Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-09

, Il
committee Of conference; the House ad-
hered to it's former action.
From the House:
Ordered the Senate concurring, that
the Board of State Assessors be and
hereby are directed to investigate and
report as to the ACCESSIBILITY of impos-
ing an excise, franchise or other tax
on corporations which generate, dis
tribute or sell electric current for light,
heat and power purposes, generated
within the State of Maine.
The said board shall investigate and
report on the general subject of tax
alton of the corporations above men
. toned and on the taxation of undevel-
oped water powers wherever located
and the taxation of water power and
storage dams, both in Incorporated and
IN urincOrporated places. Said board
shall have the power to summon and
compel the attendance of witnesses
who shall testify under oath. to COM
pei the production of books of account
and other papers and to punish for
contempt: and the attorney general is
directed to act as legal counsel for said
board
Said board shall commence its inves ..
tigation as soon as practicable after
the adjournment Of this Legislature
and shall report its findings to the
Governor and Council on or before the
first day Of October 1917. but in case
said board shall not have completed
its report by said date, 1t shall render
"a partial report to the said Governor
ard Council on that date, and shall
complete its findings before January 1,
1918.
The funds necessary to carry out the
provisions Of this order shall be talk
en- from any funds in the State treas
ury not otherwise appropriated.
In the House this order was read and
PASSED.
Mr.. GILLIN: Mr.. President and fell
low senators in a few words l wish to
say that l think 1t would be extreme
ly unwise for us to pass that meas
urc in the closing days of this session
when we have rot had an opportunity
of looking into it: to leave the business
interests Of your State doubtful as to
what is going to happen to them for
the two years that are to come. | am
satisfied, from the study that I have
given the proposition. that I might be
able to say some things which would
have weight in showing the bad policy
Of accepting this resolution, but / am
not going into it at the present time.
But I do hope and trust that we will
adjourn, after closing up the business
of this Legislature, without leaving
the men who are making the wheels of
industry in your State go round. spend
ing millions of dollars, when there is n
cloud hanging over the nation and the
state as without sending out
something like that, that is going to
annoy and harrass them-and I be-
lieve it willard I move, Mr.. Presi-
dent. that the, resolve be indefinitely
postponed.
The motion was agreed to and the
order was indefinitely postponed.
From the House:
The committee appointed under a
joint order OF both Houses to make
recommendations TO this Legislature,
regarding the procuring of an Execu-
tive mansion. beg leave to report that
they have been unable. after thor
ough investigation. to secure any suit
able location, and recommend that au-
thority be granted the Governor and
Council to take such property as they
deem suitable and pay for the same