Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-01-06
City Of Burlington.
PROCEEDINGS OF TIE BOARD or ALDERMEN.

PROCEEDINGS OF TIE BOARD og ALDERMEN.
MoSDAr, Jan ,.
Present Hon T. E. Wales, President OF the
Board, and Aldermen Appleton, BosiTiek' 1atea'
johnson and Sweet.
The committee appointed at the city meeting
ing Of Dec. 10th. 1870. to examine and report
whether the collection of the State tax can be le-
gally resisted, made report, which was read,
accented. and ordered to be placed on 6le.
The reports are as follows;
To tie city Council Of the City Of Burlington:
GENTLEMEN, The undersigned, appointed at
public meeting Of the citizens of Burlington a
committee to enquire whether the collection Of
State taxes under the recent oppressive equali-
1ltion can be legally resisted, and, if 80, to
recommend the proper measures to ties; the vail
dity Of the same, respectfully report
We understand the following 70 be the facts
bearing upon the question submitted TO US
l. Thar the lists, as returned to the town
clerks Office, in large number Of tde towns Of
the State, have not been sworn to, rs requirei
by law
.. That the committee appointed BY the House
Of Representatives, consisting Of one member
from each County in the State, to average and
equalize the ce7eral counties, did not, before
they proceeded to make such equalization. nor
81 any time, take the oath required by law 30
such case
3. That IN making such average and Cquai-
zaticn, said committee, acting upon unsWou
abstracts Of such uasworn lists, very largely
increased the aggregate amount Of the apprsis-
ais Of the several counties, as reported % the
Secretary Of State.
Upon these facts, It Is our opinion that there
IS no grand list for the State, or any town ia
the State, upon which the state tax laid at the
recent session Of the Legislature csn be legally
assessed, or collected.
II this be SO, It follows that 10 board Of Sc
!ec;aen, or city council ca lawfully issue 90
the collector rate blu for tee collection C..
such taz, based upon such list
If it lie deemed best by tie city or sny town
authorities to test this question, it seems 20 the
undersigned 20 be the simplest, cheapest All
most expeditions course, thai the city council,
or the selectmen OF towns. should emit 10 issue
20 the collector any rate hill for the collection
of the STATE tax. This would avoid at com
pIcsti0ns between the tax payer and tie coli
lect0r, and save a multitude oi suits whereas
the State Treasurer, by p nandamus Or o.aer
preceding, could speedily test the question he-
fore the supreme Court. row st0u, to commence
upon ITS winter circuit and decision "a
one case would settle the question for each town
and every tax payer in tbe state. Al Of which
IL Iespecf.u.ly submitted.
E. z. HARD.
T. =. PuuFs.
DAEIEL boBEE.s.
C.J ALGEa
Burlington, Dec y, 1870
GOV UNuuwooo's oeN,oS.
70 iie Gig C3aaeIe dc Gig or Bu.as8 .
CzyrLulry. In accordance with the resoIu-
ton Of the City, have, 50 far as am In pos
EessI0H t i4cts, examined tie subject referred 90
therein. ] Eave had no opportunity 90 confer
with the other members Of the committee.
l understand that Jho Le-isl9ruce ty a sceaial
ger, authorized the House Of Representative 90
apro.at committee consisting Of the Repre- sa-
;atiges q Chitteli5a county, TO eluslize AMI Owe
ersge the appraisal Of the listers q the several
towns in the county, and that the committee was
appointed AMI DISCHARGED -heir duty. This i-
NY opinion, constitutes tae appraisal upon
which lakes for this county are 90 be RAISED. and
is TO stand, unless legally changed lv the S-ars
E4ualzug Committee, 20 cQusirethe aPTrl. GALS
Ia sl' the cJuutils
understand also that .la State EsusG-.l-
Committee were not -wu-u, as -le law provides ,
aud that they increased the gross appraisal q
The county committees and convention li ..s. ess.
about 500 600. Whether there is any rils
tice or gross inequality in tle action Of ta r-ste
Equllzn- Committee, have u1- The las ta
enable me 90 give any oaaioa.
an If opinion, that the act et tae Stale
Egul.iziug COMMITTEE is Illegal, whether just or
uajgsr and that any taxpayer msy avail l'n-