Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-03
STATE HOUSE,
Amendments TO Constitu-
ton to Be Voted Upon.
Ballots Being Sent Out for The
Election on Sept, 8,
100000 with Congressional Flee.
tion In Sd District Counted,
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Regular Meeting of Governor and
Council, Thursday, Sept. 10, 1913, 10
a M

With a special election for the pur-
pose of submitting to the people of the
State amendments to the Constitution
ONLY little less than week away. al
ready inquiries have been received at
the office Of the secretary of State in
During as to what really are the ques-
tons to be put before the people This
profession of ignorance on the part of
many calls forth the necessity of call
irg to the attention again the amend
ments which are to be voted upon.
Some controversy has arisen from the
fact that in one of the proposed amend
ments the one relating to providing the
time of elections etc, has left out from
its context the word city, and relates
only to towns and plantations. Some
criticism has been made that this was
loop hoie, whereby the votes OF the
cities could be thrown out. me ao-
surdity of the proposition IS shown by
the construction of the word town IN
the constitution. which states thai
town shall be construed as applying
to both cities and towns.
one of the amendments TO be refer
rod is that for the providing for the
classification of property for the pur-
POSES of taxation, which is an effort
of the Legislature to get at the in
tFnsible property in the State. For in
stance in the case of the recently or
cenized York Power Co. The evident
purpose of this amendment in ease
like this is to assess and tax the m
tangible property, for at the present
time there is net tangible property OF
this corporal ton. and it must represent
seine value, and certainly will, without
doubt. have large tangible taxable
in the future. The amend
ment gives the Legislature power toi
s escss and tax this kind of property
where before it would escape.
At the last session of the Legislature,
to thirds ccncurring it was resolved
that the following amendment to thel
of the State. be proposed:
Section S of Article of the Constr
tntiors is hereby amended by ADDING
t. said section the following words;
But the Legislature shall have power
70 lexy a tax upon intangible personal
at such rate as it deems WIS
and, euuita BILE without regard to the
rate applied to other classes of pro-
perty.'
The section as amended shall read as
follows:
"Ali taxes upon real and personal es-
tate assessed by authority of this State,
shall be aprortioned and assessed
according to the just value |
thereof: but the Legislature shall have
power to levy n tax upon intanglole
property at such rate as 1t
deems wise and equitable without re-
gard TO the rate applied to other classes
of property"
The other amendment is to Section 2
in Article 10 of the Constitution as
amended by previous resolve of the re-
cent Legislature. further amends byl
inserting after the word plantation
in tie seventh line of Section thel
following words: In the manner pre-
scribed by law at the next biennial
meetings in the month of September,
SO that said section as amended shall
read as follows:
Section ,. The Legislature whenever
two-thirds of both houses shall deem
it necessary. may propose amendments
to this Constitution: and, when any
shall be 50 agreed upon.
n resolution shall be passed and sent
to the selectmen of the several towns,
and the assessors of the several plan
tations, empowering and directing
them to notify the mia of their
respective towns and plantations in the
manner prescribed by law at the next
biennial meetings in the month of Sep
TENDER or TO meet in the manner pre-
seribed by law for calling and holding
biennial meetings of said inhabitants
for the election of senators and rep
resentatives, on the second Monday inl
September following the passage of
said resolve, to give in their votes on
the question, whether such amend
ments shall appear that a majority of
the Inhabitants voting on the question
are in favor of such amendments, 1T
shall become part of this Constitu-
ton
Despite the Congressional fight in thel
3rG District it should not oVershadow
the fact that there are still the
to the Constitution to be
voted upon.