Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-02-05

in the first place I want to read the
recommendation of the tax commission
on this particular proposition:
Cities and towns assess upon each
poll tax for local purposes varying
from one to three dollars. The COM
mission is of the opinion that the tax
should be uniform throughout the
State. There seems to be no sound
reason why person subject to poll
tax should not pay the same amount
whether he resides in Fort Kent or
Kittery. Many towns have complain
ed that they lose a large part of the
amount levied on polls because Of the
removal from town between the time
of assessment of the tax and the COM
.mitment to the collector. We recon-
mend a provision authorizing the
municipal officers to make a special
commitment of such portions of the.
levy as they certify may be lost by
further delay"
Mr. President. the whole gist Of the
recommendations of the tax commits
sion looks to uniformity-not only uni
formity with reference to the poll tax,
but uniformity in the assessment Of
all taxes; and bills have been present.
ed to the tax committee to carry out
that idea of the tax commission. We
assigned a hearing for this bill, and the
chairman Of the tax commission came
before US, and urged very strongly
that some system-some general sys-
tenn that might be understood by
everybody throughout the State should
be adopted by this Legislature. The
nI,o of h1 Rnor6 NJ Sf1fQ Az.
SCISSORS took exactly the same position.
He said that, in towns, where there
were two together, for instance like
the cities of Lewiston and Auburn,
Lewiston had poll tax rate of two
dollars while Auburn had three; and
more or less citizens from one of those
towns would go and register in the
other town for the sake of saving
dollar 1t seems to be a small prOpo-
sition; but it causes confusion to the
local assessors; and he urged very
strongly that we should put this bill IN
shape and bring it before this Legis-
lature.
1t would, of course be uniform if it
was all fixed at two dollars. or any
other sum; and do not know that the
committee have any special reason for
making it three dollars, outside of the
fact that the towns themselves have
very generally made it three dollars.
I took occasion to look up to find
how this matter is divided among the
towns of the State. In the county OF
York, represented by my friend from
Biddeford, there are IA towns that
now charge three dollars; none one
dollar. The assessors never found
that party that you thought ought to
get it down to a dollar year. None
of the towns in York county have got
the tax down to one dollar. Anroscos-
gin has five at three, and eight at two;
Aroostook, 80 at three dollars, and IL
at two dollars; six at one dollar. Cum
berland, ~ at three dollars, seven at
two dollars-and it very often happens,
gentlemen, that in those towns coming
right alongside of each other, like the
cities of Biddeford and SacO, Bidde-
ford has two dollars and Saco has
three dollars. Auburn has three dol
lars, Lewiston, two dollars Augusta
has three dollars, and Halowell, right
adjoining practically the same town,
two dollars. So that it causes con-
fusion-causes more or less going back
and forth, and registering in those
towns to save this additional dollar;
and, without going into details, OF the
AIT towns in the State, 315 of them
are now assessing their polls at three
dollars; 10 at $275; A at $3.50; two
at 1925 and IS at only two dollars.
Leaving, out of the AT cities and
towns and plantations in the State,
315 out of the AT are now assessing
at three dollars; and it was the feeling
of the committee that. in any system of
evening up and making uniform, that
it was wiser to make the uniform rate
three dollars, rather than to make any
reduction.
Now I do not understand that this
takes away from the assessors the right
to abate any part Of this tax. if they see
fit 1t does simply make uniform tax OF
three dollars; and if the assessors in any
city or town find a family where a man
is unable to pay the poll tax. they can
make it right 1t seems to il @ to be III
the line of good legislation: and 1 hope
the Senate will not vote ~ indefinitely
postpone.
Mr.. STAPLES Of Knox: Mr.. President,
did not intend to say word on TINS
matter, but l do not like the tendency
of the Legislature of Maine to take away
the rights and powers of the towns. l do
not believe in the principle. I believe
that every town should have a right to
assess the poll tax according to the eX-
igencies of that town and according to
its needs To the gentleman who has just
spoken, one or two or three dollars would
not amount to a great deal; but we have,
in the majority of our towns, great
many poor people who have to pay poll
tax: and, as the senator from York says.
two dollars to them means good deal OF
money. Two dollars saved here and two
dollars there may be the means of keep
ing a man and his family from charity.
believe we want to keep the power of
the people down to the people just as
near as we can. l do not believe in that
legislation. that says that bank shall
not be taxed only upon SO much. ana
upon that line the gentleman, L appre-
bend, poses in favor of this resolve. Let
the city of Augusta manage its affairs
in its own way. Let my town manage
them in it's own way. If we can save
hundred people two dollars. why let that
town do 1t, if they don't need the money;
and not come to this Legislature and say
that in my town or your town we should