Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-03-24

that portion which was being rented for
So. 900 or $4,000 per year for other than
railroad purposes, was not taxed. He did
not think the vote of the meeting would
change the matter in point of law, one
way or another.
Gov. Page rose to explain that when
Mr.. Billings presented his resolution, at
the last meeting, that most of the voters
had gone home, and he was unconscious
of the whole matter until it was tele-
graphed him and as to the Pittsford
matter, the tax was on lot of lumber,
and that no other town on the line OF the
road had put the property of the road in
the list.
S. M. Dorr, thought it important that
all should know what they were going TO
do and called for the reading of the res
olution. He thought that there was a
great deal more excitement than was nee
essary, and that the meeting was illad-
vised and unnecessary the people were
interested, because it was question OF
Justice and equality, and he believed if
the matter were submitted to the people
they would prefer to bond for the Rut-
land railroad if necessary to do so, than
for the Rutland and Woodstock road
that he differed with Gov. Page in the
matter, although he did not believe the
Governors, Mr.. Billings, or any other
10 Al "a
with the action of the listers. The speaker
cited the decision of the U. S. Court and
Chap. SO, Sec. SO, General Statutea as ar
guments on his side of the controversy.
He labored hard to show that he was
right andthe opposition wrong.
Hepse Clark spoke briefly of the policy
of the State in the matter of taxing rail-
road property, and that in exempting the
Vermont Central Railroad from taxation
by the provisions of its charter, it was in
tended by those who thus legislated to
encourage and develop the resources of
the State, and that as the Legislature had
pursued this policy, towns should not be
less liberal than the State in their encour-
agement of internal improvements that
developed the resources which contributed
to our prosperity. The State had recently
given evidence of its disposition to foster
and develop the resources of power by
exempting new manufactures from taxa
ton for five years. This was a parallel
as we'll as an indication of the tendency
of the Legislature to favor all interests
that would contribute to increase its in
dustrial interests. The original resolu
ton, as introduced by Mr. Billings at the
annual town meeting, was general IN its
scope, providing for placing in the list all
property not exempt by law, Mr.. Dorr
had amended by putting in the express
provision "including railroad property"
and thus was the resolution adopted,
which was impolitic, and Rutland should
not be the frat town, but the last, that
should pursue an illiberal policy towards
its railways. The State should act first.
It was time enough for the towns to act
when the Legislature has provided a way
for them to put the real property of a
railroad in the grand list.
Mr. N. P Simons thought it a poor
place to discuss the legality of the law ;
something lies deeper than this; railroads
get their rights the same as highways and
urnpikes-right of way, and no more
the law taxing shares and not real proper
ty.
John Cain agreed with Mr.. Simons, but
questioned if that was the place to dis
cuss policy, and withal very impolitic.
After considerable sparring between
the friends and opposers of the resolution,
yet .all in good-natured manner, the
question was taken, and declared in the |
Objections being raised by Mr.. Cain, a
division of the house was ordered, and
Jesse L. Billings and Evelyn Pierpoint
were appointed tellers.
The resolution of Gov Page resembling
The vote adopted at the annual town meet
ng was adopted by a vote of 307 in favor
% 81 against it.
The following resolutions were then
presented :
ReSolged, That the selectmen be in
3tructed to call all future town meetings
together with the freemen's meeting, for
he year 1870, at some place in the village
of Rutland.
The resolution was, after considerable
discussion and amended, was adopted and
leads as follows:
ResoZoed, That the proper authorities be
to call all town meetings, to-
sether with the freemens Meeting, for the
year 1870, at some place IN sbe Village of
Rutland.
Meeting ad :ourE.d