Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1882-08-30
Shall the Laws be Sustained 7

Mr. Editor The time ia near at hand when
the terms OF the state officers both legislative
and executive will expire, and the power falls
INTO the hands OF the people. All power being
inherent in and derived from the people, therefore
II presents to them the golden opportunity OF Sc
ecting and electng for their trustees and servants
the men TO whom they are willing 10 delegate
powers to protect and provide for the general in
terests and prosperity OF the state. We have In
years past heard the murmurings and appeals
coming up from the hills and valleys Of all parts
OF the state, complaining OF the burdens Of taxa
ton, and demanding equalization. Those appeals
were heard and entertained by our last legisla-
tive body; that body, In Its wisdom, made a law
to equalize taxation. Under the workings OF the
law the past two years the burdens complained
OF have, In measure, been relieved, thousands
OF dollars have been saved to the common tax
payers and moved 10 the doors OF those to whom
II OF right belonged No honest man will evade
this law and none but the tax dodgers, those who
are willing TO see their neighbors pay share Of
other men's debts, will quail and cavi at It's re-
quirements. VIII the people sustain the law,
and who Is your man hat tom do Np Again,
there was law passed ut our last legislature pro-
viding Tor commission TO appraise the railway
road-beds, bridges and tressels ut their value In
money, as Of the first OF April Of the year such
appraisal Is made as the same Is used by such
company The commission Of three, as was pro-
vided by law, was appointed by the governor of
the state. The first appraisal was made In 1881,
and reported to the several railroad towns Of the
to arrive at the conclusions 1t reached was
mystery, for they appraised no road TO exceed
"a, 900 per mile. AT such results there was
general murmuring, for while the taxpayers Of
the state were putting all their taxable property
into the list at It's true value In money, they felt
that they were wronged and outraged by the put
ting OF merely nominal value upon railway road
beds. 1t appeared that the old board was reap
pointed TO make the appraisal in 1882, which was
to be Tor the four years ensuing, and as the SCI
quel shows, II was not all peace In their camp.
In reporting for the current year, we find q ma
Jority and minority report, with wide mar
gin or difference in the appraisals. In the ma
jority report there appeared no fixed basis, no
Just comparative value rs between roads, and no
fixed purpose to comply with the law. We find by
competition that the majority appraised 6l7 miles
OF added, In the aggregate, at 80, 540, 800. We
also find by tables taken from the minority report
made from statistics furnished by the respective
railroad companies, that the same roads pay in
the aggregate six per cent net on S14 4S1 366 The
minority, TO meet all contingencies, has allowed
nifty per cent OF this sum, and fixed his appraisal
by what would appear to be a fair and logical rea-
difference OF 81 700 1888 from the appraisal made
by the majority Is there any unfairness in ask
ing and demanding that railroad corporations
should bear a just and fair share OF the burdens
OF taxation2 Does the minority report demand
that which is not in accord with the general list
ing law OF the state? What farmer would not be
wiling to pay taxes on sum, six per cent OF
which would be his net profit, deducting all ex-
pense and repair2 II there has been wrong
perpetrated in the executing Of this law now is
the time for the people to have voice In electing
men who shall stay the wrong. For reasons enum-
Grated above, and for every reason In harmony
with our form OF government, urge the people to
go to the primary meetings Fail not to go to the
polls, Help to elect men with whom you can trust
all your legislative interest. FARMER