Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-31

1SD, submitted the same Il in a new
draft, under the same title, and that
it ought to pass.
Mr.. Butler from the committee on
military affairs. on An Act to revise
the military law (Senate No. 542), sub
mitted the same in Il new draft under
the same title. and that il ought to
pass. (Read first time under suspen-
sion of the rules on motion by Mr..
Holt of Cumberland)
Mr.. Holt from the same committee,
on Resolve proposing an amendment to
Article seven of the Constitution. re-
lating to military (Senate No. 500, re-
ported same ought to pass. (Read
first time under suspension of the rules
on motion by Mr. Holt of Cumbcr-
land)
Mr. Butler from the same commit
tee, on Resolve for a memorial in hon
or of Major General Hiram G. Berry.
reported same ought to pass.
Mr.. Gordon from the committee on
public health, on An Act to amend
! Chapter 10, Revised Statutes, in rela-
ton to the State Board of Health
(Senate No. 246), submitted the same
/ in new draft under title of An Act
to facilitate the care and treatment of
certain infectious diseases, and to add
certain sections to Chapter 10 of the
/ Revised Statutes. relating to the State
Board of Health" and that it ought to
pass.
Mr.. Holt from the committee on tax
atlon, on resolve appropriating money
for the purpose of obtaining inform
alton in regard to wild lands, for the
purposes of taxation, submitting the
same in a new, draft under the same
title. and that it ought to pass. ="
MIR. Baxter from the committee on
ways and bridges on An Act relating
to the operation of motor vehicles, sub
mitted the same in a new draft under
me same title. and that it ought to
pass. m.
Inc reports were accepted and the
several. bills and resolves were tabled
Tor printing under the joint rules.
MI. Holt from the committee on tax
Jatlon, on An Act to establish a uniform
ajax on intangible personal propertv
| tSenatc 232), reported that the passage
OF the same is ineXpedient The com
mittee desires to go on record as ia
4 vorlng Il change in the method of tax
ing intangible personal property. 1t be-
Heyes that the present method results
in large amount of this class If
property escaping taxation altogether.
Under the present method some escape
paying any tax, some pay what is con
sidered reasonable tax by an ar
rangement with local assessors. while
others may be obliged to pay from one
quarter to one-half of the entire in
come. The committee believes that the
most equitable and effective method of
assessing and- collecting taxes upo>,
TINS class of property is to tax the in
come: The committee therefore recon-
mendS the passage of an amendment to
our Constitution, to allow the Leeisla-
ture 10 enact an income tax law. and
apnends 70 this report q resolve to car
ry. out this purpose.
Mr.. DEERlNG of York: Mr.. Presi-
dent, l suppose this resolve contains
the usual phrase0logy OF these resolves,
but l believe in a matter of this i'm
portancc that it should lie on the table
until we have an opportunity to read
il and sec what the provisions are
Mr.. Holt Of Cumberland: l ask first,
Mr.. President, that the resolve be re-
ceived
Mr.. DEERING: Mr.. President, I
should eXpcc, that it would be received
of course.
Mr.. HOLT: Mr.. President, / was
Jk&t about to move that the resolve be
tabled and 1900 copies ordered printed.
<Mr. DAVIES: May l inquire what
the resolve is?
Mr.. HOLT: Mr.. President, I:--will
say that there was an order put !! in
near the opening of the session dirtct-
ing the committee on taxation to look
into the question of the advisability Of
an income tax, and the committee has
gone into the matter thoroughly in
connection with the act introduced, in
regard to intangible property, and from
our deliberations we recommend this
resolve.
Mr.. DAV1ES:~ Mr.. President, then
understand from what the senator has
said that the resolve Is not to be re-
ferred to any committee?
Mr.. HOLT: Yes
| Mr.. DAVIES: Mr.. President | I'M
derstand further that a constitutional
amendment is proposed and l suppose it
is to be passed by the Senate without any
hearing whatever on this important ques-
! ton.
Mr.. HOLT: Mr. President the com
mittee advertised for a hearing on the
! order which was introduced and which
| referred to- directing the committee to
look into the advisability. of having an
income tax. The committee gave public
notices of hearing on that order, and
an opportunity for anyone who desired
to be heard to appear. 4
Mr.. DAVIES: Yes, Mr.. President, but
notice on the order would not be notice
on the amendment. 1t seems to me all
together too late in the session to be con-
sidering an amendment to the constitu-
| ton for the taxation of incomes. Such
an amendment should have been pro-
posed some time before.
Mr.. HOLT: Mr.. President, would
say that this matter has been very freelf
and thoroughly discussed throughout the
session providing for the taxing of ntan-
! gible property, to which this report re-
! fers, and the matter was discussed in
this report of the subcommittee, where
| they say under the constitution they
doubted whether the Legislature had a
right to pass an income tax or n tax
on intangible nrOpertyt