Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1892-10-06

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debt and the land, believing that all
property should be taxed only once, land
where the property is, there is 50 much
good in the rest Of the article that we
! give it below in full.
| If the Vermont legislature at its next
session should amend our present list
ing laws so that all personal property
would be taxed It would make the
grand list very much larger requiring
a smaller per cent on the dollar to raise
the same amount Of money and it would
in great measure prevent tax dodgers
from getting rid Of paying taxes. This
is the door Of escape for all who wish
TO evade taxation. Prior to 1874
there were no offsets on personal prop
erty and it was taxed as well as real
estate. Since that time the great
burden Of taxation has fallen on real
estate. No one has ever shown why
there should be an offset for debts on
personal property any more than on
real estate. All property whether real
or personal should be taxed in the town
where the property is situated or kept.
A large share Of offsets are for ficti-
tious debts. Taxpayers claim offsets
for debts owing to persons living far
away and out Of the state. Most Of
them are at least to people living out
Of town. This property pays no taxes
II is certain that men who
have a large amount Of personal prop
erty and are the best able to pay taxes
escape taxation in this way and they
may be justified in so doing. With
this unjust method Of taxation taxpay-
ers are driven to take this course in
self defense. The man who makes
out an honest list Of his property win
pay much more than his share of taxes
and ii is natural that he should try
some way % evade il just 50 long as I
real estate has TO pay nearly all the (
taxes farms will be dog cheap and .
M aHy puea. Put more of
.he burden Of taxation on personal es-
tate and farms win sell at better prices.
Those who have money don't want 70
put il where it viii be absorbed or
swallowed by taxes. Striking out that
part Of our listing law allowing offsets
for debts would help the farmers and
ihe farming interest, There has been
/ good deal Of talk about double taxa
ion and il has been proposed that the
and mortgage should be
oint owners and pay each his share
of the taxes. This would make the
grand list smaller as some pay on the
notes that are secured by mortgage.
This method would injure that class
which It is intended to benefit. II is a
lard matter to obtain money under ex-
sting laws at the present time and this
would increase the difficulty. The
nortgagor would have to agree TO pay
he taxes. No Legislature by making
laws can compel person to loan mon
y BY aay prescribed rule. There is
mother change in our listing laws that
has been proposed that is receiving
'ome favor and that is, to exempt
,otes secured by mortgage from taxa
ion. Such bill passed the Senate
wo years ago. Such bill might in
luce capitalists to loan money at less
,er cent and thereby benefit the mort
.agor. But such change would low
r the grand list somewhat and It is
doubtful whether money could be OBJ
aimed on any better terms. Il would
,e at least doubtful experiment. I'll
We have a change it should be such
hat it viii make the grand list larger
md not smaller.
Governor Page has fulfilled the
expectations Of his friends and has
made one Of the most practi-
al. efficient and best executives the
tate has had in many years. He has
,onored the state. Below we publish