Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-11-18
SENATE.-FORENOON.
SATURDAY. Nor- Ii

allOurneQ.
SENATE.-FORENoON
SATURDAY, Nov -.
Mr.. Halbert called up Senate bill, il
amendment Of chapter S3, general stat
utes, entitled cot the grand list" and Of
fered an amendment to the 9Th section, in
order to effect what it was intended to dc
iii the original bill; agreed to, and on
motion of Mr.. Hale, further amended
Mr.. Royce asked for information from
the committee, as the bill proposed rad
zeal change in our literary system. lie
wished to know the reaeon that existed
ii any therefor
Mr. Hnlhcrt, from the COMMITTEES, re.
piled, setting forth the inequality in the
appraisal OF property under the present
system, no uniformity being obtained by
the present mode of assessment The bill
sought to remedy this and other named
avilg.
Mr. Royce thought the bill failed tc
provide an adequate remedy for the evils
complained of by the Senator from Chit.
tenden. The present law, to which we
have been attaching amendments for
/ years, had come to be pretty well under
stood by the people, and unless some
great apparent evil was to be obviated,
such radical change should be avoided
lie reviewed the complaint of inea uality,
and that could be reached under the pres
ent law. The first sootion of the bill pro-
vid6s an oath, to which listers must sub
scribe. The second provides for the election
OF these listers, who are required to sit as
committee of inquisition on every man 5
property in town He did not believe
that honest, capable men could be found
illing 20 accept such 4 po-ition Tie OBJ
l9rfriirxn g y lie & tS!ss Pdrft9sit9 4:
it, in tact, making proclamation to the
world the iinauoil condition If every man
who j. compelled g. gave in his list under
such law
Mr. Dickerman, who i, member Of the
committee reporting this bill, dissented
from the views of the majority, and was
opposed to the bill, for the substantia al
reasons stated by the Senator from Frank
lin
MIR. heat. saio 10 mad lever heard Of
any great reform being started without a
lion sprinsing up in the path to brighten
US. 1t is our duty TO see whether there
Is real lion in this case or not lie did
not apprehend the difficulties under this
law, that had been allud ID to He spoke
Of the grounds for complaint under the
present system. He knew OF towns to-
day in which the average value oi the
land is fifty dollars per acre. that goe-
into the list at only thirteen dollars per
acre. The taxpayer can suffer no harm
from bciDa swo.I, IL i.e IL honost. 1t is
/ 4ou ~, Il, b., T.,
sure Of Indebtedness could do the debtor
no harm or the creditor either, unless it
was to set so much more tax against the
latter, where it belongs. To his mind
the bill has merits, and very essential
ones toe There are great evils to over
coIne, ..nd tho t,i.s l. opEprtuue 10 reach
thom on account Of he re-dppraisal Of
real estate next year Let Us perfect and
pass this bill.
Mr.. Pingry further favored the passage
of the bill reviewing the objections made
on account of the oath required. He did
not eegar,, the oath a. ar objection. Mr..
Royce had alluded 10 tho time
when the general government tax
would probably be Len ied directly
on the property in the State, and
gave it as reason VIII he did not
wish to see our property set in the list at
its actual cash value, as j: would work
iniust.ce to ..erI.ent. lar i,ingry dis
sentod FROM this view of tbs case and did
not anticipate such an event for long
time to come, if ever. He thought the
bill, if not perfect, would secure greater
equality than at present exists, and was
in favor of the passage.
Mr.. Benedict continued to debate in
favor of its passage, citing instances to
prove the unequal operations Of the
present law. He did not understand the
bill to contemplate a radical change, but
is simply an attempt to secure obedience
to the present law. He alluded to the
objections urged to it as an inducement
to perjury also to the extra expenses it
imposes in carrying it out, which he re-
gaTded IS untenable.
Mr., Royce understood that the object
of this bill is to get the property into the
list at its true value. The appraisers are
required to swear to their appraisal, now
this bill requires that they shall swear be.
fore they commence their work. The
for faithful discharge of duty
is no stronger in one case than in another.
He believed that under it the same evils
would be met with as here sofore.
Mr.. Wheeler was in favor of the pro-
vision in the first section Of the bill re-
curing the listers to take the oath before
entering upon their duty. He did not
understand this act to require a man to
90 before the listers and make q state.
ment of what he owes. He can elect in |
this matter and the listers can refuse to
make deduction in case he refuses or |
neglects to make such statement. He
was in favor, when . deduction was asked,
Of compelling man to state under oath
to whom he IL indebted. As whole he |
favored the passage Of the bill.
The question being on the third read
ing, Mr.. Halbert called for the yeas and
nays, which were as follows:
Yeas-Eessrs. Benedict, Godell, Green,
Halbert, Hastings, Heath, Pingry,
Wheeler-8.
Nays-Nssas. Oollamer, Copeland,
Dewey Of Washington, Disksrnan, FL
kins, FArnhsm, Han, Hutohinlon Of
Orange, Jonss, tAdd, Merrill, Mol, Orvis, |
Royoo. 6axe-16.
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