The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-10-08

July 81 1851 5Ve5 W
1871 1851 %
" 1872 gaS ~ ~
!H0. 5I,l@ w
ao,o5 90
These figures in each case represent the
sum paid the preceding year, and the bill
for the year 1883 "a, paid since the closing
of the fiscal year, is S33,s;A00.
FINANCES AND TAXATION.
The current state expenses for the last
two years were S64S ,49i, or over 10000 less
than for the term ending in 1882. Great
discrepancy exists in official reports of the
aggregate court expenses of past years. l
have therefore placed in the appendix a
statement Of the gross amount OF these ex-
penses each year since 1873 with the chief
items of the same. The auditors report of
net court expenses shows that they are S14, =
46S less than for the term ending 1878. The
saving of this sum is of less consequence
than the eradication of the evil methods in
vogue at that time. Legislation is needed to
prevent a return to those methods when
public attention becomes diverted or a less
faithful auditor is in office. The treasur-
er's report shows a deficiency of 1872, III
which amount was borrowed from the Hunt
ington fund. For many years previous
to 1883 large balances were in the hands of
the treasurer and were the direct incentive
to extravaganza and loose practices in adj
minstration. The present situation is more
satisfactory though less convenient to the
treasurer. The clause in the grand list law
requiring returns of the list to be made to
the secretary OF state was inavertently omit
ted in the amendment of 1882. But DR..
Nichols, with the attention and fidelity that
have for so many years characterized his
administration of that Office, secured the re-
turns for 1888, though he was unable to OBJ
tain them for the present year, several
towns not responding to his call. | APP
pend the list Of taxable property for 1888
md fnrt, rnnl gfnfn A
TAI; personal property, S15,037 ,262; total,
$50, 152 900. 1881, real estate, $102 ,437 ,102;
personal property, S46, 1896, 1867; total, $149,-
334 ,069. 1882, real estate, $106,577 $50; per-
sonal property, $40, 96025; total, $685. 73,-
5s4. 1883, real estate, S1o4, 549,674; personal
Offsets on personal property for debts
were, in 1882, S32, 100000. No returns have
since been received. The direct taxes levied
and collected on the grand list:
For ,ssl and lss2 were st ~ e6
Reduction in taxation grand list. S3l6,3s
The amount of taxes received from cor
porations, less savings bank tax refunded to
towns, as per treasurers report,
For 1883 and 1884 elg77l
1901 iooz..''. oo'iV'
Increase in taxes from corporations sl6l 5O7
CORPORATION TAX LAW.
Under the corporation tax law of 1882,
appointed, with the advice and consent of
the senate, William p. Dillingham; as com
missioner of state taxes and he has per-
formed the duties of his Office with such
ability, tact and discretion as to win uni
versal commentator. His comprehensive
report merits your careful attention and
doubt not the claims of injustice made by
certain corporations will be met by you in a
spirit of fairness and with desire to do
justice to all, even to the extent of refund
ing any tax that may be found to have been
excessive. The taxes collected for the first
and only year that the law has been in
practical operation amount to B,678.5l of
which SS5,5l6.96 were collected from rail-
roads and SGT, 506.70 were paid under pro-
test. l have the sanction of the commits
sioner for suggesting that the time within
which suits may be brought for the recovery
of taxes paid under protest should be limited
by special statute. The theory of many of
those advocating this law was that although
the principle of the constitution, that every
member of society is bound to contribute his
proportion toward the expense of the pro-
lection offered by the laws should be adj
hered to- it did not follow that all taxes
mnst be levied in the same way or for the
same purposes; that they might be levied in
one way on certain kinds of property for
certain purposes and in another way on
other property for other or for the same pur-
poses. But the utmost wisdom Of the legis-
nearly equal as possible upon all property
not exempt by law. To ascertain whether
the present tax is equal it is necessary
TO know the average rate OF taxation through
the state upon real and personal estate No
statistics are gathered upon this subject, but
from a somewhat extended inquiry, am
satisfied that it is not less than sixty per
cent upon the grand list. 1t is also neces-
sary to know the value of all railroad prop
erty in the state. OF this no official ap-
praisal has been made, but the railroad COM
missioner, who has better opportunity of
knowing the value of this property than
most others, estimates it at $4l 10000 If
these estimates are substantially correct, we
find that trust companies pay a tax equiva-
lent to one hundred per cent on the grand
list; real estate and personal property, sixty
per cent; savings banks, fifty per cent; rail-
| road property, twenty-one per cent. III the
receipts, expenditures and the law remain
substantially the same as they have been
for the last two years, the deficit at the end
of the fiscal year 1885 will be about S100, 900,
and at the end OF the fiscal year 1886 will be
further increased to about $4,000. Under
these circumstances it il manifest that you
will seek to increase the revenue either
from present sources, or by tax upon the
people or otherwise. II the Huntington
fund is turned into the treasury and its in
terest made perpetual charge upon the
| state, to be paid annually to towns for the
support OF common schools in the same
manner that United States surplus fund is
now paid to the towns declining to take the
principal, no tax per capita or upon the
grand list would seem to be necessary at
present.
RAILROADS.
In my former message suggested the APP
pointment OF a commission to which should
be delegated the general powers of the state
over railroad companies. Such commission,
il appointed, should, l think, be paid by the
state and be required to make inquiry AZ to
complaints in regard to discriminating and
excessive rates for freight and passengers.
The free-pass system constantly brings OBJ
loquy upon the state, and trust you will
consider the propriety of wiping out the
reproach. But nothing il OF such para
mount Importance to the material interests
OF the state as proper action by congress in
regard to the regulation OF Interstate com
merce. am informed that freight is sent
from Chicago to Liverpool at less rate
| than in charged Vermont farmers on their
products to Boston. All are aware that the
value of farm lands and products IL largely