Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-01
Equalization.

Editor Rutland Herald.-The oorrespon-
dent of the Free Press and Times, writing
from Montpelier, under dates of Nov. %
and %, and published in that paper of
23rd and Goth, charges that the commit
tee to average and equalize the Grand
List of the several counties of the State,
in the discharge of their duties have com.
mitted, "as outrageous piece of injustice
and inequality "a was yer perpetrated,"
and further asserts, to sustain his charges,
that the committee raised the Grand List
of Chittendon County 90 per cent, and of
franklin County 80 per cent; and also
states that the House by vote of 148 to
55, adopted the report.
The author of those articles most likely
is a Chittendon County man, and feels
that the scheme concocted by some in the
interest of that county, to reduce the
Grand List SO that it might avoid its share
ofthetaxes of the state, was somewhat
interfered with by the action of the State
Equalizing Committee, in their effort to
so average and equalize the counties that
each should share alike in its burdens for
State purposes.
That this was the only desire Of that
committee, and that the conclusions they
arrived at were just and equal, and right
l have not the slightest doubt. l under
stand the facts connected with this whole
equalizing matter to be substantially
here.
The committee to average and equalize
the grand list of the counties of the State
consisted Of fourteen members-one from
each county-that the grand list was not
ready for this committee until very late
day in the session, owing to the troubles
in Chittenden, and slight defects in two
other counties, to remedy which, commit
tees consisting of the members from those
counties were created, whose reports must
of necessity be made before the State
Board could proceed with their duties.
That the State Board did employ the
earliest possible moment to commence
their Investigations ; that they diligently
employed every available moment in con-
sidering the matter submitted to them
that each member of the committee was
requested and urged to produce before
the committee the testimony of any, and
as many listers or others who were know
ing to the appraisals in their several
counties as he chose, in order that the
committee might establish the rate per
cent. of the actual value, at which the
property was actually listed in each
county. This line of inquiry and investi-
CATION was pursued until it was agreed
unanimously that no further evidence of
this character was to be admitted, each
member having introduced all the evil
dence he desired.
Eleven out of fourteen of the commit
tee, when they came to compare notes,
found that they had arrived at (substan-
tally the same conclusion, and directed
the chairman to draw up report in ac-
cordanoe Herewith, which he did draw
up and eleven signed it. The members
of the committe from Chittenden and
FrankliuS counties choosing to dissent
from the majority.
The objections to the report and the op-
position it met in the House were from
Chittenden and franklin counties, mostly
from Chittenden.
Now let us look the matter fairly and
squarely in the face and ascertain, if pos
sible, with what grace Chittenden has
cause for complaint. The grand list of
county as taken by the listers
in the several towns amounted to the sum +,
Of $14, $40, 801.50. In their county con-
Vention they failed to equalize, though |
The convention met twice for that pur- |
pose, the result was that the appraisal as I
taken by the listers was sent up to the
Legislature The Legislature created a
committee, consisting of the members OF
he House from Chittenden county, to
squalize their grand list. Judge of the {
manner in which this qualiziug was done {
oyathe result, |!
That is, from $14,540, SO1.50
They struck off 5 s,137, 1854 ,
3 ~ !