Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-06-04
WOULD REDUCE TAXES
SAYS
ADDRESS AT NORWAY
(special to Kennebec JournaN


Norway. June 3.AThe Democrats
Of Oxford County met here today for
an all day organization get-together.
The meeting was called to order
by Paul Thurston of Bethel, member
Of the State Committee, and was ad-
dressed by Hon. B. G.. McIntire, can
didate in the primaries for the
Democratic nomination for Congress
from the Second District, Hon. Full
ton J. Redman, Democratic candi-
date for United States Senator and
Hon. w. r. Pattangall, Democratic
candidate for Governor.
Mr.. Pattangall said in part:
THE Democratic party is asking
the people of Maine to entrust it with
the responsibility of carrying on the
government of this State.
We are saying that we can and
will make our State government
more useful than it is at present or
has been in the immediate past.
Suppose the people decided to try
US as public administrators, just
what can we do to promote welfare
to make Maine a better place to live
in, to aid in industrial development,
to generally improve conditions?
1t is impossible in one short
speech to any more than hastily out
line single part of the Democratic
program.
Without celebrating the subject
unduly I can say that one of the
things that Democracy intends to do
Is to reduce the taxes now being
paid by the average man in Maine.
We hear a great deal about en-
forcement of law Our tax laws are
not enforced, never were enforced
and are so unjust and unreasonable
| that they cannot be enforced.
Under our law, every dollar in
vested in bonds, stocks, notes I'M
secured by real estate mortgages.
| money at interest, the millions of
dollars of intangible wealth, with
some few exceptions, that lie in
safety deposit boxes or in the private
drawers of the thrifty are subject
to the same tax that is levied on fac
tories, farms, homes, stores, cattle.
automobiles and all other forms of
| tangible, visible property.
These laws are not enforced; they
[ cannot be enforced and they ought
not to be enforced.
The tax rate in Augusta, for ex-
ample, is 42 mills. If that tax was
applied to a four per cent bond. it
would render it valueleSS. If 1t was
applied even to a six per cent bond
: it would make it so nearly valueless
| that no one would care to own one.
| If it was applied to a giltedged stock
| like American Telegraph and Tele-
| phone which sells around 10 and
pays nine per cent dividends. it
would reduce the income derived
4 - ;,1% ~
| be more profitable to invest the
, money in Liberty Bonds
What Is the result? In most in
| stances this form of property is not
| taxed at all. When it is taxed it is
| taxed arbitrarily without regard to
| law or taxed unjustly and in the lat
| ter case only for one year.
There is no excuse for keeping up
| the farce of pretending to tax intan-
gible personally on the same basis
as tangible personally or real estate.
Neither is there any excuse for eX-
empting this class of property from
! taxation. The first step in tax re-
! form is to amend the law so as to i'm
pose a fair and reasonable tax on the
| wealth which now either escapes
| taxation or is taxed unjustly. The
second step is to see that the law
thus amended Is enforced.
Too much property is exempt from
| taxation. Strike out all exemptions
except such as good public policy
demands such as property in actual
| use for educational. religious or
charitable purposes and securities is
sued by municipalities, counties and
| the State.
Reduce public expenditures. Dur
! ing the year ending June 80, 1922.
| there was paid out through our
State treasury $16000.O00. Add to
that the money expended by coun-
ties, cities. towns and plantations
and the total approximates .S35. 000,-
| 900. That is more than Maine can