Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-10
TAXATION
Important Discussion Of Uniform Tax
on Intangible Personal Property

Important Discussion Of Uniform Tax
on Intangible Personal Property
The statement Of Hon Bertrand G.
Mcintyre. chairman of the State Board
Of ASSESSORS that If he had the making
Of the biIi providing for establishing
a uniform tax on intanigle property he
would change the draft of the bill which
was before the committee on taxation
a. the hearing Friday afternoon in the
senate chamber. brought forth enthusi-
as'ic burst Of applause from the large
lumber Of opponents Of the bill present.
THIS statement was made by MIR. Nc
'rtyre in reply to a question put to
him by senator Bailey OF Somerset
county. a member Of the committee.
Questions were asked different per-
sons speaking for and against the bill,
ard y r. Bass Of Bangor objected to
mo time being taken up in this way
instead OF given 90 persons who would
address themselves to the subject IN
.peakins as many had come to the
caring to do. Senator Holt OF Port
and, the chairman of the committee,
replied 70 Mr. Bass that he thought all
shauid be given an opportunity for
questions in order that different facts
might be brought out.
The hearing was opened by former
Associate Justice Albert NJ. Spear of
Gardiner. who as chairman Of a COM
mittee appointed by Governor Milliken
n investigate the subject of taxation
" intangible property and make recon-
mendAiions which might he embodied
n bill. reported for the committee.
The committee, he stated. was asked
hN tho Governor to investigate and re-
por. on the adv1sability of the State
adoptng a new method OF taxing in
tanxible property in the State. He
~tated that the demands on revenue
lave 80 Increased that today the raising
~ neceesary funds in Federal and state
governments has become a much dis
eussed problem, He added that there
IL question as to whether the law
~ present imposes a proper tax. and
he expressed the feeling that the pres
ens method IL unjust and unfair.
In tie work Of investigations the com
relative 10 what had been done by other
states. and Ia % the opinion that much
property 10 escaping taxation. that a
vast amount Is escaping it's share of the
tax.
Judge Spear pointed out that the
amount % intangible property now taxed
IN the state is approximately s140Co.0o0 in
1916 The proposed bill imposes a tax of
three mills on Intangible property. and
Ne ADDED that IN Maine there is a large
amount OF intangible property that 1t nos
bearing any share OF the taxes. He cited
The states OF Minnesota and Maryland
and states that the conditions in Mime.
sofa compared with those Of Maine. A
three mill tax on intangible property in
fIsA
stno.ooo more revenue to the state Of Min
nesota than under the former law.
speaking Of the application OF a tax
on intangible property In the State OF
Maine. Judge Spear expressed the belief
that he did not believe there was a man
In the state having Intangible property
who can object to tht same being taxed.
ana ~ there was such a man and he was
discovered he believed he would be called
tax.dodeer. Relative TO administration
OF the proposed Law. Judge Spear stated
that the COMMITTEES did not think it was
possible 20 make a law without putting
teeth into Il 10 make II workable and
secure compliance with its provisions. Tho
Commute. favcrsed the administration OF
the law under the board Of State asses
sors. He explained that the proposed
bill does no. disturb exemptions under
the present Law.
senator Merrill. a member of the com
mittse. pointed out that there is s23, 600
intangible property taxed under the pres
ent law and he asked Judge Spear if the
intangible property did not pan out to
the amount Of si,5.oOO 900. the amount
needed 70 make up for what was expect
ed. II y would not have to be made up
from raising the tax from other sources.
Judge Spear stated that it might not
work out. but the committee thought that
sTbccoO Of Intangible property would
bs doducable.
Hon. Bertram G. NcIntire presented at
some length the situation which the state
q Minnesota presented. stating that the
Increase IN Intangible property taxed
rom 100000 TO s233 0oo,oo
REPRESENTATIVE Rsdman OF Ellsworth
was the first speaker for the opposition.
ana he objected to the state OF Mtnneso-
"a being taken as an illustration OF what
would work out In Maine under the bill.
stating that figures show the comparison
unfair.
Nr. Redman also stated that Mime
sofa ana Wisconsin. which have adopt
ID . plan 20 tax intangible property
are states in which Socialistic iesisla'
ton has been introduced. Besides its
large cities We're much larger than
Names largest cities, and It's valua-
ton and resources we're much In ex-
oess
p. NJ. Hawkes., . former county com
missioner OF Cumberland county. spoke
o-'sdy in opposition to the bill stating
mat n the bill became Z law II would
10 necessary to look to the farms for
needed additional revenue.
Mr.. Nelson. another New Gloucester
elussn. spoke in opposition to the bill,
stating that II other towns In his coun.
~ thought II would not hurt them. he
wished to state that he believed It
would hurt al.
Former Mayor Charles H. Randall OF
Portland. . prominsnt wholesale msr-
enaat II that city. stassd that the pro
posed Law would DO much more hAsm