Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-06-22
Judge veazey on the Tax Law.

The fifty spoken words Of Judge Veazey to the
grand jury of Bennington county may well be
characterized as "apples of gold in pictures OF
silver. They are OF general application, al
though we believe less so TO Washington county
than to any other county in the state, for, far
as our observation goes the listers OF this county
have more nearly carried out the letter and spirit
of the law than those of any other Judge Yea
zey said:
1t has, in general terms, been represented to me
that in some instances not specified, the new tax
law, so-called, has not been complied with and
that individuals in this county in some cases have
been guilty of perjury under that law and have
been requested TO explain to you when a man I'M
der that law becomes subject to indictment for
perjury II person wilfully swears that a false
statement made by him In his inventory is true
he is guilty and should be indicted for perjury
Under the act man is not obliged to make an
inventory. He is not obliged to make oath TO 1t
but may leave it for the listers to make up and
double, but II he undertakes To make up one he
must tell the truth. II he wilfully lies about 1t
he is subject TO penalty and should be punished
Section thirteen provides that listers shall ap-
praise property at Its true value In money and so
report it, and faithfully perform all their duties
IL they, in any instance, have not done this ac-
cording to their best Judgment then they should
be indicted. II there have been wful violations
OF this law, which is matter for you to decide
when your attention is called TO alleged instances,
and about which know nothing farther than
have already stated, then cannot impress upon
you too strongly the Importance OF your duty in
the premises. Most men are ready and willing
To do their just share in bearing public burdens
but there is, perhaps, nothing more irksome to
such men than the feeling and belief that they
are compelled to do more than their share by the
Sinking of others, The idea OF equality Ia this
respect was incorporated In the declaration OF
rights adopted In this state at the beginning and
in these words: That every member Of society
hath right to be protected In the enjoyment OF
life, liberty and property and therefore is bound
to contribute his proportion towards the expenses
Of that protection Absolute equality Ia taxa
ton is practically unattainabe, but the legislation
upon II for the century Of our existence as state
has been designed 10 reach equality rs nearly rs
possible. deep seated and, ~ think, well
grounded feeling that abuses existed In this re-
spect produced the legislation OF last fall. The
people rightly demanded q remedy, and may
now rghtfully demand It's enforcement.
violation OF this law by a taxpayer or lister hits
not single individual or small community, but
every body who pays taxes Every dollar that
one man wrongully escapes paying the others
have got to pay II the listers of one town fail In
their duty, every other town must suffer The
law seeks only equality and justice, and its en-
forcement ought to meet the approval OF all men
the courts tn see to its enforcement, when cases
come up, and the duty OF grand jurors to inquire
into its alleged violations II the enforcement OF
this law should fill our prisons, or, as some say,
drive of some OF our people because they are not
willing 10 bear their equal share OF public burden
the better 1t will be for the state Better small
population OF honest men then large one of per-
jurers and shirks. But, whatever may be our In.
diyidual notions about the law, II Is enough for
US, as officers OF courts OF justice, to know that
1t Is the law"