St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-10-13
VOLUME 4O---NUMBER 2O46.

times 1t Is claimed that Il large amount
of property invested in railroads, tele-
graph companies, insurance companies,
and other companies, to protect which.
and determine the rights thereto, an
nually costs the state Il large sum, al
most wholly escapes taxation and
again, that owners of real estate are I'M
Justly Disseminated against, in that
they are taxed on its appraised value.
Notwithstanding they may he largely
indebted for it. while the owners of per
sonal estate are allowed to deduct from
its appriSed value the amount of debts
which they may owe. 1t is claimed by
some that there should be no deductions
made from the assessed value of per
sonal property, for the debts of the
owners: that such allowance induces
| fraud and the creation of fictitious debts
for the purpose of obtaining deductions.
| and that the expense to the state, to
protect and determine the rights to pei
sonal property for which the owner is
| in debt, is greater than when the same
is fully paid for, and hence it is unjust
that the owner of property, because he
is IL debtor. should be relieved from
contributing therefrom to the expenses
/ of the state.
without doubt there is too much
foundation for these complaints, though
the class first mentioned could have no
existence in fact if listers would faith
fully observe the law and appraise all
property at its Just value in money. 1t
is notorious that they do not regard the
law i'll this respect. but appraise prop
erty ut from Oue-third to two-th.rds its
just value in money. often vicing with
each other to place and keep the prop
erty in their locality in the list as far
below its value as possible. am in
formed that conscientious listers often
refuse to sign and make oath to the list
from ii knowledge of their failure to
comply with the law.
The prevalent feeling that the prac-
teal operation of the law for the ASSESS
mcnt of taxes is unequal and unjust. has
been. and is. working il sad demoraliza
tion of public sentiment. BY numcr-
Gus lass of citizens it is no longer CON
Sidcrcd Il public duty to assume and
pay their full share of the public cx-
pcnse>, but rather that they have Il
right To avoid a> much of it as they can,
even by reSoIting I" questionable de
vices. 1t is feared that the legislature
may have inadvertently aided in the
work OF decentralization. 10y too readily
passing acts to legalizc the grand lists.
with and without specifying the defects
to hc lcgalizcd. and even to lrealiZc the
omission of the listers To sign and make
oath to the list. Would not Il more
healthy sentiment he inculcatcd 10y re-
tnSing the passage of all acts which do
not specify the defect to bc cured. and
all acts tn legalize defects occaSioned
hy the omission of the listers to com
plete, sign and make oath To the list
according to law. and. also. bv enacting
Il law rendering the listers personally
/ liable Ia their towns and to the state
for all losses occa>ioned by their neg
lects OF omissions in this respect
am conVin ed that the law in regard
To the assessment of taxes needs e .Ie-
tul and Cou>ldcratc revision such re-
vision as will apportion and distribute
the PublIc expenses aS equally and just
y as possible among all the citizens and
upon all the pccuniary interest of the
state. Whether Such revision can he
effected NJ II single session of the lcgis-
lature may he doubtful.
EDUCATION.
The Importance of this interest can
not hc over-e>timated. More than nine
ty Thousand children are in process of
training i'll the schools of the state.
/ Their veal "r woe is largely determine
cd 10y the character of the schools which
they attend. Ties. children are soon
/ Ia give character To the state and other
states. he state can better afford to
neglect amy other interest than this
| which l. :" closely allied to her welfare
/ and destiny. Free institutions cannot
long exist among IL people characterized
| 10y ignorance and vice. Intelligence and
virtue are the bulWaIks of all free GOV
| eminent. The prcuniary interests con-
nected with education are very large.
! The direct taNr> raised annually for
| tins purpose amount To nearly six hun
dIrd Thousand dollars. But this sum
represents hardly tithc of what the
people of the state annually cNpcmd to
educate their childIen. There must he
added a large sum paid for text books.
and Il many times larger sum for the
board. clothing and time of the children.
But the pecuniary interests connected
with the public schools dwindlr in i'm
p"rtance into insigniticanre. when com
which are there being acquired. A
thoroughly intelligent and virtuouS peu-
Pile. Injured to habits of Self-control and
pclScN Nerancc, are lnVincihle every =
where. whether in the world of mind
or mattel. 1t is not 81 much the amount
of money which wccXpend. is the char
actrr which we give to the public
>choolS. that Is all-important. Almost
any expenditure of money. whether for
the better Supcrintcndcncc of the public
schools. or for securing the hearty CO.
operation and interest of the parents
| and guardians. or for training and bring
ing into the service more experienced
and better qualified teachers. if il only
serves to elevate the character of the
public schools and give to the state
more intelligent. virtuouS and pcrSever-
ing citizens, Is economical and judicous.
If il fail to secure these results, the ey-
pcmditme is wasteful. trust that this
interest. whether it relates to the pub
lie schools. or the higher institutions of
learning, will receive your careful con
Sidclation.
The report of the State Supcrintcnd-
cnt will inform you of the work done
curing the past two Years. | commend
his recommendations for legislation to
your consideration.
1t seems to me that an economical
and efficient management of this great
interest requires Il uniformity of text
| book throughout the state. and that
there should bc secured Il decrease and
consolidation of the number of small
schools which are usually intrustcd Ia
/ NOUun and iucXprIipurrU unt tn S,,