Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-11-22

The most important bill that has been
before the Legislature is without question
that of the ways and means committee
which proposes TO raise large revenue
on corporations. This bill has passed the
House and goes to the Senate with a
prospect of passage, though some Unequal
tiles now contained in it may be there
corrected.
That tho bill reported from Col.Hooker's
committee and with the drafting of which
Mr. Wing, who is second on that COM
mittco had much to do, goes upon the
best principle of taxation we do not
believe and in this We do not think we
differ from many of its advocates. Many
Of them fairly recognize that the bill is in
the nature of an experiment.
Under our STATE constitution, which
contemplates that each member of society
shall contribute his portion" Of the taxes,
there is little doubt that tho better princi-
pie of taxation is that property and persons
shall be directly the subjects Of taxation
in the place where they are found. Thus
does the community best know just what
is and should be taxed, and that form of
taxation certainly meets all the require
ments of our state constitution.
No departure from this method would
have been dreamed of had it not b,en for
the tax.dodger. The taxation act of 1880
backed by determined public sentiment
pretty effectively stepped on the individual
dodger. But the system of county and
state equalizing boards was retained and
always in their meetings first the towns
and then the counties play the tax doging
game rs well as they can. The law OF
1882 did not get rid Of boards of town
listers modelled on the Sharon plan, and
the 0issraceful race in the county and state
bsards to get an undervaluation was still
left in full operation.
This differentiation. entered upon TO
protect local interests so AS to BIZ smart
and not get cheated by taking the precau.
ton to 10 cheat somebody else, is the rot
in our present system that has made the
experiment undertaken by the ways and
means committee 10 be SO favorably looked
upon, For though some may be deceived
by the ilea that the tax is not tax on
the people because corporations are to pay
it in the first instance, but few are SO short
sighted as not to see that the people pay it
all in the end.
And in this respect the committee has
been fair for they have no. contended that
their bill was anything more than change
Of method of collection. There is probably
no question but what the bill is all RICH
50 far as the United States constitution
goes, AS to whether it meets the require
mcn's Of our state constitution is to
pr0portiOnate taxation is another question
ana one that in passing the bill the legis
la.ure should consider. We do not say
they should refuse TO pass the bill because
it is of doubtful constitutionalty because
the evil of the prerent eqnalz ltion system
is SO great that it may be the wiser way
TO try an experiment the result of which
is not certain in order TO get rid Of it.
The bill is calculated to raise about
$40, 900 Il year from the railroads and
about 100000 from insurance, express
telegraph, telephone, steamboat, transpor
tation and savings bank and trust compu.
nio5; thus providing for the greater
portion Of the state tax. There are
DETERMINATIONS Fgainst home insuranc,
companies now in the bill that should be
renodied and certain other minor changes
that can we'll be made. When this is don,
1t becomes q fair question whether it /,
not better to try this method, even If it i.
not certain of accomplishing its biect
than to keep our present equalization
system.
But if there cou!t BE- means devised t.
get rid Of the present evils without enter
ing upon doubtful voyage it would ii
better; and indeed if the present bill
becomes law and is in the end sustained
as such there are some matters in it tina
will be fair subject for discussion anc
amendment when their real effect on tn
well being of the state is known from
experience,