Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-12-10

DAY, DECEMBER 10, 1920.
in the running brook and the lobster In
the sea. have received the mantle Of
protection, while the deserving parti-
san has been given his commission.
and passing the buck has sent glory
over our State. burdens to our taxpay-
ers. fame to our solons and everlasting
trouble to the rural assessor.
Discussion Of Papers
In opening the discussion of
papers, Chairman Stetson asked the
delegates whether or not. they were
in favor of having the subsequent
conventions extend one day longer,
and the vote was practically unani-
nous favoring.
Resolutions We're passed thanking
Governor Milliken for his splendid
service Wednesday evening in ex-
planning the motion picture films
which were made as a part of the
Maine Centennial program. thanking
the superintendent of buildings,
Charles Brown, for his work in con-
nection with the meetings: end Thank
ing the Kennebec Journal for it's ex-
tended report of the procee lings CT
the convention.
There was an extsn1c1 discusstn
as to whether there is any benefit in
the provision of the tax law relating
to live stock exemp.ions--th6t SHEEP
to the npmbe. of S. ara swine - the
number of 10 are exempt ffrim taxa
ton. Chairman Stetson asked fer =
vote on the question: AMI although
the show of hands cr each side was
nearly even, it appeared that the MAJ
jority thought that the provision YES
beneficial, in making it easier for the
farmer who raises sheep and swine
an din encouraging ,!.cse farmers.
Address on "vAiuation Prohlsms"
THE speaker at the afternoon session
of the convention was l.. NJ. Norrss.
-chairma of the boara of assessors at
Wayne, who spoke upon the subject
of Valuation Proplnins." Mr.. Nori Is
stated in opening that he had not
prepared any address. but would
speak from the measure of his ex-
perience. He .old uf how he had
found that the ASSESSORS books had
been copied for years with no vart-
atoms in the valuation. In the town
the valuation was 1900 acres short Of
what the deeds cali, IL for. On one
place in particular only 60 acres were
valued, while the deed called for 100
acres.
He stated that it was voted that
the selectmen make q thorough re-.
valuation. This the sclec.mca re-
fused to do, but it WAS finally done
by q valuation. commrtee appointed
by the chairman of the board t'f' Sc
lectmen. Property was revalued and
the committee made Its report. It
was the speakers opinion that il no
case they got over 10 per cent. of the
value. at that. But it was u change
for the better and :ad effective Ie-
suits.
Uniform Poll Tax Discussed
The discussion ON the matter of a
uniform poll tax was begun when Mr..
Norris of Wayne asked if anyone
would care to answer the question
why there should not be uniform poll
tax.
DR.. Hummer of Lisbon said he
, would state why he thought there
should not be a uniform poll tax. He
maintained that a poll tax is an in
equitable tax, that it is a local tax.
only one cent going to the State and
that the matter Of how much the poll
tax should be in town should be the
business of that town only. He stated
that 1t appeared that the towns which
have a SO poll tax force the towns
with a SO poll tax to have the same
rate as their own.
Col. Milliken Of Portland speaking
in favor of uniform poll tax pointed
out that in paying this tax each man
| pays his share of the public burden.
that in each town there are certain
things for which each one should be
required to pay. and it was the speak
er's opinion that if there was Slni-
form <ax rate of SO every man would
throw lack his shoulders and say II
am doirg my share" He gave exam
pies of cases where the head of a
family lived in one town and paid a
poll tax at different rate from the
tax in the nearby city where his chill
dren We're enjoying the privileges of
the public school.
Motion was made by G. w. @. Per-
ham of Woodstock that the convention
go on record favoring uniform poll
tax, and nearly everyone in the hall
voted i'll favor. S"'
Other problems which each and ev-
cry assessor is called upon to face in
the course of his duties were discussed
at the session.
Just before adjournment President
Stetson stated that he wished the as
SCISSORS could know how the State
board of assessors are with them in
the problems they are trying to solve,
that he hoped all would do all they
could to eQualize valuation. He said
that the State board appreciated the
local assessors being present in such
large numbers and showing such in
terest, and that it was an encourage
ment to that board. He said that all
were working for the good Of the State
IN equaliZe tax burdens for the benefit
of the ehtire State. and he hoped each
local assessor would go home with the
knowledge that he had something that
would result in benefit to the taxation
jurisdiction Which he represented
The two-day convention was then
finally adjourned.