Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-07-29
The In s,I,aDlc Equalization 0ue.,lon

nc IN uh ANapAt
The Montpelier Waterman has been study
ing the grand list returns, and concludes that
the listers of some towns and counties have
Intentionally or unintentionally" fallen be-
low the proper standard of valuation and
that by this means Washington county, and
Montpelier in particular, will this year pay an
unjust share of the state tax" Here are the
Watchman's comparisons:
In the total valuation Of real and personal estate
Montpelier ranks third, only RutlA nd and Burlington
exceeding her, while the large and populous towns
St. Adams, Bennington, Brattleboro and ST. Johns
bury show a smaller valuation. In population ths
town is tenth in the state while in there only
three out of the $40 towns in the state which have
smaller ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Baltimore and St. George.
ST. Adams with population nearly two and one-third
times larger and an acreage more than hve times arg
er, Bennington with double the population aud nearly
six times the acreage, Braeboro and St. Johnsbury
with nearly double the population and Eve times the
acreage and all having large and Furnishing indus
tries and wealthy citizens, have smaller valuation
than Montpelier. Rutland with four times the popu-
aton and nearly seven times the area with immense
and valuable industrial interests, has valuation only
about two and one-third times that Of Montpelier
Burlington, with a similar excess in population with
extensive manufacturing and large and prosperous
business interests, and with 792 against Mont
peliers 4,2I2, and small industrial and manufacturing
interests, has valuation Of only trife more than
double that Of the latter town. Washington county,
the sixth in population and seventh acreage, hly
the most part. fourth total
valuation. Franklin and windham exceed her in both
population and acreage well In the agricultural
value and desirabiity Of the lands, but each has
smaller valuation"
We haven't the slightest idea that the Watch
man has Windham county in view when it
speaks of certain towns which ''have been
recreant to their sworn duty and have shirk-
ed portion of their burdens upon their more
honest neighbors." Justice compels us to say,
however, that careful observation has con-
WINGED us that the listers of Brattleboro, and
of Windham county generally, performed
their duties with sincere purpose to obey
the letter of the law and do equal and exact
justice to all. If their convictions or conclu-
sions didn't square exactly with those of list
ers in Montpelier and Washington county, il
was not a lack of conscientiousness. Pos
sibly careful sitting of the facts would show
that Windham county has for several years
been listed at figure so much higher in pro-
portion than some of its neighbors that it has
been paying more than its share of state tax
es, and under the pressure of the new law the
difference has been made unpleasantly mani
fest. For ian approximate equalization OF
the gross inequalities" referred to, the Watch
man relies on the operation, another year, OF
''the quadriennial appraisal and the "old
State equalizing machinery" AS to the equal
and exact justice to be looked for in that di-
rection, there is difference of opinion. A
gentleman of this town. who has given some
attention to the subject of taxation and tax
laws, noticing this allusion of the Waterman,
says; That state equalizing board, in my
judgment, is the means of more injustice and
iniquity than any one thing connected with
our state tax laws. 1t goes into operation
again next year The best wire-puller wins,
and he who has the most tricks can get his
taxes down to the lowest notch. In theory it
is all right in practice, all wrong. What is
needed is a corporation tax to relieve towns
from all state taxes and then the wrongs can
be remedied at home"