Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1868-10-15
The Governors Message.

The following review of the Message of
Governor Page, is taken iaom the Mont
pelier journal of Saturday, and so fully
expresses our own views of the sugges-
tions and recommendations of the excel
lent communications that we publish it
entire:
Our readers will find in the annual mes
sage Of Governor Page, very satisfactory
statement OF the financial condition Of the
State. showing the reduction of the debt
by nearly quarter of a million of dollars,
or sixteen and onc-half per cent. of the
whole debt Added 10 this is gratifying
prospect Of being able to reduce it by the
sum Of at least three hundred thousand
dollars next year, aud that without any
additional tax upon the people.
But more encouraging than even this to
the honest tax payer, are the suggestions
of the Governor as to the appraisal OF
property in the Grand List for the assess
ment Of taxes. A neglect by the listers
of any town to appraise property at its
cash value, is of course so far AS other
than town taxes are concerned, fraud
upon every town.in the county and thu
State in which there is an honest apprai'
sal; the effect being to reduce the taxes o1
the dishonest at the expense of the honest
1t ia therefore question both OF morality
and equality, and it is certainly to be
hoped that the evil may be remedied by eff
fective provisions for a just appraisal. Oul
own town had occasion for complaint a
the last scptennial appraisal, as agains
r.lar tgr t,,t hn pslilp 4bi
county itself was doomed in an addition
of ten per cent. Whether Just appral
sal through the State would add to or re
ducc our own. town or county list, "
neither know ror care. Each tax pave
should bear his lust share--no more ant
no less There has long been complaint o
fraud in personal property, and no
body denies it; but this is a smal
matter compared with the hndoryalu
alton Of real estate which figures il
the list ut about three times the sum @
personal property. While then the grea
evil OF smuggling personal property on
of the list is generally conceded, let Il b
remembered that there is a still create
evil in the uudcrvaluation Of real c>tat
Ii it be possible, let our legislators find
remedy for both.
Passing by other matters in the me
eve wish most heartily to commend Il
various suggestions rs to what we will ca
internal Improvements. and We include
that term literal policy towards foreip
capitalists, and also for the dcvelopmel
of increased facilities for economic
transportation by land and water. Sin,
the establishment Of railroads in crmoi
we compare 1916 with 1867 the increa
Of real and personal property placed in Il
grand list has been nearly twonty-slx III
lions. Assuming that real estate has be'
appraised Mt half of it's svalue, and tn
half of the personal property has been 5
in the list, we have Il gain OF moro tn
fifty millions, which is about double I
cost of all our railroads. We do not
any means assume that all this lncrei
in the list j. To be credited to the roa,
Granting that il Is not, nor half OF it, y
when we come TO add the value of t
roads themselves, which does not 90 in
the grand list. and to that the amount
vested in United States securities that a
not pledged for banking capital and tax,
the actual addition to the property OF t
State by railroads, has been much me
than fifty millions Of dollars. That
more than half Of the real and person
property of the State set in the list
1867; and now we ask, who gave il to u
OF the eleven millions in the Verne
Central and Vermont x Canada roads a
branches, we think at least nine mllio
came from non-residents and Of the ,
tire cost Of all the roads, non.residel
have paid at least six-tenths So mu
for foreign capital in this branch Of bu
ness. Can we be illiberal without inc
ring the charge of ingratitude: Can
be illiberal without injury to ourselv,
To-day we want at least twenty mill
of foreign capital for the Woodstock
Rutland, Lamoille Valley, Montpelier
st. Johnsbury, Montpelier and W
River, and shorter needed and projee
roads; aud when these are construct
we shall need half as much more for
profitable use Of lumber, WATERPROOF