Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-01-15

munlcx30AtI138. G0Nef0F AAnken
said:
IT in nesdaa4 Tor me 10 reireraie
the suEeesttun TINT the problem If
taxation which You are hare especiai-
~ to discn0 il one uf the fundameE-
tRi prohlems Of guverrnant. Al
funds for public expenditure must DE
derived fum tzxefl0n of one Uprf CT
another, and II h or prime i'm
portAnce NOT unly TINT the burden az
distributed. but that the people
should have confidence in the laws
which ruguiare taxation and IN the
men who administer those laws.
1T in well that yon take counsel
tngethar, compare the experiences OF
different communities and unite with
the State assessors IN their vigorous
program which looks toward the Elk
act equa11zatien of the valuations
upon which our present property
taxes are based
Tax asform
Tax reform is too often regarded
by the individual as meaning mere,y
an increase in the tax that someone
, else Is 10 pay. ann the average man is
inclined To feel that he alone in tnc
community DAYS TOO high u lax. Yet
it is generally agreed that one out
standing inequality exists in cur
present system OF taxation: / refer 70
the almost complete exemption from
taxation OF stocks. bonds. money 1T
interest and other forms of intangible
. lr-yuyar
of our existing laws.
"Cf the two remedies proposed fiai
rate an intangible property al less than
the average rate Of taxation OF Al in
cnlne Tax.-Jhe LATER Seems 10 he meet
ing with more general approval The
present Legislature nj IT'S regular sas-
sion last winter created special com
mission 70 investigate ana recurnmen,
program fur intangible proper-ty tax.
alton AT the next session OF the Legisla-
ture. Al the special session las; No
venber, having been advised lnfurnuIlv
by this commission that they were like
~ 10 recommend some form of income
AK. ! proposed TO the LegiBin rure the
constitutional amendment winch S
pronAbly necessary TO make State in
come tax law possible This amend
rnent is 30 be voted on nv the people
next September ana If it IL adopted the
commission will unduubietily -ecum-
mend To the next Legislature some form
Of STATE income tax. | rrusi that this
whole subject Will ne fully discussed
during vour convention. Of course a.
details of the proposed law are con
! aimed in the Constitutional amendment
some points. For example. II IN agree,
/ that the Tax should he assessed and col.
| lecte,i by the State rather than by mu.
I inequalities. both for the cake Of uni
/ 1arrnitr of action and because he aver
| age man would prefer To submit ths
/ confidential details of his income tar
! return 10 central bureau II the STATE
/ neighburs and friends vino happen froH
/ time TO time 70 ne city or town asses-
| sors. II IS agreed also that a consid.
/ erah!e portion Of the revenue from 1T
! income cax snould be paid by the Stats
/ 20 the municipality Assuming reason.
! able economy in State and municipa
! expenditures il would therefore follow
! INV would tend 10 reduce the present
! rate of taxation on the property which
Is now listed on the assessors books
! Such a law would also levy TAX upor
the intangible property which probably
! 70 the extent of several hundred million
: dollars now escapes taxation altogether