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

the last meeting, at which thiS matter
/, was settled and at which the Governor
presided, was held yesterday morning
and / feel that l can safely say that
the Governor was we'll satisfied with
the settlement that was agreed upon
l have no personal choice in this matter
but having passed the two committees
who are charged with the duty of that
settlement, i do feel that it is unwise
to take the matter up now and unsettle
the thing even although the state
auditor who. I firmly believe, is more
concerned about the bookkeeping side
of this whole matter than he is as to
the actual CASH. do feel that it should
go through as we originally planned.
/ think there will be no difficulty in
taking care of all the liabilities of the
State
Mr.. STEARNS: Mr.. President, it
seems, if the senator from Franklin
takes issue with the committee upon
the question of the tax rate, that il
would be a simple matter for the amend
ment to be presented at this time, and
/ suggest that inasmuch as it is the
hope of all of us that we get through
and adjourn finally tonight, and mas
much as there is prospect that we
may do so if we proceed rapidly. if the
senator from Franklin insists upon pre-
senting an amendment, that he prepare
il and present it at once that the Senate
may take action.
Mr. HASTINGS of Androscoggin: Mr.
President, | would like to ask through
the Chair. if the senator from Penobscot
will say to this Senate that this 3-4
mills is sufficient to pay the current
expenses for the year. If they went
into it to that extent, TO inform them
selves positively.
Mr.. RICHARDSON: Mr.. President,
do not think the 4 "a rate will quite
cover the expenses of running the state
for the year 1913. There was however,
brought over a cash balance of $3.50,
600. To be sure, that is largely n
paper balance, as you might say, but
there will be ample funds, as we figure,
meets the approval of the Governor.
so there will be no possibility of the
state being embarrassed.
l think that was the belief of the
iive-siXths or more of the
in joint session, that there
was no chance of the state being en-
barras sed.
Mr. COLBY of Somerset: Mr.. Presi-
dent, | am not taking sides on either
side of this, but | happen to come in
contact with the auditor at the hotel
this morning and he brought this matter
up to me, and as | understood him the
II ID hn 10
thing for two years. but that the 43-4
would not quite do it for this current
year, and he advised and AL. 1
simply give that to the Senate in the
way of explanation of what he said
to me.
Mr.. RICHARDSON: Mr.. President,
Il may be it would be well for me to
state further that at this meeting. the
auditor was there and expressed his
views at the time. Consequently the
were in full possession of
all information that was available
The PRESIDENT: Does the senator
from Franklin desire to withdraw the
motion to lay the matter upon the table?
Mr. WING: Mr.. President, / will
withdraw the motion.
Mr. RICHARDSON: Mr. President
IL | may be allowed to say a further
word, why the committee decided on an
equal division of the assessment of
taxes for the two years: It was thought
to be much the better procedure to have
fixed, stable rate and not one vary
ing from a half mill to mill for
the two years of the administration.
1t is also believed that il will be not
only better for the state but better for
the smaller towns. They can then have
an equal rate for both years
have been assured by some of the
country selectmen and assessors that
there will be very much less feeling on
the part of the country communities if
the rate is fixed equal for the two
years, or an equal rate. That is one
of the main reasons why we settled
on ga mills
Mr. MAXWELL of Sagadahoc: Mr..
president, l cannot see why it would
make any difference to the towns, from
past experience when We had a six
mill rate and four mill rate. The
condition is this: There are times in
various towns when we could raise n
- t'ON'e'iiu hoIidfS extra Tor q
state tax, and it might happen in
year When We were raising quite a
little less for local conditions and NOT
De particularly hardship. / do nor
see now the amount of increase or de-
cfese OF state tax would make very
much difference. or how any board of
selectmen could tell how it would affect
the town. For instance, in nv town
We didn't raise so much money tbis
year by more than $1,000 as we did last
Ii we had had an increase of state fay
OF one or two thousand dollars il would
sun nave left us less than our rate
of last year. You cannot tell what vour
conditions will be next year or the wear
after next. l do believe myself that
we should make this rate sufficient to
meet the conditions of 1913, and from
all the information that | have been
able TO gather 1t seems to me that :
and IL is what we should do but
OF course there are others who are
more familiar with ii than | am. Rut
mat Is the way it seems to me.
Mr.. sTEARNS of Oxford: Mr.. Prcsi.
dent, / am not familiar, particularly
with the work of the committee which
we have understood this morning has
mad this matter in charge. / do not
know the personelle of that committee
who they We're, or what they have done
L assume that theV have gona into tI,;s