The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1915-01-14

people, and advocates its repeal, in
order that the city or town may be
substituted for the state as basis
Of laws designed to control or abolish
the liquor traffic.
Recruiting of Ballots
Some dissatisfaction is noted in the
methods used in recounting ballots.
Stickers are often lost from the bal
lots through the recounting process,
and Oftentimes this may cause the de-
| feat OF candidate who was legally
elected. Some remedy is recon-
mended whereby the ballots shall not
be disturbed unless under the super
vision of non-partisan board duly
authorized to take evidence In writing
to be produced under oath before the
proper authority when needed.
Legislation is suggested to compel
publicity of promotions for charitable,
memorial and other philanthropic
purposes, by public subscription,
when advanced or initiated by third
party, more especially by temporary
organizations on a commission or per-
centage basis, or by paid solicitors.
| In a casual review of the published
list OF corporations for general fran
| chise tax, it occurs to me that pos
sibly the system is not complete.
The names appear to be acquired
from information furnished the as
SCISSORS by the secretary of state,
but apparently they are not checked
up as carefully as would seem to be
necessary. A complete checking up
of these items is recommended.
improvements Temporarily Delayed
By reason of the great war among
the world powers of the old coun-
try, there are some clouds lowering
over the financial affairs of the coun-
try
This, no doubt, has had and will
have a tendency to retard many in
dustrial improvements in the state,
which would otherwise have been
made ere this.
This state of affairs is no doubt
temporary, and but awaits the read
justment of the financial system, af-
ter which the stability OF the re-
sources will assert itself and con-
sentative prosperity will continue as
On the past.
In the meantime we have every
reason to be thankful that this great
country is at peace with the world
and is affected only by the temporary
stringency in the money market.
Taxation
| Probably the most important sub
ject for this legislature to consider is
taxation. The constitution of Maine,
article 9, section s, as amended by
amendment adopted in September,
1913, is as follows:
"All taxes upon real and personal
estate, assessed by authority of this
state. shall be apportioned and as
sessed equally according to the just
valuation thereof: but the legislature
shall have power to levy a tax upon
intangible personal property at such
rate as it deems wise and equitable
without regard to the rate applied to
other classes of property
The vote on this amendment was
| IL, $50 for, and 1857 against. The
tremendous scope and range of this
amendment has no doubt attracted
your attention. Do the words of the
amendment fully cover the original
intention of it, or has it promoted
any confusion of ideas?
Specifically, at least, the amend
| ment contemplates the elimination Of
a portion of the troubles of the past
in certain directions, but to attain
the desired results, even from this
viewpoint, rare tact and facultative
ability must be exercised. If any
thing further than this is designed,
your sense of justice may be called
upon as we'll as your ability.
The "lntane BILE" Tax
The definition of the word intangi-
, BILE seems to be that can not or may
not be touched" Presumably the
word, as here used, is applied to the
'oHerty not easily accessible for tax
hon purposes, as, for instance, pa
y securities which are not entirely
Bu'iiS iCNolu anu, consequently
LAY be hidden from view, perhaps,
20 an extreme extent.
No doubt you will attempt to de-
inc the word ''intangible'' in its ap-
plication to taxation within the mean
ing implied by the amendment, by
roper classification and detailed
l. is which will preclude any misin-
depreciation of the word.
Should this not be accomplished,
confusion would seem inevitable.
Without doubt it occurs to you that
all property which may be hidden
would not necessarily come under the
term OF intangible personal property;
therefore, the need of detailed classi-
fcation
No doubt the experiences of other
states will aid you in considering this
problem. Unquestionably, in con-
s1derlng the operation in other states,
you will investigate our general laws
to ascertain whether they will inter-
fere in securing the same proportion
ate results with equal satisfaction to
the people of this state
Power of the Amendment
The amendment gives the legisIa-
ture the power to levy a tax upon
such property at any rate it may deem