The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-10-06

iation In the Two directions indicated, without
aoy detrlmcnt TO public or private interests.
ASSESSMENT OF TAXES.
| The framing OF statutes to compel an equit-
| able and Just contribution from every interest
| and citizen, towards the expanse OF admins
terng the affair of the state, has ever been one
Of the most dincult and perpexing questions
with which legislators have TO deal. inc right
OF the state TO compel such Just contribution is
unguestlonable; Without II, every department
Tire duty Of every citizen, and OF every spe-
cles of property, TO contribute towards tho ex-
paase OF his or Its protection, is equally clear.
The protection furnished by the state to Its cit
liens and to the property within Its limits,
gives the right to exact, In war, the personal
services and In peace, poll tax from the form
CIR and contributions from the latter, wherever
the owner thereof may reside. This lssubstan
TALLY the doctrine announced In the vth article
OF the bill OF rights.
within the past few years there have been
NJ @ nf % "a ynlafed II in u h , sn r,
tionment Of the public burdens. Not unfrc.
quently has II been claimed that property Of
the same kind and value was placed In the
| grand list at different valuations In different
} sections OF the state. AT other times It is
claimed that a large amount of property invest
companies, and other companies to protect
, which, aud determine the rights thereto, annu-
! ally costs the state q large sum, almost wholly
escapes taxation ; and ggan, that owners OF
real estate are untustly disseminated against,
in that they are taxed on It's appraised value,
Notwithstanding they may be largely Indebted
for II, while the owners OF personal estate are
allowed to deduct from It's appraised value the
amount Of debts which they may owe. 1t IL
{ claimed by some that there should be no de-
, | ductions made from the assessed value of per-
sonal property for the debts OF the owner; that
such allowance induces fraud and the creation
4 OF fictitious debts for the purpose OF obtaining
. deductions, and that the expense TO the state,
= t. protect snd determine the rights to personal
. property for which tho owner is In debt is
z greater than when the same is fully paid for,
{ and hence IL IS unjust that the owner OF prop
= erty because he IS debtor. should be relieved
. from contributing therefrom to the expenses Of
I the state.
o without doubt there is too much foundation
j. for these complaints, though the class first
| mentioned could have no existence In fact, II
. listers would faithfully observe the law, and
{. appraise all property at Its Just value In money
- IL Is notorious that they do not regard the
/" law in this respect, but appraise properly ri
:. | from one.thlrd to tWo-thrd5 its Just value In
i | money, often vleng With each other to place
u | and Keep the property In their locality In the
list as far below its value as possible. l am In
:, | formed that conscientious listers often refuse
, TO sign ana make oath to the list from knOwl-
a edge OF their failure TO comply with the law.
u The prevalent feeling that the practical oper.
~ alton OF the law for the assessment OF taxes is
,: unequal and unjust, has been, and Is, working
~ n sad Generalization Of public sentiment. BY
n a numerous class Of citizens 1t Ia no longer con-
~ sdered public duty TO assume and pay their
'e iu share OF the public expenses, but lather
g that they have n right TO avoid as much OF II
!. as they can, even by resortlng to questionable
l. devices. 1t is feared that the legislature may
y have inadvertently aided in the work Of de-
gallze grand lists, with and without Specifying
G. the defeci TO lie egalized and even to legaizl
e, the omission CT the listers to sign and make
US oath to the list Would not more healthy
49, sentiment be inculcated by refusing the pas
AZ sage CT all acts which do not specify the defec
rs to be cured, and all acts to legaz1 defects oc
U. casloned by the omission OF the listers to com
~ plete sign and make oath to the list according
toal TO law. and, also, by enactng a law rendering
10 the listers personally liable to their towns AM
to the state for all losses occasioned by thci
neglecis or omissions in this respect.
n. am convinced that the law In regard to tn
a
- | slderate re1lslon-such n revision as Will az
% portion and distribute the public expenses a
equally aud justly as possible among all tn
citizens and upon all the pecuniary interests
the state. Whether such revision can be ei
fected at single session OF the legislature ma
90 be doubtful.
- The importance of this interest cannot b
&c overestiniated. More than ninety thousan
children are in process OF training In the school
OF the state.
the character of the schools which they attenc
These children are soon to give character t
90 the state and other states.
