Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-04-20
The New Listing Law.

Mr.. Editor The question introduced by our
most excellent new tax-aw is not, as your cores
pondent, Poor enough, but not blind" seems to
infer, one OF "charities" and benefactions,"
but one OF honesty and fair dealing between man
and man and between all men and the public.
The law simply requires that men should " deal
justly and, in common with all other men in
Vermont, bear their fair proportion Of the public
expenses. The fact that in some localities. from
motives of individual, local or UNCONVENTIONAL
pride, they may have given literally to this OBJ
ject or that, does not, by any means, absolve
them from the payment Of their just dues to the
public to-day. Your correspondent hints at the
concern which he and men like himself "feel at
being laid under severe penalties unless they pub
lcly disclose the values which they possess.
Why, bless you that is just what the law is
for, to reveal and bring out the values which
hitherto have been kept hidden and secure from
taxation Is there anything hard or oppressive
in such a law, let me ask? Does IL not operate
equally upon all? Is there any injustice in 1t
-i.e. IL simply requires every pay mis-
equal share with his neighbor In the support Of
the school where his children are educated, in
support Of the highways and bridges over which
he daily passes, and the sidewalk that leads to
his very door? am surprised that any man.
neighbor among neighbors, should be willing to
stand up and signify his ,oalingness even to es-
cape his equal share OF public expenses, while he
enjoys equal privileges with them. Your Poor
but not blind" correspondent intimates that I'M
der law which operates equally for all, men and
capital will be driven from the state and asks IL
have not within month, seen both on the
move. No, Ihave not Tor 81 do not train in that
company" but so far as men have gone, II they
are 80 small and penurious as to heretofore wrg-
gle out Of paying what they ought to have paid to
the public treasury, why, let them gol When
they are all gone we will, at least, have COM
munity of brotherly men, living together on
terms OF equality in public expenses as well as
in public privileges. Your correspondent speaks
OF "sequestering.' Thank him for the word
Hereafter let all who would screen a portion of
their property from view to avoid taxes be called
"sequesterers." 1t is a good name for them
There is story in an old book which perhaps
the sequesterer has not often read OF certain par
ties who had undertook to "sequester o part of
their possessions on a certain occasion. "Tell
me-" sterny said st. Peter, whether We sold
the land for so much2' 1t was replied, "Yea
for so much" The rest Of this story your con-
trbutor and all those sympathizing with him
will find in the fifth chapter OF Acts. Mr.. Editor,
sincerely believe the much-abused law Is good
one, and that 1t will continue, as it has in the
past few days, to grow in general favor and be-
come one OF the most popular enactments ever
passed by Vermont legislature, the complaints
and insinuations Of your "poor but not blind I"
contributor to the contrary Notwithstanding
A fair appraisal and an honest tax" cannot be
oppressive to anybody. ONE OF THE Poor.