St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1890-12-11
PRESS COMMENTS.
Judge Ross, Dissent.

The recent important decision of
the Vermont supreme court adjudg-
ing a tax on the gross receipts of
railroads unconstitutional was not
unanimous-Judge iona han Ross of
ST. Johnsbury dissented. He held
that the tax was in reality tax on
the franchises of the companies
valued on the basis of the earnings
received from the operation of the
property" and this brought him to
practically the same conclusion
reached by the Republican-tha the
tax was no more one on interstate
commerce than any other tax on
railroads would be. If the Vermont
tax was unconstitutional, the
Massachusetts railroad tax is APP
parently also unconstitutional, and
Judge Ross says he cannot see why
the taxation of the rOad-bed or the
other real property of railroad is
not just as Objectionable as the
gross-receipts tax. There seems to
be no escape from that conclusion.-
[Springfield Republican.
The Result of the Election.
One of the most imposing and
agreeable results of the election was
that in Pennsylvania. But it was in
no sense whatever a democratic vic
tory; and Pennsylvania, having
overthrown Quay, will vote for the
protection candidate in 1892 more
willingly than ever. In Massachu
sets some of the democratic major
tiles or pluralities were very small,
and the election of a democratic rep
resentative in the Eleventh District
of that state was due not to a change
of opinion, but to a republican bolt
ing candidate, who bolted on no
political difference, but to revenge
his failure to receive the regular
nomination Such facts as these
point to the conclusion that the re-
suit was largely due to republican
disgust-the dissatisfaction of many
voters who will yet greatly prefer to
vote for republican candidate in
1892. 1t would be stupendous
blunder for tariff reformers to sup
pose that their victory in 1892 is
already won. That victory will de-
pend upon the candidate and upon
democratic conduct in the meantime
II Harper's Weekly.
A Heroic Remedy Needed.
The general result of our last state
election indicated Enthusiastically that
a large element of the voters of Yer
mont wanted a change, and there
fore a Legislature was elected which
was practically instructed to do GER
tain things and accomplish certain
objects. The taxpayers, speaking
through the press and in other ways,
pointed out certain things which
they demanded should be done We
believe that a majority of the voters
wanted equal taxation, a railroad
commission that amounted to some
thing, cheaper railroad and tele-
phone rates, free text books, women
taxpayers to be allowed to vote on
some local questions that directly
concerned them, an economical, intel
ligent school law, a law helping to
improve the value of real estate and
to encourage the retention of Yer
mont boys and girls as citizens, a
law to muzzle the corporation store
villany, to create ten hour law and
to legislate generally in the interest
of the taxpayers and working peo-
pie What have they got out of
this? A doubtful ballot reform law
and a more uncertain school law
No Legisla ture in the history of Yer
mont was ever SO thoroughly at the
mercy and under the subsection of
organized and disciplined lobby
lists. 1t has bled the state for thou
sands Of dollars in salaries for days
spent in brainless indecision. 1t has
ignored the rights OF labor, and trod
the interests of the farmers under
foot And what are they going to
do about it? Is this the end or the
beginning? Possibly there is no
hope for better things in the future,
but we believe that every school dis
trict should organize, and at the
next opportunity sweep the entire
house from cellar to garrett Hard
wick Gazette.
Public meeting of the state board
of agriculture will be held next week
ut IraShuro Tuesday and WedDeS-