Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-10-18
Uatrhman & gnnrmaL
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER IS. 1882.
Railway Taxation.

upon that branch of the subject which seems
to demand precedence in the attention of
the legislature. Many remedies are proposed
for alleged defects in the act to equalize tax.
alton, passed in 1880, and which in its prac-
teal operation has been signal success.
A law providing for state listers to appraise
the roadbed Of railways, and absurdly def
cient in any provision for its rigid enforce
ment, has been scandalously disregarded by
the majority of the officers appointed under
it. The people of the state loudly condemn
the course of the state listers and protest
against their action, which, unless upset by
the legislature, must stand as the basis of
railway taxation during the present quad
rennial term. We understand that the sub
ject of railway taxation is under considera-
ton by members who, we believe, are COM
petent to frame measure that will alike be
just to the people and to the railways, and
will be effective in the means it provides for
its enforcement. This matter should be
taken up at once, early in the session, while
the time is favorable for deliberate and ma
ture study, and pressed along as rapidly as
is consistent with well-guarded and we'll
considered law making. Left to the hurry.
ing times of the closing days of the session,
the chances for honest mistakes multiply,
and the opportunity for the incorporation
of insidious provisions designed to weaken
the law or defeat its purpose are largely in
creased. Early, mature and effective consid-
Grafton of this department of taxation is de
manded by the people, and whatever meas
ure is finally adopted it will be incomplete
and fall far short of the expectations and
demands of the people Of the state if it does
not utterly annul the action of the state
board of listers in their late quadrennial ap-
praisal.
We copy from New Hampshire paper
statement of the taxes assessed upon the
railways of our sister state during the past
year: Eastern, S3,907.25; Boston g. Maine,
$16,S1L14; Ashuelot, $169623; Boston,
Concord & Montreal, S25,7627S; Fitchburg,
$l92.60; Nashua & Lowell, $4,275,12; Will
ton, 81, S90,50; Cheshire, 81, 91490; Grand
Trunk, $6,352.05; Northern, $40 ,490.43 ;
Concord, S27,76220; Manchester & North
Weare, $9Ol.S4 Concord & Portsmouth,
$5,459.52; Dover & Winnipiseogee, $3.50,
43; Portsmouth, Great Falls & Conway,
81, SOP ,05 Manchester & Lawrence, $17 1885,
81 Concord & Claremont, 1886 SO; Wor-
cester & Nashua, 81, 937 "a ; Mount Washing
ton, 81, 59556; Suncook Valley, Sl,6lS,66;
Portland & Rochester, $l73.43; Monadnock,
$l,l41.40; Portland & Ogdensburg, S445.14"
A total of more than 1854, 900, or half of the
entire state expenses of Vermont. The taxes
paid by Vermont railways for the ttoo years
ended July 81, 1882, are reported by the
railway companies to be $29,S4S90. 1t
is not commended that Vermont railways
can pay any such aggregate sum as the New
Hampshire roads pay. 1t will be seen that
several roads in the list given above singly
pay as much as the entire annual tax upon
the Vermont roads and some of them nearly
twice as much. 1t is idle to contend that
Vermont railways cannot and should moi
pay several times the annual sum they have
been paying. 1t is not hattering to the leg
islation of the state that under it tax Of
nearly 100000 has been collected of few
savings banks during the last biennial tern
l,.t hot In ~ tho rnarin1 1aao fhay
$4,000 has been collected of the railways
and in time of unwonted prosperity Of The
latter corporations.
We do not understand that the railways
as class, object to paying just and equit
able tax, and they can hardly be charged
with responsibility for the Insignificant fig
ure they cut in the state financial reports
The railways are a mighty factor in thu
prosperity of state. Invidious distinction
against them, even if it were possible unde
the constitution and laws, would be rank in
Justice as well gross impolicy but there i
no reason to be found in the poorest of then
why their property should not bear its prope
relation to other taxable real estate No
all the farm property of the state is out o
debt, and few farmers, after paying expense
and interest on their mortgages, have grea
sum to show for twelve months of very har
labor, and yet the laws do not releas
those farmers from any portion of the Ia
on the full appraised value of their farms
Railway property in Vermont may be i
such a condition and exposed to continger
cies that may fairly demand basis of walt
alton for the purpose of taxation somewhs
different from that which is applied to farm
and the real estate of cities and villages
whose general prosperity, such as it may b.
time has proved enduring but the fault {
past practice in this state has been ths
taxes on railway property have been levie
on no basis more reliable than sheer capric
The people demand that a basis be estal
lished, and one that will yield an equitsb
amount of taxes as AGAINST the mere bag