Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-02-23
The Listing Law.
NEW YORK, February .

Mr. Fdilor:-A friend has put into my hands
newspaper slip containing questions to be admin
istered 70 the citizens under the new taxing law
Of VERMONT. These may be fifty styled the Ver-
mont Tnquisition-not very holy, am afraid, in
| It's OBJ iects and intendments. Though patriotism
will nay taxes on all that is just, sinister, mer-
| cenery spirit in taxing law will not only render
sush law odious in itself, but will operate mis-
ehevously on the business enterprise, and growth
| OF a state. The patriotism on this subject is too
| much like the speech of Artemus Ward when
| he hoped that all his wifes relations would go TO
| the war. My apology for noticing this subject is
not only the interest have always felt in my ma
tive state but have friends there still on whom
this taxing law may operate oppressively. In the
18th question inquiry is made to stocks and
bonds Of any other state held by the citizen, with
the obvious purpose OF taxing them. Also in the
18th question inquirng for stock in corporations
located out of the state. Now New York has laws
by which dividend-paying stock OF corporations
within the state are liable 10 taxation here. With
some Of them, as banks, for instance, the taxes
are paid at the place Of business by the corpora
ton itself and charged to the stockholders in the
diminished dividends; or by deducting each stock
holders share separately from his dividend The
obvious purpose Of your law is TO impose a dupH-
cate tax on these Investments. Again. New York
taxes stocks Of goods located for trade within the
city Of New York whether their owners live within
the state or elsewhere. But your law, with its
iron-clad oath, would tax this property in Yer
mont under the Sth or 9th questions though the
state affords 1t protection and no facilities for
its use or profits.
have not seen the law, but presume all these
questions are asked for a purpose looking to the
taxation Of the property referred to in them. And
they make no exceptions as to the situs Of prop
erty taxable out Of the state. But question q.
had 1t intended to break up personal credit and
commercial confidence among the people Of the
state, could not have been framed more effectualy
to that end. Moneyed men are uniformly sensi-
tive In their commercial transactions as to the
knowledge and interference Of the public there
with. And this very question will prevent many
friendly act OF loaning money to worthy young
men, to help them through an emergency, and
ruin their enterprises and Danish them as bank
rupt adventures to more comfortable places for
business. Under the Turkish rule in western
Asia the Jew has to dress in rags and hide his
diamonds to escape the rapacity Of the tax gath
erer. But the oppressed vermonter will do
neither, but will retire to a more friendly and
congenial climate As understand 1t, there il no
exception In the law as to property whose situs
Is without the state. and there liable to taxation
As understand the egal principles applicable to
the subject, no property should be liable to
taxation that cannot be reached by the col
leetor for the satisfaction OF the tax But
perhaps this Vermont unholy inqusition looks
beyond its formulated interrogations to pen
alties to coerce payment OF their taxes on for
eign property, by the imprisonment OF the cit
lien. Well, perhaps the citizens may stand this
till the meeting Of the next legislature and per-
haps the federal circuit court on the conflicting
laws OF different states on this subject may en-
terrain jurisdiction and upset this lever and
thumb-screw law, seeking to infct bodily pain
to compel the bringing OF foreign property into
the state TO pay its taxes here as well as where
its situs is. The increase of the population In
Vermont for the last decade is less than In any
other state In the Union. The causes OF this, az
have frequently noted in your columns, are, first,
your attachment idics that break up the business
OF young men before 1t has acquired substance for
self-relance and, secondly, your railroad policy,
discriminating against outward andinward bound
freight in Vermont, which prevents the cultiva-
ton OF the soil by exorbitant charges OF transport
ing the better products of the state to market
And now this espionage tax law that will render
1t uncomfortable for any man OF means and self
respect to reside in the state so taking business
facilities away that could otherwise be employed
In developing the resources OF the state
JoHsM STEARSs,