Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1871-11-10
Inequalities in the Grand List

Inequalities IN the Grand List
The Montpelier Journal has been. CURING over
the Grsni LET Of our State for 1871, and calls
attention, in an srticle which we copy elsewhere
TO some points it considers open to suspicion.
Our readers Of course remember that the re-
gular quinqueunisl appraisal Of real estate Wss
made last year, and under the existing lsW il
stands unchanged for five years thereafter, ez-
cept that the listers sdd 70 the list in sny yeas
any real estate which was omitted "hy accident,
mistake or otherwise" at the regular appraisal,
and also The value Of any additional buildings
erected in the year. They may also deduct for
buildings destroyed by fire or otherwise Thee
items Will account for the - gain in real
estate " reported. A new list for personal pro-
Periy is made every year, and the list Sr this
year shows a very noticeable falling Of, amount
ing, it seems, in one county, to fifteen per cent
The Journal offers no explanation of this ps-
culiar fact We venture to suggest one.
The subject of the gross inequalities ani in JUS
tee which occur under the existing loose prsc-
tice Of listing property for taxation, came pro
mineutly before the Legislature last
year. A strong effort was made to secure
better system. The majority in the
Legislature would none Of it. Repested
attempts were inside to secure an adjournment
OF the Legislature to come fixed day in 1871, ez-
pressly in order to consider the subject, when
the work and thought already given the mstter
BY the committees charged with the suhjec;
might still be available. The majority would
not consent to that Moreover, to the inequsli-
ties snd injustice arising from the practice Of the
listers, was added very grieyous wrong by the
deliberate action Of the Equslizng Committee Of
the House, by which the farming lands Of Chit
tenden county were set in the list for taxes at |
about double the valuation of the farming lands |
Of other counties as rich and valuable as this, /
and the farms Of franklin and Grand Isle coun- |
ties were also sci in at sn excessive valuation. /
This action of the committee WAS sustained by /
majority Of the Legislature. Appeals for
remedy; for delay for an adjournment
which should permit an investigation and cor
iection Of the wrong were Of no svail; and 10
whirl the Legislature adjourned, having no; only
refused to improve the system, bu, leaving every
thing in connection with the grand list in worse
condition than ever before
This was in effect formal notice to the citizens
Of Vermont that the whole business Of the assess
mert of taxes was henceforth to be a game, in
which honesty is not the best policy
that the county or town that returned an honest
list, should be punished FOR lie temerity by being
made to pay more than its share Of the taxes
that the listers oath and the requirement Of
full, honest and equal valuations, was joke;
and that the men or sets Of men, sharpest in
avoiding the common burdens Of the State, were
the best fellows.
Is there any cause for wonder, if individuals
have put in practice these teschings-if men
whose real estate has been listed at double the
rate Of their negbbors' have deliberately kept
their personal property out Of the list?-or if
those who have found their sharp game so sue
cessful in securing differentiation Of their real
estate have tried similar one in regard to their
personal property,
We are not surprised that the whole list shows
= falling of this year. We are only surprised thst
the falling of is no greater, and We have no
loubt the thing will go from bsi to worse in
years to come, till the legislature is reused. as it
must he eventually, to the folly Of sanctionirg
deliberate violation of law. or Of paltering with
/ faulty and unjust system.