Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1880-06-05

'VVht'SSs VuN Woo"''y "V'"o o'"S''t
he net expenses will be found, l
,hink, to quite exceed those of this
county; SO that multiplying the ex-
lenses IN this county by fourteen,
he number of counties in the state,
We get an aggregate which must
,learly demonstrate, to even the
most supplemented citizen, the
mperilive necessity that exists for
,ur Increased ana increasing state
taXes.
In 1910 the population of Yer
mont was 291, 04S. IL 1860 it was
only 317,09S, showing an increase
Of only $4,000 in twenty years.
In 1880 the population Of the state
was $50, SOL. showing an increase
for the ten years proceeding of 49,
1853, and this increase mainly &C
crued in the towns of Burlington
and Rutland. 1t can hardly be
pretended, therefore, that the in
creased expenses of the state, and
the increased taxation consequent
thereon, is to be attributed to an
increase of population.
In no one year from 1910 to 1860
did the state tax exceed sevSnteen
centS on the dollar of tht grand
list, and in only one year during
that period was it as high as seven
teen cents, and that was in 1859.
In the year 1860 the state tax was
twenty cents. The increased state
tax for these last two years was in
consequence of the expense the
state had to incurIn building u new
state house to replace the one
burned in January, 1857. From
the year 1861 to 1865 inclusive, be-
ing the period of our civil war, our
state taxes were necessarily high,
ranging from fifty to 1875 cents on
each dollar of the grand list during
that period. At the conclusion OF
the war it WAS hoped and expected
that our state expenses would be
so far reduced, and our state in
debtedness so fa" eXtinguished
that in Il very few years our state
tax would again fall below twenty
cents on the dollar, as in the peri
cd previous to the war. This re-
suit would undoubtedly have been
realized but for the acts of tue leg
islature at the sessions of 1866 and
1866 and of some subsequent SEES
sions in SO materially increasing the
fees of sheriffs, county clerks, jus
tees of the peace, etc, and the
salaries of all state officers, as in
many cases to nearly double the
amount paid for the same service
for more than score of years pre-
viOus thereto.
1t was claimed by many at the
time the acts were passed, so mate.
rally increasing the expenses of the
state, that it was i'll advised legis
latiOn; that it must necessarily add
to the burden OF the people by al
increase of taxes; that no one in of.
flee had ever thought of resigning
or declining reelection if he could
get it, by reason of being too poor
ly paid for his services, nor was
there any complaint from any quar-
ter but that competent, reliable, and
in every way respectable men,
could be found who would honOra-
bly, and with credit fill, and honest
ly discharge, all the duties of these
numerous offices. TO these appeals
a legislative majority gave but lit.
tie heed. Money at that time was
plenty, agricultural products ana
manufactured goods found ready
market and brought good price.
The war had ended, the people
were elated and happy, and many
for the time being felt in a most
generous mood, and hence the ex-
travagant and munificent legisla-
ton of those years.
The financial crash of 1873, and
the alarming depreciation in the
value of all property since that
year, has brought bankruptcy on
many a community and sorrow into
many household. Many strong
man and woman has struggled val
iantIy for the last six years with
debt and disaster, with hope that
they might at least save the old
homestead, the house aud the home
where their children were born, and
have at least a shelter, though
humble it might be, wherein they
might end their declining days.
But poverty, like wolf, hovers
about their doorstep, and the future
looks blank and forbidding.
Governor Proctor took reaIiz
ing sense of the changed condition
of things among the great mass of
the people of the state, when in his
message he aludes to the reduced
cost of everything to about where
it was in the year 1860, and ex-
pressed hope that as a result OF
the legislation of the session they
would feel warranted in Producing