Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1881-04-06
Che fireman.
VT.
WEDNESDAY. APRIL 6, 1881.
The Test.

The Test.
The old saying that the proof of the pud.
ding is in the eating contains truth that
If needed would sometimes save prelimi-
nary worry about the dinner and other
things. 1t is a saying worth considering
in regard to what is so generally called
1.-The new tax law"
There has been complaint for years that
the burdens of taxation were not rightly
distributed and ever since the state began
to pass laws enactment has followed en-
actment directing the listers in their
duty and establishing the principles
on which the grand list should be taken.
Vermont has always had pretty fair
listing law, though there is one exception
to its fiirDess-the double axation in the
case of mortgaged property. And the
trouble has not been with the principles of
the law as much rs in the practice I'M
der 1t.
It should be remembered that we have
no new tax law this year. The same
property is taxable, and no other. Means
were simply provided that make it incon
venient for man to give in or leave out
the truth about his property. That is the
good of the law of 1880. and that is what
is the matter with that law 1t imposes
on the tax payer the burden of making AN
inventory Tor suffering the consequences).
Before that law the taxpayer was bound
to make the inventory if the listers de-
manded it, but they did not demand it in
practice. Now they are obliged to de-
mand it.
Tho compulsory inventory is a good APP
pliance so far as it compels disclosure of
what the state neelS to know to get at just
what man should be taxed for. So far
as it is merely means of satisfying pure
curiosity, and of making inquisiton into
what mans non taxable property is, it is
q nuisance.
But it will probably come true that the
administration of the law will remove II
good many complaints that have been
made beforehand, while it may develop
others not yet thought of. In the county
consultations of listers throughout the
state is has generally been determined
that the inventories are to be treated by
the listers AS papers that do not necessarily
become matter of publ information; and
that inquiries rs TO non taxable property
are not regarded rs requiring answer I'M
less they become pertinent by Il claim for
deduction for debts due.
The listers have Il thankless task before
them and in various parts of the state are
met by various lodges that are devised
partly for business purposes and in part by
a desire to make the law as offensive ms
possible. The future of the inventory law
depends largely on its administration II
squarely lived up to by those who have in
hand the execution Of it the cutlery against
it will cease and 1t will prove its right to
live though some of its features will need
modification. It is in some plrts cru de
and there may he trouble next year in adj
ministering it-trouble that might have
been avoided had due care been taken in
perfecting it. But in principle it is right.
As to the trouble predicted about the
emigration of capitalists, there will be
tne enough to worry over that when any
body goes out of the state on account OF
the law whom the state is sorry to lose.
The weather is pretty cool for early
April days, and folks will find it easy to
keep cool themselves if they only try.
There may be individual cases where the
law is hurt to an honest tax payer but
they are not the rule, Such cases should
furnish reason for making the law better
by amendment. And in any case the
great blot on the Vermont law double
taxation in case of mortgage--should be
removed. The Massachusetts, legislature
is now at work on law doing away that
wrong there, and the example should bt
Flowed