Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-02-25
s1ENOeRAPHIC REPORT

S1Eno6nAPHlc REPORT
{continusd from Pass Ninel -
to hear the discussion. and ] think
| the. gentleman from South Portland
cannot be heard In the rear OF inc
room. y 4;
Mr.. HflSCKLEY: Many, as we
know, who hold political offices In, the
different cities and towns or tnis
State, il it is a question Of the city
or town raising the poll tax, will side
step, but hits Legislature can impose
uniform tax OF $500 or any other
amount which it may designate for
the poll tax. We sall recognize the
fact that the average person who By
| frugality has saved enough money to
build q little house is today taxed and
taxed and taxed to the limits and
contend, Mr.. Speaker, that this Legis-
lature without fear or favor should
sa yto the men who has not accum-
ulated any property that he, under
these times, when taxes are increas-
ing, should bear laSger share than
he is bearing at the present time.
and 7. say to you, Mr. Speaker and
gentlemen, that if there is any man in
the State of Maine who is not ready
with all the privileges and emporium
tiles that come to him to pay a poll
tax of $500 per year, the sooner. the
State of Maine gets rid Of him.; the
better for the State of Maine, ZAP
plause) ri ,..
Mr.. CLARKE of Stonington: Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen of the House,
my immediate concern in connection
with this matter is that perhaps We
have not given that careful thought
which should be given to it. and that
perhaps at this particular time we do
not fully appreciate the Importance
of the matter as touching the qtles-
ton of taxation in this State. I am
not so much concerned at this par
ticular time in the amount of the poll
tax that we are to assess and collect
in our several cities and towns; as i
am in the question of the uniform poll
tax law. / have felt for considers
able time that we should have u uni
form poll tax law in this State, and
|
that the conditions which exist in my
ow town obtain throughout the other
towns of the State, and that under
the present system or under the OPP
erations of the present law with the
sliding poll tax, where one town may
have a poll tax of $1.00 which is the
minimum, and another town a poll
tax of S2.00, and another with $500,
which is the maximum. The transient
poll taxpayer who comes to town in
mid winter or early spring is in the
habit of paying his poll tax back
home where it should be as
sessed and collected. Their habit
as far as the collection of
the poll taxes are concerned,
has been to pay in the town in which
they find themselves ON the first day
of April, in the town in which they
may happen to hang their hat, and
feel that it will work no great injus-
tice to the poll taxpayer. The large
percentage OF poll taxpayers are
single men, and they can afford to
pay $500 just as well as they can
pay $500. If they pay only the
amount of $500, the extra $2.00 is
spent for some. other matter. which
does not of course work any great
hardship in their particular case, be-
cause the amount of the tax Is de-
termined for the year, the full year.
the full amount to be assessed, and
that is divided by the valuation Of the
town. The rights of no one class of
persons have been contravened; 1t Is
for the benefit of all the municipal
tiles, and especially for the benefit of
those who are paying a property tax.
I hope that the amendment will not
be adopted.
Mr.. DODGE of Portland: Mr..
Speaker, 1 agree heartily with the re-
marks of the gentleman from. Ston-
ington (Mr. ClarkeJ. This is mat
ter of considerable Importance to the
citizens Of the State of Maine. It
does not seem to me that the mem
bers of this House have had the OPP
portunity to give this matter the
careful consideration that it deserves,
and in order that such an opportunity
may be given will move that the
matter be tabled and be specially as
signed.
The SPEAKER: The question be-
fore the House is on the motion of
the gentleman from Portland. Mr..
Dodge, that this matter be tabled.
A viva voce vote being taken.
The motion was lost.
Mr.. CARROLL of Norway" Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen of the House,
this ought not to be a matter for
discussion. This is matter which
il it comes to the Legislature of the
State of Maine should be decided by
the Legislature. and not be left OPP
tional to the towns and cities of this
State. If we are going to legislate
on this matter, let us legislate for a
uniform poll tax for the. State Of
Maine, and let us not make it a plan
to leave to- the towns and cities Of
our State what their tax rate will be.
Either throw it out and leave 1t to
the towns and cities for their deci-
sion,or decide it here in, this Legis-
lature. Now let us, have a uniform
tax rate for the State of Maine.
The SPEAKER: is. the House ready
for the question? All those. in, favor
of the adoption. of House Amendment