Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-03
r1asRIPH|C PROCEEDINGS!
49,. $3.50 from Page Eighty

ipEn J. tn. reasons, members 1a,na.o OF
lFhsss ~ vhy move the postpone
III TIL 4 Il. u Bill. >, Augusta: Mr..
Tn. NAH. Wish to speak briefly
lieaker, motion of the gentleman
lkiust TIE ,.us lMr. Cummings) to
IN P ','s postpone this bill, I
1isiuitey deal of respect for the
We sl'1s Il the gentleman from
owledge, r = today his remarks do
seem . sn.sks rather Of the past
,us ~ J. f taacing a present condition,
I'd Is mol ,i in that he speaks OF the
= Do not admit that the nf t the
xsn any ! y, not familiar with a great
ad. J ~ ~ statements which he
any y. md do not know 1 wiener ne r
M ~ entirely in accord ,cn W Nun the the
cts q nJ nave been connected with
Maine nas Central Ran Kailr e;tizen nave oe
. sou. 4 Maine, and cannot be-
d . say y, q one, that there has been
= I'd Encouragement "hich mas
Pea -. ..rtleman from Portland (Mr.
IThe geu.,,haa that some law
k,,M bs enacted that wou1 por rea { u
~ y sSre that there is plenty of
Jay y ~ - reach officers who, are
~ W., sss Il I their duties. The matter
reae' ,r - me in this is the
iea .,. a this matter has been care
= la sns;dered by one Of he ablest
lly n Sy Of this Legislature and
cinnamon an;mous report has been given
un ndi the present bill and
lc .aaa ~ taxation. They are men
INV wa dIsinterested and who have
10 !, ~ ! great deal of study. They
~ iooked into the whole situation
M believe they know whereof
- sneak and whereof they report.
:, plan which was. originally
~, s from the committee is the
~ plan. 1t is the scientific
ss,S II taxation of railroads,
Eeommended and endorsed by a
IrurIt Of all the railroad experts
a .Sis country in Washington in
~ There can be no question but
Nj his is the scientific method of
,y,tion. The railroad originally
Z ~ N the legislature, as under
,Hnd Il and asked the scientific
ieihod which is based upon net in
fTna IN relation to the gross income
! ID hat the rate of taxation be a
eray Of three percent to five and
1a.balf percent. At the present
M tie railroad pays five and one
ri usrcent. The committee finally,
ttsr 4 great deal of elaboration and
! what they considered absolute
Imess, presented "a different bill,
4 sort Of compromise, making the
lite four and one-half percent to
Ts and one-half percent. In other
birds. whether the railroad makes a
mt or not 1t will have to pay four
ad oue-haN percent on its income.
4 The net income Is not over five
Nrsnt in relation to gross income,
Y pays four and one-half. Then if
De net income goes up to fifteen
trceat in relation to gross, the rail-
Nd pays four and three quarters,
hen II twenty-five percent, it pays
Je and il over twenty-five percent,
I pays five and a quarter. 1t is a
Hiding scale. If they earn more, they
II mnre-the same principle as the
ifcone tax.
n DO not think the gentleman from
hEtard (Mr. Cummings) would
tspuis the Importance Of having the
tiioad in the State Of Maine. Now
ss railroad is not making money.
Shas able officers but it is not get
Fg ahead 1t is going behind, and,
Z you want to boom Maine, we GER
3nly must have a railroad that can
Perate efficiently and safely for the
hblc.
There has been in the papers, and
ihave no doubt the gentleman from
ortand has seen it, as well as all
J you members here, a recent petit
,Dl BY the Boston and Maine ask
is That it be allowed to discontinue
70 hundred miles of it's railroad.
nat IS significant of what is COM
fss railroads being taxed and the
toney used for good roads, are 60
Is behind. We have seen the cleo
tc road passing out and we must
ware that the railroads do not
Me to that situation. Two hun
tea miles Of the Boston and Maine
ve already petitioned to the Public
inties to discontinue, and they
I've plans under way for lines total
one thousand miles or forty per-
e. OF their rails. That means a
rinc loss to a great many small
n,Munities, and in our State it is
n % take that into consideration
az, a. Il the railroad cannot pay, il
ny H., N sell defense go to the Public
/ ii'ies and ask that it's non-payins
rs % discontinued; and l know
las w. !. 40 not want that to happen.
a. A.. = line on the Maine Central
' 10. extending fsom Burnham
H. ~ city So ably represented in
Z, LeelslaturA by the gentleman
4 - !, Denast, Mr.. Frost. that annu-
i, = . isosing around $4,000. They
coun.' y position. if they wish, on
IN, nsa !, u tenancy there, to discon-
N una. .nat at the end Of the year
u sUae similar time. They do
m s co. 70 and they hope 1t will
,A sums When they will have to,
atme., nave got to be given fair
turs ' ta,s at the hands of the Legis-
ht !, , ~h. scientific treatment, and
!, ! "nat this bill asks for.
Hou.. uere Is no member of
!. sia Ssss who in any way doubts
u on =. and ability Of every
Rninons,S,, committee who reported
nan. s !. Tor this bill; and so in
IN 4, NV. u what is fair, in the name
pa pay in the name of treating
a fai rh lairly, treating corpora
ucientisy. and basing this fairness
)ynizsd . !. Investigation, what is
he Of w Is lair, and also in the
aisin. ~aat is good for the State
, ion ~ !. ! certainly trust that the
ii GMr N. ~, n gentleman from Port
a'' cummings) will no not pre-
est.,H HOLMES Of Lewiston: Mr..
4 m IN on, wish merely to saw that
j, 1.-THE s. opposition to the gentleman
" ur.ss,;, and hope that sf'i If viii viii