Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-12-15
Mafrhman d gau,naL.
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1880.
Equalizlng Taxation.

The senate committee on the grand list
has reported to that body measure to
eaualize taxation, which bears evidence of
more mature consideration, and is more
compact in its provisions and phraseology,
than many of the bills which have hitherto
been introduced. The bill provides that all
taxable property shall be set in the list at
one per cent of its value in money on the
first day of April of the year in which the
list is made; the standard of the value of
each item of property is its appraised value
in the payment of the just debts of solvent
debtor, without regard to the prices similar
property may bring at auction sales Blank
inventories, so framed that when filled they
shall contain full statement of all the tax
able property real and personal, of each
taxpayer in town or county, will be fur
nished by the state; these inventories shall
also contain full statement of all the debts
actually due from the taxpayer on the first
day of April, and no deduction on account
of debts owing shall be made in the list of
any person unless the statement contains
also the name and place of residence, TO-
gether with the amount, of each person or
firm to whom debt is owing. The tax
payer is required to make oath to the in
ventory, as follows d, of -,
do solemnly swear Tor affirm that the above
is full true and correct list and descrip-
ton of all my taxable property, both real
and personal, and that have set down only
such debts as | am Internationally bound
to pay that my answers to all the iuterro-
cations are correct, and that have not con-
veyed or disposed of any property or estate
in any manner, or created any fictitious
debts for the purpose of evading the pro-
visions of law, or affecting the value and
amount of my taxable estate. So help me
God" Provisions are made for the distri-
button of the blanks for obtaining the lists
of nonresident taxpayers, Of corporations,
and of property held by trustees, guardians,
etc. From the inventories thus furnished,
if in the opinion of the listers the require
ments of the law have been fully complied
with, the appraisal of the property shall be
made, and the list of person or corporation
snail De completed. In cases Oh wliiiui
neglect to comply with the requirements of
this law, the listers shall appraise the value
of persons property as best they can, and
one per cent of double the amount of such
appraisal snail DE the 'axaoie hst OF that
persoh' hroV'sion 10 MAUI 'or requiring Vi
.he hs.efs uhuei oa'h aiai'niu' o'scnarge oi
'heir ou'y' anu Pehai'ies ior neglect are
PROVIDED various o'her provisions reia'e 10
"ihor oe'aiiS uesisheu u secure .he equi'
'aoie anu ehec'i'e working Vi 'he law
WINE IL wouiu NC 700 iiiucn 70 cram ior
'iiS oiii Perie'''on III AT i'S DETAILS II Z"
snouiu oeoohe Id" IL mus. result III
ions au'anoe 'o"aiuS equali@ins 'aAa'ion'
An 'ueai equality III 'aAaVion' DIS III ihui'
viuuai ri9nls' Will ho' oe achieVeu curing
'he Jay anu gener".ioh Vi any person no"
h'ing' Inc term Is useu reia'iVeiy IN us
"pp'''"',on " 1"Aa''o'' d" wen as ~ many
otner REFORMS ooJec'iohs 10 'he oa'ii "nich
'his OH imposes upon taxpayers are hardly
'anu, " WIN ho. n"r' al iioneS' man 10
'ahe ~ anu IL VIII unques''onaoiy nave 'he
ehece 10 oring ih'o 'he iist lnuch Oh 'ie per-
sohai property no" "i'nneiu on quiooies
WIN winch many men uhuer oa'h would
hesitate 10 Siiehce 'neir consequences lna'
'he oa'n "ouiu iolce OF encourage man
" PerJure hinseii' Is an opJ'c'ioh tha'
prevails with equal force against an
oath uhder any circumstances where an
mdiViduaiS sell interest is concerned
Inc same opJectloh would reiieve every
party 70 suit al law from the oollgations
imposed ny ah oa'h' II an indiviuua' lies