The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-12-18

that which we shall hereafter state or sug-
gest may be taken as a trifling benefit to
the remaining tax payers OF the state
That the appraisal was wrongfully made,
that 1t is illegally placed on the grand list,
we have no doubt. We question whether
there can be found, to-day, in the whole
state, an intelligent person who does not
entertain the same opinion. The law, as
1t stood In March; and the decision Of the
courts aside, the action of the recent legis-
lature and the persistent and stubborn oppo-
sition made to the passage of law to make
railroad property taxable show the current
belief of the people of the state, those in
terested and those not, alike, upon the sub
iect. That opinion is unqucstionably cor
rect. and so the legislature, in spite of
opposition, authorized, legalizcd and made
obligatory the taxation of railroad proper
ty. If we are correct in our construction
of the law, as ii was in March, will We moi
suffer injury rather than good by our action
in town meeting? Let us see how this is.
If the property is Illegally set in the grand
list, we can take care Of ourselves in the
matter of home taxes. The board of civil
authority can, with or without applica-
ton, abate all town taxes assessed therein {;
and we believe that other local boards are
oppressive from any cause. SO far so
good. The grand list looks large with this
property on it, but when We come to assess
and collect taxes. we find that fifty &c MS
on the dollar will not raise any more
money than a list having nearly seventy
thousand dollars less Of property on it
not knowing this, it docs no particular
h9rn
When, however, VIC come TO state taxes,
does it not present altogether different
phase? If the property was exempt from
taxation, of course no tax can legally be
collected on the list, can II !: We only ask
the question we have no intention of an
swering it. 1t is a matter for judges and
lawyers, not laymen, to decide. 1t is az
important question, too, and one that ought
to lie determined nj once. If we under
take to collect the state and state schoo
tax thereon. the pro liability is that W.
shall be met by lawsuit If we conclude
not to make the attempt, will or will no
the state treasurer hold the town of Rut
land liable therefor and compel its pay
ment The appralsement is, as we hay'
stated, as equalized by the county aud stat
boards, and the statute expressly declare
that the grand list so equalizetl, or to quot
its exact words, $50 established and ccrti
" fed to by majority of the board, Sdl
''5e tie list upon chich state tareS shall b
"mddc for the succeeding four years.
We have been thus particular in Stain!
these facts and asking these questions that
if necessary, and the legislature shall b
convened in extra session. relief may b
asked and obtained at their hands. Their
is another question which we will mcrel.
suggest Taking this appraisal-which
much lower than that now aulhorzed-a
illegal, can our listers, next year, treat i
as nullity, and re-appraise it or can tn
railroad companies, since it has been, so +
speak, established and certified" waiv
the Illegally and treat any future Appraisal
as nullity? The only statute, touching
upon the subject, with which we ar
familiar is can act relating to the duties O
listers" passed at the last session OF tn
legislature, which reads as follows
Whenever from any cause there shall b
occasion for the appraisal OF real estate
"not included in the next preceding quat
rennial appraisal Of real estate, it sha
81 be the duty of the listers to appraise sue
I" real estate and set the same in the gran
"list Of the town in which such real cstat
is situated, according to the provision
of law relating to the grand list. W
will submit the matter for the consider;
ton of our fellow citizens without furthC
comments, contenting oursclf with til
query whether this real estate, in til
meaning of the law, was or was not ''li
cluded in the next preceding that
''next preceding" the year 1S15-"qua(
rennial appraisal of real estate for II
town of Rutland: