Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-09

assess intangible PROPERTY SVwW 4
various municipalities in nm,
where as q practical matter th..s 20
determine its location. The
assessors will. 1t seems likeiv ~
to make q reasonable Distribute
the levy upon the citizens pos.su
of this property within their ~
equity general intangible ~. "
then be easily be brought ia nv W
Assuming $500. 100000 In ~,
intangibles with the exemptiorsA !.
would presumably be allowed ~
an average annual return of Az. w
cent. which is undoubtedly a hie,H|
innate. and levy upon this ina.
by a state tax of six percent so.l
gross return would be $1,000 0ooS ~. Y
out allowance for collection eynsn a|
At the present time. intangible rssv
erty in our State in the form
money at interest and bank sfoct.
actually paying taxes of $3.50 ma (
the municipalities and the State N
most casual examination of III.
sessment records of sur munic;,.sS
ties shows that the great maior;t,
towns and cities make no effort ~
ever to reach property within
class. although they are authori,.s
do so under existing law, II l..
credible that dollar is more efn.;s
in one town than in another in ~
State. If the local assessors ss;s
lated by the State assessors, Nv
very simple change in our presentl,y
should simply double the existine
sessments at local municipal rats
on intangible rroperty in the -sr,s1
municipalities. the fruits to the nnsS
and the sharing of the tax burden |
this property would be exactiy i,
same as if an entire new system
taxation should be instituted at N
time
1t could not. of course, be contsn.I
lated that any citizen would he
sesSed for the full amount OF irt'J
gible properly he possessed. a. M
would amorrt 70 conilscation A.
local municinal rate. 1t may well
contended Tat such a step is an en
sion of the issue and has no IorisJ
defense. Ar clio Saxon governnsa
however, has frequently progress
by illogical solutions that were fory
in practice % work. Such a.
would throw more of the tax bu,S1
upon the Intangible property Of y
State, which is the object that
seek, under and in accordance w
the existing law, and the long nv
vailing system of taxation. II worJ
avoid our instituting a new systs
of taxation which is still in the
perimcntal stage. insofar as n
states are concerned, and a syas
that must necessarily be offensive
the DISCLOSURES and investigatol
that it viii ~Hqutre among all 4
citizens Irrespective of whether ny
are possessed Of property in n
class. II is fully as distasteful to h
average American to say that ne
no property as to tell the amount M
he has.
Tax Exempt Property
The last Legislature provided "a, |
commission to Investigate the anon
of tax exemptions allowed under h
listing law. 1t vas contemplated ~
this report should be available
December 1, 1924, for public consdsl
alton prior to the converting OF
Legislature. Through the inadyc
tence of someone. the date in the ID
was actually made 1925 instead :
1924. The commission apparent
contemplates report at this tin
disregarding the period literally.tI
lowed by the law. but it has
found it eXpedient to make the rew&
available at the time contemplate
the trainers Of the act.
1t is generally known, howevs
that these exemptions. at least
some communities, have become Va.
large and have added materially
the tax burden of other property :
our State. Some further strength
ing of our present laws relating
seems evidently needed to prevH
Highways
Highways were once local ei
venience. but they have now becon
an indispensable element In b
growth and prosperity of any stsi
Under modern conditions no state d
expect a normal and healthful dert
opment if it does not make reaso
able provision for these arteries
travel and commerce. The railroa
have suffered greatly from the cH
petition the highways have produn
this must continue. subject to reg
lations which shall prevent unii
competition of a temporary charad3
or at a public expense. 1t Is to
remembered that the great part
our State highway expenditures
furnished by the automobile owns
of our State. The bond issues ID
have furnished the funds FOR the eeJ
struction of our State highway,
bridge system are being retired
clusively from automobile fees
the interest charges and the mainlI
nance of our highways and Of
supervisory commissions and depGI
ments are all paid from the ~
source.
The only contribution from gene
taxation in recent years to nlgns
construction has been in conneeua
with the now existing grant OF Nv
900 year to second class or ~
Aid roads. and approximately Jew
a year under eyisting leglsiatl0a
the third class roads. with $l00,@
special aid resolves. or totai
slightly over Sl.,on.000. 1t seems
doubtedly true that property interes
in our State generally have benehl
to this extent from the developms
incident to the construction OF
highways. :,
A turning point has been reacned
our highway program. as tne W
issue of $40. 900 moo authorized sa
years ago for highways and prlus
has now been exhausted. Apm
imately 1850 miles out of the a ISL
mated State Highway system OF ~
miles has been constructed, ies.
1903 miles incomplete. il Is estims
that the remaining ROADS shoaldo b m
IDENTIFY cost an average of s2oVW
mile. or a total of S11,b0V.Vvv.
addition the bridge program is s1ss
lily requiring more funds. Inc
mission estimates that S60O,0UU
will be required for the ne aua
years, or a total Of s3,60o,0ve
carrying forward The bridge pros
under existing provisions OF law
viding for county and town alo,
ing toward the probable eysn
construction of over 5,000 priotsT ~,
the bridge system of our ~
Bridges are our peculiar propism
cident to our great water-sneus
these also constitute one OF our
charms. as anyone familiar WIN. Win
arid plains of the West will testnS
1t is obvious that an incres
portion of such funds as may
available must be devoted In
State to proper maintenance Oh
highways that we have. IT
doubtedly true that a hard su,
highway under similar con9ltioh'n
be maintained at one-hail " IN
quarter of the cost of the graven;,
face road. From that STANDPOINT
would be good business to MAJ i.s
mize Immediately great por.isSst n,
the first-class highways OF our S
which are bearing an 1ncI ,.s,a
density of traffic. This must INK
ably, however, mean two Things 80
that the bond issues must DC rrs
from taxation of autor1oblle oS Ssr
or added to the general tax pu, nista
our state: second, that me coinp -
of this program will inevltaDiy ~
increase in traffic that will ples
the same argument with III;
Il ft,p haf