St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1884-10-02
why They Doubled His List.

10 the EDITOR OF the Caledon1an.
1t being the prevailing practice to
reply to interviewers through the press
with your permission l would avail
myself of space in your paper to an
swer the question that has several
times been asked me, how it is that
| pay double tax, when there has
been a statement in the paper that
not a complaint had been made of the
doings of the listers. l wish to say,
once for all, that suppose the state
ment gratifying to the listers, l made
no complaint, and am not disposed to
do so. My tax was doubled under the
following circumstances Before the
first tax was made under the present
law, what little means | had besides
my house | sent out of the state. On
the first of April l made a correct list,
but erased from the oath the clause re-
garding the disposition of property to
evade the law, as l could not swear l
had not done so. The list was accept
ed and has been the same ever since
till the present year. When called
upon this year, was told that it
would not answer, that the listers had
taken the oath to 90 in all respects ac-
cOrding to the tdtU, and no alterations or
erasures would be allowed. When
enquired how Il man that had purpOsly
disposed of property to evade the
told that | had a perfect right to do so,
and that the law did not mean to de-
prive any man of his rights, &c, that
| was the first to object to it, and if |
did not take the oath as it reads my
tax would be doubled. AS could not
see why the law should say one thing
and mean another, objected.
was finally told that the case would
be laid before the board, which pre-
sumo was done, and as they had be-
come more conscientious, or better
posted in the law, or for some other
reasons l was notified to take the oath
as it reads or pay double tax. | was
ready to give them an honest list.
sworn to in every particular but that
one item, but could not perjure myself
as would have been the case (as | I'M
derstood it), and told them | was an
old man dependent on my labor for
my living, that had always cheerfully
paid my taxes, although for more than
twenty-five years l have had no per-
sOnal benefit of the schools, having no
scholars to send, that my use of the
highway was limited, not having been
out of the village for nearly four years,
my travels extending only from the
house to the shops, and part of that
through the grounds of Gov. Fair
banks, who kindly allows me to do so
(by keeping off the grass, as every one
should dO). | considered it rather a
hard case, but if nothing but perjury
would prevent, | must pay double
tax. And as they must go in all re-
Spects according to their OathS, they
doubled it. Presuming they have il
all cases gone strictly according to the
law and their oaths, that they have
personally examined all property that
they are required to appraise, anC
have appraised it cat its true value il
money! that my tax was doubled OIL
that basis instead of my old list,
have no complaint to make, for
honor and respect any man for having
due regard for his oath and acting
strictly according to it. Consequently
| have nothing further to say, excep
there used to be an old saying about
ga little brief authority" and another
about consisteney's being jewel
but | presume they are now entirel!
obsolete.
L, GRAHAM