Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-08-07
LegisIalion for The Farmer.

1t is often said and pretty generally
admitted that there is more legislation
for capital than for labor, more for COM
merce and manufactures than for agri-
culture. This may in some degree be
true, yet ordinarily, legislation for capi-
tai is legislation for labor, and that
which in a majority Of cases helps other
leading interests make a better market
for the products of the SOIL
But it must be confessed that often
legislation for railroads. for banks, for
manufactures, and for the various other
leading sources of wealth, operates some
times directly, but more often indirectly
to the detriment of the farmer.
Capital sets the price it will pay for
the products of the farm; manufactures
make agriculture wait on their caprice,
and commerce settles value on both sides
so that agriculture has only TO toll and
sell her products at prices consumers or
middle men may give, or suffer her pro-
ducts to 90 unsOld and to perish on the
fields that produced them.
If it We're practicable, there should be
aperfect equity between the different de-
partments But as this cannot be done,
all legislation should be so directed as
not to injure one interest for the ad-
vancement of another.
If our State legislation is in the hands
of the farmer though the brains and the
''cheek, of the lawyer and politician
too often control. The farmers in the
Legislature this year, in both branches,
can outYOte all other classes, and if they
knew just what to do would enact laws
which would tend to relieve them of the
onerous weight that presses npon them.
What shall these laws be?
We will not undertake to decide, but
may suggest that above all, we need
either new enactments or a more care
ful observance of old statutes that pro-
vide for the equal taxation of property.
1t is well known that farm property
is taxed nearer its real value than stock
in trade or village and city property
generally. The farmer cannot conceal
his estate, nor can he greatly underrate
its value On the other hand assessors
are compelled to rely greatly on the
statements Of merchants, mechanics and
professional men for knowledge of the
value of their estates. Hence all a far
mer's property is taxed, while much be-
longing TO other parties escapes. This
in many towns has been partially cor
rected the present year, and viii hereaf-
ter be more generally considered. Let
farmers themselves see that their own
interests are regarded.
Again, there is no small amount of
property exempted from taxation some
by State authority, but more under the
General Statutes. Without now refer
ring to national enactments, we may find
material for consideration in our own
State Legislature.
We believe in the policy Of occasion
al exemption. 1t is often done to the
advantage of town as a whole. Though
that very exemption for a time may in
crease the taxes of Others, it win often
eventually be more than balanced by the
increase of taxable property which it
will call into existence. But why should
corporate property be exempt when rep
resented by manufactures, and private
property not receive a similar favor
when employed in agriculture There
is no reason why special exemption may
not be made for the latter as well as for
the former. There is a young wood lot
which yields no increase; why not ex-
empt it for time? There is a swamp
in whose drainage the owner has eXpend-
ed large sums exempt il until il shall
return an income. There are other inn
provements of a similar character that
we cannot now enumerate. Let them
receive a favorable consideration.
So we might 90 on and name various
interests of the farmer that demand leg
slation. But we need meBtion no more.
The farmers of our State have the abil-
ity and the opportunity to legislate for
themselves. Let them see what is right
and then dare to do it.-Afrr0r and
FGr1BFr