Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1882-08-30
Freemen's Meeting.

every voter will cast his ballot only for
those he,considers the best men for the
places for which they are candidates, and
beside this, should see to it that such can
didates for.the Legislature stand on no
uncertain platform concerning important
measures which will no doubt come before |
the next assembly. First the tax law.
Of course others must follow the dictates |
of their own conscience in the matter, |
but for us we want no man elected as |
member of that body who would vote to
take out the back bone from the law. We
venture to assert that no.man has found
the law oppressive, who truly desires to
pay the tax on all his property, and there
should be no reason by law, as there is no
excuse in equity why manlwith million
dollars shouldi pay only on a portion of
his property, while the man with a poll
and one COW pays on all he is worth
Another thing in the law should be looked
after and the wishes and intentions of the
people plainly set forth. Section 33l
provides that the listers shalt lodge the
personal lists" in the town clerks office
efore certain date "for the inspection
of the tax payers. Some have claimed
that this was intended to cover the inven-
tory" made out by the person of his
property and'which would act as a check
TO false representation and perjury. That,
if so construed and carried out would
serve as a check there is no doubt AS now
construed it affords AL clue to the truth
or falsity of BIS. return, in his Inventory
to see in the town clerks Office that BIS.
list is so many dollars real estate and so
many dollars personal property, and A
cannot tell whether the note B. holds
against A. is put in, or whether certain
stock which he knows B. owns is set in
his inventory or not. Our motto is no
snkering with the tax law 10 diminish its
stringency and force.
Here is what correspondent of the
Rutland Herald says about it:
mo doubt the tax law will remain on
the statute book, and the next Legislature
will perfect it; but, Mr.. Editor, as you
have said, volators OF the law should not
be sent to Montpelier to tinker with this
law or any other. Now. when you advise
the republicans of Addison and Benning
ton counties to bolt tax.dodger. we say
amen; and your readers in Windsor county
say amen. Orange county took the
Initiative in this matter, and Windsor
county followed by dropping one of her
assistant judges of the county court, a very
worthy, respectable gentleman, esteemed
by all but he failed to make out an in
ventory of his property for taxation. and
the convention dropped him. We trust
YOU will further press this matter.u upon the
attention of the voters and let no guilty
man escape nor go to Montpelier as
representative Of the people,"
We hope, that while the law will make
away whereby all taxable property may
be cot at and set in the list. the wisdom of
the legislature may be sufficient to devise
way to prevent the taxation of some
property twice, as is manilestly the case
in land covered by mortgage notes.
Another law which should be looked
after is the "Judevine law relating to
highways; two years trial has shown its
mischievous effects. We have given our
opinion of the law before-here is the
Bradford Opinions opinion of it.
It should not be lost sight of that this
same LEGISLATOR that enacted it was guilty
of passing the highway bill, which allow
ed IA town to be the means of breaking a
mans neck by travelling over defective
roads and leaving such persons without
recourse. No more stupid legislation can
be boosted of in any state. Let us send
men of sense, who will give US sensible
and practical laws to live under.
\ correspondent of the same paper
shows how it works in his locality.
On nearly all the bridges tless than
eight feet span) planks are weak or
broken, hills are quilted, stones are left
where the frost heaves them out in the
spring or are washed loose by rains, trees
are blown across the roads, and ratings
are missing. Highway surveyors know
nothing of the condition of the roads, and
care less. There can be but one reason
for such neglect, towns are not liable and
are careless whether the surveyors do their
duty or not. The only reason given for
the repeal of the old law was that some
towns had been m tlo to slttr by false
claims brought by dishonest parties. 1t
would be Just as good reasoning to close
our church doors or set fire 10 our institu-
tons of learning because some few are
still wicked and uneduc tied. Taxation
implies protection, but we are taxed to
keep the road in repair and are not
protected
Vermont has had the name among her
sister states, of having the purcst govern
Rent and the iustest administration of the
laws, of any state in the union. Let us
see to it that we continue to deserve that
honorable position, and the personal excr-
tons of every honest and intelligent voter
will contribute to that end G. to the
polls and vote for tho ableSt and best of
men, who al honestly and faithfully
work for the public good.
Another matter which should interest
our people and claim tho careful attention
Of our Legislators is the enactment of II
law to protect US farmers against spurious
OF fraudulent fertilizers. At present there
is no law in the state to prevent any
persons putting on the market inferior
fertilizers and selling them as genuine
We should have law compelling manu-
hc,urors selling fertilizers in the state, to
have mtrked plainly on each ptckage,
containing i, the amount OF fertilizing
material in it and the kind, as for instance
about such a per cent of ammonia; so
much potash-so much phosphoric acid,
etc, and render them liable to suitable
penalties If they are found upon analysis
to be inferior to the formula.
win not the other papers in the state
cal attention to this matter and advocate
the passage Of law to secure snch needed
Justice to the people of the state, for the
farmer cannot be swindled in wholesale
way without its affecting all who consume
e l. l., 81,