Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-08-11
TAXES AND EXPENDITURES.
REPoRT or COMMITTEES TO THE CouNcm or CR,
soRs, MADE JuLY -, 1863.

REPORT or COMMITTEE To THE COUNCu or CEN-
soRs, MADE JuLY -, 1863,
To tbs HoHorajf C0wlci Of Casors:
The committee to inquire whether the public
taxes have been justly laid and collected, and in
what manner the public money has been expend-
ed, respectfully report, that in prosecuting the
inquiry whether the public taxes have been
Justly laid, they have endeayored to be guided
hy that provision OF the Constitution which de-
clares " that every member Of society hath a
right 10 be protected in the enjoyment OF life lib
erty and property, aud therefore is bound to con-
tribute his proportion towards the expense of that
protection When the public taxes are laid in
accordance with the spirit of this provision Of
the Constitution, the committee Judge they are
"justy laid From the information which has
come 10 the committee, as well as from their own
observation, they forced 10 the conclusion that
the public taxes have not been, and are not Justly
laid. In different parts of the State the same
class OF property Is assessed at different valua-
tons, and rarely il eyorat its true value in money!
as required TO be assessed By the statute. Real
estate is assessed usually at from onehall to two
thirds Of its true value in money, unless it hap
pens 10 consist OF wild lands owned by non-resi-
dents, which are frequently assessed for more
than they will bring in market Personal prop
erty is usually assessed at nearer its value in
money, but rarely above two-thirds that value,
unless it consists Of stocks returned 10 the town
clerk, which generally are assessed at their full
par value. This inequality in valuation, has
arisen not so much from an honest difference OF
judgment as to the value of property entertained
by different listers, as from their establishing
rule for yaluing property different from that re-
qulred by statute law. Public opinion seems to
be morally depnyed in regard 10 this matter 1t
is hardly considered a stain upon ones character
to make any statements, however false, in regard
10 the amount Of his property. Citizens who
would revolt at the thought of Withholding aught
from fellow citizen, deem il no dishOnOr to Sc
crete and by every means withhold their property
from taxation. Listers, though sworn to set in
the list real and personal property at per cent
of It's true value in money, knowing that they
will be sustained by those from whom they re
ceiye their election only 50 long as they keep the
valuation otthe property of their respective towns
as low or lower than the valuation Of the same
property in other towns, constantly and design
edly assess the property in their towns at less
than its full value in money, and have continued
this practice 10 such extent that the assessed
value Of the property in the State is but little III
any above half its true value in money.
This valuation, il uniform, renders the
apparent taxation in the State higher than the
real and thus tends TO keep capital out of the
State. But it is not uniform. Rather the un- |
der-yaluation grows out of the attempt of some,
and we might say every, portion of the State TO
shrk its full proportion of the expense OF protect
ing life, liberty and property. Whether this evil
can be better correctedby penalties imposed upon
listers, or by adopting some other method for as |
certaining the valuation of property, we leave for
the Legislature to decide.
That provision of the statute which allows the
owner Of personal property 10 deduct from its val
uaton the amount of his deDts, but does not allow
the owner Of real estate the like privilege, appears
to the committee 10 impose an undue proportion of
the expense of protecting property upon the own
ers of the latter class Of property. While the
personal property is assessed at from half to two
thirds its true value in money, the deductions for
debts are for the full amount, and sometimes