Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1879-03-14
GOV. sxITns sPEEcH.

lie said hc very much regretted the pres.
ent Condition of ah4lrs, growing DOT of the
taxing Of the railroad. Some years ago all
the railroads in the different States aud in
Canada IN which the Central Vermont was in
tere,ted were pay ing heavy taxes to the othe T
States and provinces through which they
passed. but the railroads did not contribute
COLLAR toward the taxes of this State. lie
went before the legislature to urge that a
provision be made Tor taxation Of railroads
a. they ought to share in the burdens OF the
people. When the tax was first levied, the
question Of the cOnstitutionalIty OF the law
taxing railroads was raised. not BY the Cen
trail Vermont Railroad. Afterwards, when
the Rutland RailrOBi was assessed, that cor
pOrstIon endesvOred TO make the Central
Vermont AS the lessee of the former, nav its
taxes. TIE case was carried to the Supreme
Court Of the STATE, and decided that the
Rutland road should pay its own taxes.
Tne question which had been raised
whether the Vermont and Canada should
pay the taxes in st. Adams, or the mana
gers OF the Central Vermont, was not d.
cided.
Judge Prou. es counsel for the Rutland
road, raised the question that a. the tax Of
1879 was levied under law OF 1874, which
was repealed in 1876, they had no power
lo1i the listers had no power 10 assess be-
yond g coo mile. But the Rutland rail-
road. submitted a proposition to all the
towns an that lire. Offering to pay half the
tax Of 1873 and ls76 and the whole tax of
leI4- All the towns without exception,
from Burlington % Bellows Falls finally
accepted this proposition. The managers
OF the Ctntral Verm mt ffered to settle the
81. Adams taxes on the same basis BY nav
ing One-haif the tex OF 1873 and 1876.
SwantOD, Higbgate. ard al the towns
south OF IT. Adams on the line, settled In
these terms. The seltctm en- Of st. Adams
refused, saying they would have the W hole
or rome
When tie town attempted to enforce the
payment OF the taxes Of 1875, the directors
discovered that there was an infrmitv in
the grand list Ii was not sworn TO- A
Dill was introduced into the next Legisla. |
ture to have the tax of 81 |
Albans made legal, ard Counsel |
Tor the railroad had an amendment Of |
Tered that it should not affect aueStions |
then pending between the town and rail |
road. The bll as amended passed IN. |
Senate, and on the last day Of the session |
when 1t was found that the Legislature |
could not agree, he received telegram |
from Mr.. Ii. Smalley, asking If he would |
cons'ht 10 pay nan oil the tax OF 1915 and |
1876 and all OF 1917. To that despatch he |
replied, that they had Away stood on that |
basis OF settlement on which they had |
settled with the other towns and yould |
settle with st Adams on the same terms |
The legislation ( Il through, and now there
Is no law t. enforce the payment Of the
taxes. The q vernon said he had ALWAYS |
urged good feeling between the railroad |
and the town, bn' be had no authority to |
pay the tax now. There is no legal tax.
Still 10 the interest Of peace and harmony |
he is willing to do all IN bis power to aid |
the town out Of its difficulties. lie said 81 |
am for Just appraisal, and desire that the
railroad should bear the burden with you
and with me. The crisis demands level
headed men a. leaders and wise IN ma cement
to save the town from bankruptcy" Gov.
Smith spoke earnestly and was warmly sp-
plaudod.