY
means of it we show greatly increased
revenue from public service corporations
in the past six years. and without the
addition of extra machinery, we have 1t
in our power to secure additional reven-
ne. You will have before you a state
ment of the varying plans for the taxa
ton of railroads and other public service
corporations. l commend to you a study
Of the same.
The direct inheritance tax, the taxa
ton of savings banks deposits in nation
al banks, the graduated automobile tax,
an annual tax on foreign corporations
doing business in Maine. a license fee on
foreign corporations, new laws govern
ing the taxation of steamboats, and an
original suggestion for the apportion-
ment of state tax wholly on land values.
thereby more nearly equalizing the bur-
denS upon land in unincOrporated and in
incorporated towns-all these are pro-
posed by this report and will come to
you presumably from the legislature as
matters for your determinat ton. May l
ask every member of this legislature.
carefully to read the report of the tax
commission, or should l not rather as
sumo that every member of these deliber-
alive bodies here assembled has already
read it? You owe it to the state. at least
TO appreciate the gravity of some of it's
suggestions. before you enter upon the
consideration of these subjects, some of
them implying a radical departure from
the customs and policies of nearly CEN
fury. Let every personal consideration
be set aside in your deliberations. Let
public good over-b lance private greed.
Let US do nothing in haste that we shall
have to repent at leisure. but let us not
be afraid to go ahead. While the best
of tax systems is bound to be faulty,
that system is absolutely vicious and I'M
speakaby evil that is fashioned in favor
stism or conceived in a spirit of reprisal.
The current questions of taxation can
never be settled right. even for this gen.
Grafton until they dispense justice to
every man, rich or poor. and so far as
possible dispose the burdens of public
tax in just proportion to every interest.
great or small.
Temperance and Prohibition.
And now. as we draw near the close,
permit me to say word concerning the
laws prohibiting the sale of intoxicating
beverages and their enforcement. In
the first place. l urge upon you the
thought with which l opened this address.
namely, that the burden Is upon you and
not upon me to formulate legislation. l
am glad to fulfill my duties which are
to suggest. admonsh, or inform, so far
as l am able but if you look to me for
new devises or expedients have
are fixed by the constitution-mlne
to execute. yours to legislate. but
l shall not hesitate to exercise every
constitutional obligation and privilege
belonging to my office, to redeem the
solemn pledges that we have made for
enforcement.
Today, we have prohibition in the con-
utes. and resubmission in the limbos.
If you will be content to let them re-
main there, with such legislation as you
may devise to simplify their operations
and equalize their burdens and RESPONSE
bilities, and will turn your attention to
graver things, such as the conservation
of the great natural resources of the
state. the determination Of the pressing
issues of taxation; to legislation in keep
ing with the national spirit of moral and
economic reform, you will pursue the
wiser course.
Here l would leave the discussion, were
ii not for the fact that a fourth ele-
Tent enters into the situation, spirit
OF so-called notification, which rises
like menace or stalks behind like an
evil thing in the night I believe that
neither you legislators, nor / as exec
utiye, will be doing our duty, IL we fail
to oppose every step that tends to pro-
mote it. The people nave not chosen
us in the full understanding of those is
sues to come here and hoodwink the law
or stultify ourselves. 1t is not my pur-
pose to threaten or to cajole. l shall
not declare here and now what I shall
do in this juncture or in that, but 1 do
say, that whatever you do In regard to
temperance Legislation. you must not
le2i5late state enforcement out Of the
statutes. The issue rests with you. but
in the deliberations of this legislature a
need of further and more explicit decla-
rations from me, / shall not hesitate to
make them and in such time and place
think will he the most emphatic and
will do the most good for public welfare.
] believe the prohibitory law to be wise.
judirious and salutary / should consid
er 1t a disaster to the general cause Of
public morals throughout the land should
they pass away from Maine.
Initiative and Referendum.
During the year Just passed, we have
adopted the initiative and referendum
by the vote of the people This secures
to the voter power which as yet he
hardly appreciates and which yet has to
be tested. Under this, there can be small
complaint at inability. either to sound
public sentiment or to participate in
general Legislation.
And now, gentlemen, members Of the
sevcntyfourth Maine legislature. in your
care these issues are placed. I proffer
them not In spirit Of self assertion,
but as issues which believe demand
your attention, II Maine Is to keep I'D in
the procession of her neighboring states
The people will forgive honest mistakes,
but they never can and never should for
give wiful misrule. / do not sickle for
methods. but plead for measures, deep
laid in justfce and In right Ao not