81 Toe state can better afford to neglect an
he other intei est than this, which Is so closely a
ia lied to hsr welfare and destiny.
ie Free Institutions cannot long exist among
people characterized by ignorance and vic
Ear Intelligence and virtue are the bulwarks Of a
free government.
the pecuniary interests connected with 90
ucation are very large. The direct taxes raise
90 annually for this purpose amount to nearl
rs 100000. But this sum represents hardly TIN
90 to educate their children.
90 There must be added Il large sum paid Il
90 text books and many times larger sum II
90 the beard, clothing and time or the children.
IL But the pecuniary interests connected vii
90 the public schools dwlndle in Importance In
. lnslgniiicance, when compared with the haol
&c and.Gl5Ga 3t9ri nTeinseTt and virtuous peop,
Injured to habits Ct self-control and perseve
the world or mind or matter.
- II Is not so much the amount of money whiC
" we eXpend, as the character which we give
:, the public schools, That is all-impOrtanJ. A
II most any expenditure OF money, whether 4
Ihe | the better superlntendence OF the publ
on schools, or for securing the hearty co operate
ing and interest CT the parents and guardians,
her for training and bringing into the service mo-
4 experienced and better qualified teachers, II
only serves to elevate the character OF the pu
lie schools and give to the state more INTEL
of gent, vlrtuous ana perseyering citizens,
b. economical and Judeious. II it fail to Secu
nj trust that this interest, whether It relat,
at to the public schools, or the higher institution
emit OF learning, VIII receive Your careful consde
IN alton.
III The report Of the state superintendent WI
his inform you Of the work done during the pa
aw two years. commend his recommendaic
tor Tor legislation to your consideration
emit IL seems TO me that an economical and c
, ,nf quIes uniformity OF text Cooks threughol
he state, and that there should be secured
q decrease and consolidation of the number
mo small schools. which are usually intrusted
INV | Young and inexperienced, not TO say unqua
IL fled, teachers.
MY predecessor s recommendation OF the {
nts tablishment Of town libraries l most hearti
oW endorse, not alone as means of education f
ais ne youns, out also as a means OF continuiI
ev the work Of education and culture among tho
in who are engaged IN the active pursuits of III
zen and as source OF so!ace to declining Yeas,
ur- STATE LIBRARY.
81; THIS library, which Is very complete In II
department OF American law, besides beii
are well furnished with miscellaneous works, h
It's entirely ontgrown the room set apart for 1t
at the state house.
on. is evident thai some further provision +
for It's accommodation must soon be made.
seems to Inc that an enlargement OF the pre-
lar ent room Is almost impracticable, and tn
Of sooner or later there must be erected for
de- aecommodat'on separate nre.proof buildin
hat which should he kept open throughout u
md year. The library Is now OF such dimension
ny. and Importance that IL should be readily az
nts cesslble FOR research and investigation at
arl- times
ere BOARD or AGRICULTURE, MANUFACTURES A,
IN MINING
ru, The sacrotaIys report, with the accOmpan
-io ing papers, VIII inform you OF the work a
er, complishod during the past Two years. /
~ work has thus far been confined to fosterlr
~ the interests OF agriculture, This doubtle
DC has resulted from the fact that agriculture
.Se | the more prominent and general interest. III
VA board IS concerned with the three great 1
~ dustrlal pursuits OF the state. Each OF the
'nu pendent upon the others for its best develo
u'y ment, amt should be ludiciously encourag,
- aud rostered by the state. think that the
IL lsterests are sufficiently important to warra
ny the continued employment OF a 1udlcious al
~ properly qualified secretary; that IN cOllectlI
~, and arranging facts and statistics making G
80 periments, holding public meetings. sugges
n LA ing the best methods and bringing tnem TO Il
va y, attention OF the people, he can ind amp
Is work which can be done prottably In the Int
lu- e5tS Of the state.
&c. would recommend q larger appropriate
W. than Is asked for by the board, whose eXpend
~ ture Should be guarded by suitable legisl
IN, ton and also that the state geologist, who
hce official duties lead him 10 q Consideration
81 the mines and minerals In the state, be mac
an, an eX oillco member OF the board.
CD. nut, iiiE iNsANE.
nj THIS unfortunate class are peculiarly tl
-" wards OF the state. Bereft OF reason, and III
The quenty OF friends the state viii be derollct
has u,ut5 II itS guardianship DC ROT generous,
Sc. have read the report OF the commission
eX. WIN interest. III Is apparently lhoughtf
nv | ana carefully prepared document, i common