Daily Kennebec journal., 1911-03-18

He pointed out that / special law
had already been passed amending
the Kenncbec Water District charter
by requiring that corporation to pay
tax,s upon the land value of land
but not en- land Improvements, The
proposed bill amending tile general
statute would repeal this special pro-
vision for the hennebee Water Dis
trict.
"The Augusta Water District" Mr..
Heath continued, was built and ii
nanced upon the faith OF this general
statute. 1t is fair to ask it to pay
taxes upon the value of land seized,
but not Oh any improvements above
ground or undcr ground"
He declared that the proposed bill
would subject tn. Augusta Water Dis
trict to a tax Of between 5000 and
$1,000 {; year and would raise the pres
ent low water rate about 81 per takcr.
1t would subject the Portland Water
District to an added tax of from So, ,olt
t. $40. .00U and would increase rates ii
that city at least ~ per cent. The
city of Lewiston had recently laid d
city of Auburn and this bill would
Require Lewiston to pay to the city
of Auburn taXes upon its pirc line.
He did not think that improvements
made for public purposes above and
under ground should be taxed and
characterized the question not as on.
of eminent domain but rather OF SOY
ereign power of taxation.
Nj. Heath alluded to the tact that
this bill had aristn from a trouble be-
tween the town of Madison and the
town of NorridgeWock over the tax
atio,i of an electric light plant owned
by the Madison Village Corporation
and located in the town of Norrdge-
woek Representative Williamson OF
the committee asked Mr.. Heath il iii
ease the Madison plant Was engaged
il, furnishing power whether that was
Il public or a private use. private,
replied Mr.. Heath. Mr.. Heath then
went on to say that tie question ot
whether the primary purpose of the
corporation was lighting or not would
determine whether it was a municipal
| corporation operating for municipal
purposes.
Leave Tie Tow IL AilltiI tiit it''i
corporation enters as good as it was,
but don't let one town hurt another,
said Nj. Heath in conclusion.
President Clifford OF the Senate APP
pcared before the committee in favor
of a bill relating To release Of dover.
He said that no provision was made in
the present law for the wife to release
dover by power of attorney and that
the bill was drawn To cover that mat
ter He also thought that some pro-
vision should be made 10 legalize past
conNeyances.
Hon. Seth NJ. carter of Auburn spoke
for two minutes before the commit
tee in faycr of bill which provides
for the including OF breaking OF seals
upon cars in the malicious mischief
act relating to cars and railroad sta
tionS.
1t was announced that a draft OF the
trustee process act had been agreed
upon by the various attorneys inter
csted and then a recess was taken So
that the committee could attend the
House and Senate sessions.
Wien the committee came together
again after the House and Senate ses-
sions Mr.. Heath filed an amendment to
the bill which had previously been un-
der discussion relating to the taxation
of property of municipal corporations
outside the corporate limits. His
amendme provides for the exemption
from taxation OF the pipes, fixtures.
hydrants, eonduits. gate houses. pump
ing stations. reservoirs and dams used
only for reservoir purposes, OF pGblc