Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-08-24
EQUALIZATION Again.

The Richford Gazette merits commenda-
ton for its frank, though somewhat be-
lated, attention to Franklin county matter,
concerning which its more pretentious con-
temporary, the St. Adams Messenger, either
for condemnation, defence, or extenuation, is
silent as mouse. The Gazette says
1--WE had thought that under the new law our
county would get chance to draw quiet breath
But it is not to be- for here comes the Montpelier
WATcHMAN with a lot of horrid comparisons and
intmates in language too plain to be misunderstood
that Franklin county has not returned an honest
list for state taxes. The WATERMAN says that
although Franklin county has a larger population
and larger area of valuable land than Washing
ton county, the latter has thousand more tax
able polls and a valuation over two and half
millions greater than the former. The
difficulty in Washington county seems to be that
the listers there construed the law literally, while
in franklin too liberal Interpretation was put
upon it. Franklin county listers met in conven-
ton and resolved that about sixty per cent OF the
value of property should be taxed and the listers
OF Washington county met and came to the con-
cluson that the law meant just what it said-that
property should be listed at its value in money.
Hence the question resolves itself into one of
common honesty. The difficulty is not in the law
but in the listing When honest men are made
listers honest lists will he tbe resr,t Ths on"i,
able distribution of taxation over the whole state
is the question to be solved. If its solution lies
in the establishing of a board Of equalization
~nich we deny-then we ought to have it, but
nou Io sVDs Oaoh !" U'd METHODS ie' Us give the
into sncb cross outroaas ,.s,uhs hq' e.
Adams and St. Johnsbury. and IL the law il in.
sufficient let it be amended. And let evasons of
the law like those in st. Adams and elsewhere be
iiiaae 80 odious that United states senator's
sx.sovsrnOra iI, tao, So eAoonsresslnen ana
refusing proner supnort 10 the stat 10 aovsrnmont
In this way the law will prove itself sufficient and
the necessity, if it exists for an equalizing board
will disappear"
The sentiments of the Gazette are excel
lent. 1t is fact that "what is needed is
honest listing and the cultivation in every
town in the state of the feeling that it is
just as dishonest and dishonorable TO put
property into the list at fifty per cent of its
value and take the oath required by law as
to commit perjury in the witness box" But
1t is plain from practical experience that
honesty in listing cannot be everywhere
rehed upon to produce equalization. For
instance, 1t Is painful fact that the sanity
town OF Adams, which should have been
an exemplar to such sinner as Montpelier,
stands before the state charged with dis
honesty and perjury so gross that the grand
Jury is invoked to investigate and punish
Its evasions OF the law.
AS to the sufiiciency of the late act, if its
provisions are honestly carried out, to secure
general equalization, it might be said that
the old listing law was law enough for
individual equalization had thatideal honesty
to which the Gazette appeals everywhere
prevailed The "act to equalize taxation I"
would never have been demanded had the
provisions of the old law been honestly car