Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1881-04-01
Meeting Of chittenien County Listers

county met at City Court room on Friday,
March 2Jth. There was good attendance
nearly AL the towns being represented The
meeting was calledto order by Walter A.
Weed of Shelburn, and Henry Gillett of
Richmond was elected chairman and l.. Il.
Howe Of Jericho. secretary.
The roll was called, after which, on motion
of F.. Van Sicllen of South Burlington, an
adjournment WAS had until O'Clock p. m.
AFTERNOON Session.
The chairman called attention 10 some dis
puted points Under section of the tax
law is it lsoal to practically tax Government
bonds under section 10 can the listers dou-
bic the valuation Of real estate and can the
penalty be legally enforced
c. ). Palmer Of jericho WAS called upon
as member Of the legislature which passed
the law As to the chairman's first sugges-
ton he would not like to express an opinion.
As to the penalty he did not anticipate any
trouble. As TO the third point he thought the
! listers had no course except to double the val
uati0n of all kinds of property. The law up
on this point is similar to the one in force IN
New Hampshire, except that in that State
the listers quadruple the valuation, Mr..
Palmer further discussed the meaning of the
word ''wilful" in the law. lie believed this
part Of the law was constitutional. The law
must be construed with judgment and
| libera.lty.
NJ. V. Willard of Jericho thought that
doubling the list was penalty and listers
had the same right to double the list OF real
estate us well as of personal property.
In answer to a question, Mr.. Palmer said
that when Il man complied with the law as
far Us personal property alone was concern
ed, the listers could 60 ahead and double the
whole list. The principal idea in passing
the law was to reach the personal property
that had heretofore escaped taxation. There
| is nothing taxed under il which was not tan
ed under the old law.
Edward Van Sicklen Of South Burlington
said that town had seventy three nonresident
taxpayers lie strongly favored the law it
was right and Just. The listers had taken an
oath and he for one proposed to stand by it,
| and reach some of the tax dodgers.
Walter A. Weed was called upon. lie said
he had hoped that a committee on resolutions
would be appointed. Further he did not
know as he could add anything OF value to
the discussion.
l
/ some suggestions rs to the probable raising
| of the value of real estate.
| The chairman thought according to the
| law the cash value of real estate was what it
would bring at sale. Farms are seldom or
never sold for cash, however, and the valua-
ton would therefore he difficult. He gave
| several instances.
II. II. Tilley of St George thought
every man would know the value OF his
farm and could therefore enter it on the
blanks
NJ. V. Willard of Jericho thought that
taxpayers were not obliged to put down
| figures at all That was for the listers to
| do.
Alney Stone of Westfur,l asked how it
would be if a mortgage note was secured
by property worth less than the sum named
| in the note.
The general opinion seemed TO he that
the note should go in the list at lis actual
value
ID. C. Smith of SheIburn thought the
| lisiArs fr.---"t shaud give the meeting some
idea of the probable extent to which the val
uatiOn of real estate should be raised in order
to comply with the law.
A. G. Robinson of Westford suggested the
questions whether mortgaged property should
be set TO MORTGAGE or mOrtgagor and to
which person bonded property should be
set.
George Ashley of Milton suggested that
when the listers make their rounds they must
appraise the real estate at its full cash value.
There would be no trouble at ali on real es-
tate and he did not anticipate much on per-
sonal property.
X. j. Morse of Bolton thought the listers
would have no trouble in putting farms in
the list at their real value. He mentioned
a number of facts TO show that no absolute
per cent Of increase could I've given. Some
farms have appreciated and some have de-
| prcciated. and no cast-iron rule can be ap-
piled. He favored going straight ahead and
| paying no attention to past valuations.
Judge Stone offered aresO!utionthat farms
lie assessed on the basis of six per cent inter-
est, suppOsng each farm to be worked on
| the halves"
l.. b. Howe of Jericho thought the listers
had no right to make any bargain or agree
ment. BY strictly following the law we
will get reasonable equalization, We will
get an honest list and We can swear to it.
Henry Greene of Burlington approved
Mr.. Howe's ideas.
Mr. Van Sicklen seconded Judge Stones
resolution.
Mr.. Mead thought that such plan would
yield very much less than the present ap-
praisal produced.
Mr.. Palmer said there was manifest I'M
fairness in reaching out after all the personal
property and taxing real estate very much
less than its real value. The idea of the law
was that the best men should he chosen as
listers, who should do their full duty. Mr..
Palmer strongly opposed Judge Stones reso-
luton as impracticable and unjust and
illegal
1. L
ton, and some general discussion followed.
The resolution was then laid on the table by
II unanimous vote.
Walter A. Weed offered resolution lie
claring that the listers pledge themselves rs
far as is in their power to fully and fairly
carry out the spirit. intent and provisions OF
the tax law. and requesting the listers Of all
the counties in the State 10 cooperate with
them.
DR. H. : Nichols of Burlington referred
TO the effort made few years since to make
an honest list. Our people suffered serious
ly from IT, We, however had the consola-
ton Of know Ing that We did what was right. |
The resolution had his hearty support.
The resolution was then unanimously |
adopted.
Judge Morse raised the question as 10 the |
proper method of appraising merchants |
book accounts and notes
Mr. Van Sicklen said that IT, apprts,' the
value of such things was Just what the listers |
were for.
IL. hon lin a