Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-09


edgement that taxes should be paid upon
the basis of solvent worth.
To illustrate: The debts of A. are the
credits of B., and b. should pay taxes on
these credits unless he is, in turn, a
debtor. If A. cannot Offset his debts
against his property appraisals he pays
taxes on more than he is worth. B. may
hold credits secured on AS farm the
full appraisal of which goes into AS
list. In this case, value for which the
credit was given, and the credit, are both
taxed.
B. should pay taxes on the credit, for
A. pays him interest with which to do It,
but A. should not pay taxes on the value
part of the farm covered by the credit
because he pays interest to B., and owes
for It besides. 1t is conceded that this
feature Of our tax system 10 wrong, and
that the parties burdened by II are en-
titled to relief. The indirect remedies
heretofore proposed aRe at the best
theoretical Some of them have been
suspected Of making bad matter worse
Remember 1t is the debtor that should be
relieved. If farm mortgage indebted
ness wherever held, were taxed against
the mortgage, the tax paid by the mort
gagor and deducted by him in settling
with the mortgage, and the mortgage
allowed Offset against his real estate APP
praisal, the landed values of the state
would pay taxes once and the payment
would be by the right parties. Each,
mortgagor and MORTGAGE, would then
pay on what they respectfully held In
the property, This would. by short cut,
accomplish the desired relief, without
changing materially, If in the least, ths
volume of the grand list of the state.
1t is to be hoped you will give this sub
1ect your earnest attention, and unless
satisfied 1t is a wrong. without a remedy,
provide necessary legislation.
State Expenses
Next in Importance to income, are ex-
penditures.
A contented treasury must receive
more than it disburses.
The income should be sufficient to meet
the proper needs of the state. In repre-
senting the wishes of the people, you
will be safe in avoiding new ways of ex-
pense and providing for existing ways
with reasonable economy.
The biennial term just closed records
an expense of $1,140,097. So. being the
largest of any in our history. The pre-
ceding term cost 1920. 397.4S. and the next
term preceding that cost $1,031, 710.92.
These are large biennial expenditures
They should be decreased instead Of in
creased. Tue expenses of the state have
gradually augmented during the last
25 years; so have our public gratuities
and institutions. The increase of ex-
penses, apprehend, has been principally
occasioned by the creation and main
tenance of the multiplied institutions.
The Reform School. the House of Cor
rection, the Soldiers Home. the Water
bury Asylum. the Fish Hatchery. the
State Board of Health, the Normal
Schools donations to the colleges, the
Experiment Station. the Railroad Com
mission, the Grand Isle county bridges
and the Gettysburg Monument are re-
minders in part. of the consideration for
which the people have exchanged their
money.
To denominate such expenditures. ex-
travagance is a misnomer. The state
has value received. and in most. II not all
instances. the investments were wise.
patriotic. in the interest of better gov
eminent and of humanity.
The money was in a large part for
ng.s mace a si35eRfl Study iof inc rkstT tlE,
higher Impro1 tnents' "..'e. ..e 49,
progress anc.. corn our civilization.
without prejIdice to the past. or al
lowing 1t to influence the present. let us
discriminatory consider the various ex-
penses Of the state and according to the
times, fearlessly and fairly adjust each
item.
Previous to $780, our state tax averaged
about So cents for the biennial term, ana
since 1t has averaged about IA cents. The
actual tax burdens TO the people have
not increased, and. while we have eX'
pended more money. it has been for
what we need.
State Auditors Report
The state auditors concise and abba
report is an instructive bill of particu-
lars, showing where and for what, the
public money is used. 1t is not con-
Venient in q message, to mention In de-
tail the various items accruing, for IN
stance, under the head of court expenses,
salaries and the numerous other classes
ofexpense: and the auditors report. show
ing plainly what you ought to know upon
this subject, fortunately renders such
mention unnecessary. / respectfully re-
fer you to it, urging upon your attention
the business it presents. study of which
will assist in reaching an intelligent, eco
dCllOu upOh
money from the treasury. Your atten-
ton is especially directed to court ex-
penses, which, 1t is claimed, have in
creased without apparent reason. The
fees paid by the state in state cases fol-
the biennial period Just closed, amounts
to $4,643, and for defending respondents
SO, 286. A limitation placed upon these
fees might do justice and make a saw
ing.
Expenditures of all kinds are quite in
your hands; yet you can depend upon
my hearty cooperation In any effort you
may make to keep the money flow from
the treasury at neap tide.
Special appropriations should be, in.
deed, very special, to receive your sane
ton.
Small appropriations. incidental to
state institutions and necessary to theiI
preservation or more economical man
agement, will be expected,
We are committed to care for our own.
and an economical provision Of bust
nesslike character, for all state institu-
tions, is an evident duty.
In conidering retrenchment ascertain,
in the interest of public welfare, what we
can do without, and then do without all
such things. Apply the same economy
to public, as acting prudently. you
would in private life, to your own af-
fairs, and the state will be conserved to
the best of your ability.
Roads and State Road Commission.
Good roads are an index of civilization,
and poor roads are heavy tax upon any
community. A general interest in road
improvement exists throughout the
states. Early in our history national
appropriations were made for interstate