Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-14

having voted in the affirmative. and min
in the negative. the ruling of the Chat
was sustained.
From the House: An Act for the as
sessment of a state tax for the year 1915
In the House this bill was passed to b
engressed under suspension of the rules
On motion by Mr.. Richardson of Penoh
scot, the bill was, under suspension o
the rules, given its two readings an
passed to be engrossed.
BY unanimous consent. under suspen
sion of the rules, Mr.. Richardson of Pc
nebseet introduced resolve in favo
of the members and officers of the Senat'
of the 10th Legislature.
Under further motion by the same sen
ator, under suspension of the rules. thu
resolve was given its two readings ant
was passed to be engrossed.
From the House: An Act for the as
sessment of a state tax for the year 1913
In the House this bill was read twice
and passed to be engrossed, under sus-
pension of the rules. .tt.sss s.ssl..
Mr.. WING of Franklin: Mr. President,
is that the bill providing for the state
tax for 1913?
The PRESIDENT: 1t is.
Mr.. WING: Mr.. President, what is the
rate provided in the bill?
The PRESIDENT: Four and three
fourths mills for each year
Mr.. WING of Franklin: Mr. President,
in a conversation with the auditor this
morning he advised me that that would
10 f,s.tA hn fnr he
appropriations that we made, and ! move
that 1t lie on the table for the purpose
of offering an amendment.
Mr.. RICHARDSON of Penobscot: Mr..
President, this matter of settling the
amount of the state tax was taken up
at the request of he governor in con-
sutation with him by the committee on
ways and means of the House. the COM
inittee which has the handling of the
matter. also the members of the appro-
priations and financial affairs committee
as well as the president of the Senate
and the speaker of the House. The
matter was discussed at length in two
interviews and the question of the final
settlement of the state tax was put to
vote by the governor. At that time there
were as | recall it, twelve members of
the two committees present OF those
present ten voted to fix the rate four
and three-fourths mills each year, 1913
and 1914. Two voted for the rate to be
established at five and four. l think, and
the governor declared the vote four and
three-fourths for each year. Consequent
ly..I cannot see why the matter should
be again taken up after the two COM
mittees charged with that duty have
passed upon it and by such large vote
settled the matter, as they supposed.
definitely. l do not believe that there is
discrepancy enough TO cause any trouble.
In fact, / think the whole question is
one of bookkeeping. l don't believe the
state will be embarrassed in any respect,
and If it is found satisfactory to the
governor who will be largely held to
account for the state affairs. | think that
the Senate should permit the bill to pass
as it was recommended.
Mr.. WING: OF course | know nothing
about the matter personally, but the au-
ditor stated to me that 1t would be nee
cessary to have a five mill rate to meet
the appropriations which we had made
and was also Informed that the govern
or favored five mill rate, and the au-
dtor further stated that a four and
three-fourths mill for 1914 would be suffi-
Gent. But he said that the rate which
was made for 1912 was four mills and
that was available for the year 1913, and
that four and three-fourths rate for
1913 would give them only eight and
three-fourths mills for the two years
and that it was impossible to meet the
appropriations that had been made. II
seems to me that it ought to be right
am not certain what is right But il
is a matter that we should consider
carefully at this time.
Mr.. MURPHY of Cumberland: Mr.
President it seems to me that We ought
10 settle this matter right off at once
am in favor of endorsing the action OF
the committee. 1t seems to me that
after investigating the matter they ought
to be acquainted with it well enough tc
advise us. Furthermore as representa-
tive of community in which one mil
means $4,000 year, / think | would
rather see it fixed equal for each year
more agreeable and satisfactory.
The PRESIDENTS: The Chair will
state that It is the hope of the presiding
ture may be completed today If matters
arrange themselves as now seem likely
and If that is to be accomplished this
tax bill must be finally passed to be en-
crossed by both branches this morning
before we go into convention.
Mr.. WALKER of Somerset: Mr.. Pres
ident. ! wish to go on record as second
ing the motion of the senator from
Franklin. I had n little conversation
with the Governor and / know that was
the position he took, and that would
give, as the senator from Franklin
stated, 8 mills for the two years, 1871;
and 1914, which is rather small
amount when we consider that 3 mills
each year of that amount goes to tn,
support of the schools of the State o.
Maine. / thust this motion Will prevail
Mr.. RICHARDSON: | would like t,
ask. through the Chair when Senate
Walker had the talk with the Governo
to which he refers
Mr. WALKER: Mr.. President | thinl
il was Thursday morning, | wouldn'