The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-02-25

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listers in county convention and, after
wards, by the legislature, and declaring
that the appraisal of real estate, so made
and equaized, "shal be taken by the lis
tiers of their respective towns for the next
five years succeeding such appraisal, and
set in the list by them" That is to say,
that the appraisal of 1870 cannot be added
TO or taken from, except on account of
buildings erected or destroyed-it being ex-
pressly provided that "just and equita-
BILE" increase or reduction may be made on
that account and that only. If then real
estate has been, by inadvertence or design,
omitted from the apprasemeht, can the
error be remedied and such omitted real os-
tate placed on the grand list after the year
succeeding the general appraisement We
say after the next year, because the statutes
expressly say that ''the listers of such
town for tie succeeding yedr"-mark the
language " succeeding year." not years
"shal appraise the real estate SO omitted,
and set the same TO the owner, in the list Of
such town. We know not whether this
clause has ever been construed by our
courts, il SO ii has escaped our notice. If
not, We do no. see why the construction
should not he the same as Of the words
preceding and following in a statute,
when used in reference 10 a section thereof,
which is declared TO mean the one next pre-
ceding or following. If this is the true
construction, such real estate as was not
appraised, cqualzed and placed in the
grand list four years ago cannot now be
placed therein. This is an important qucs-
ton for the town and the listers to be
chosen, to seriously consider. We throw
out the question and suggestion for the pur-
pose Of melting inquiry, and. so that the
town and listers may be prepared to act
adviscdly and legally. Its bearing will be
readily understood.
The other matters to come before the
meeting are equally important, and demand
the careful attention of every voter They
relate to taxation, payment 81 the indcbt-
cdncs- of the town, and an economical adj.
mnistratiou of the affairs of the town. all
of which, in fact reduce themselves to the
agreed that the most rigid economy is de-
mandcd and must he practiced. This is
the first grand step toward unloading the
town Of its enormous debt and Ia hasten
ing forward the days of small taxes. In
reference to the general subject of taxa
ton and the payment OF our Indebtedness,
we have already expressed our opinion and
as yet, see no reason to change {. 1t seems
to us that true economy demands that we
shall tax ourselves sufficient to pay our cur
rent expenses and so much of our indebted
ness as will enable us to be free in three
years The payment of interest alone re-
quircs tax Of from twenty to twenty-five
per cent on the grand list. How much
longer will we suffer ourselves to be taxed
that amount for that purpose? Another
question, connected with this same subject
must, also he met and decided, and that
is the railroad crossing on West street.
In reference to this, We heartily agree with
the sclectmen, and adopt their language as
our own. We have had, they say, "a sur
vcy made by a practical engineer, ana the
expense estimated for building tunnel,
and find that it is practicable to build one in
West street under the railroad, with n
| branch leading into Forest street and that
the expense of the same would not exceed
$4,000. And we have reason to think
that the railroad authorities would CON
tribute materially toward this expense, but
to what extent we cannot say definitely.
Although the expense will be large we
think the town has got to meet it, and that
large amount can be saved by the town
taking tie matter IN hand rather than to
have it done by a courts committee" 1t
will be seen that if the town is compelled
to bear the whole of this work, it will re-
| quire tax of thirty cents on the dollar.
That it must be attended TO at an early day
is evident If the town does not authorize
the work, the courts will, and an addti-
tional expense thereby entaied Our judg-
ment is that the town should make the best
terms possible with the railroad companies,
and enter upon the work al ONCE. Delay
will only cause additional expense, and ii
is for the town to decide what course shall
be taken.