The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1896-10-14
JOSIAH CIRCUIT.

JOSIAH CIRCUIT
Good government depends upon wise
laws faithfully executed.
We are assembled in regular biennial
session to assist each other in encour-
aging such government in Vermont and
under Divine guidance let us enter upon
the work of such an undertaking.
United states Senator.
Among your duties will be the election of
United States senator for the term of
six years from the fourth day of March
next to succeed the Hon. Justin S. Nor
rill.
Finances.
This is probably the most interesting
subject, all in ALL you will consider, and
from time immemorial has been in
stinctvely accorded first position among
the message topics of my honored pred
cessors.
Receipts, disbursements, resources and
liabilities are words suggesting the ms,
outs, reliability and emergency of the
exchequer
They are the ways and means language
of public financiering; four words in the
treasurer's report to which your most
careful attention is directed, standing
for revenue, appropriation, dependence
and credit.
The money supply now occupying so
much thought invites an equally earnest
consideration of it's use, wherein lies the
value.
In raising and appproprlating the pub
lie moneys be just and prudent; avoid
both extravaganza and parsmony; keep
the resources secure and the credit firm.
Taxation.
Our revenue flows into the treasury
o,io t.,
ways. Instead of presenting to you a
statement from the treasurer's report,
showing it's different features, it seems
better that you should examine it for
yourselves 1t is brief and able, rem
dering clearer the particular workings
of the treasury than any Arrangement
of it l can furnish you.
From resources and liabilities given,
you will be able to determine the state
tax, additional TO other taxes, necessary
to defray the expenses of the state fer
the ensuing biennial term
This tax should not be larger than
was assessed in 1894, assuming list to be
nearly or quite the same, and if upon re-
adjustment, corporation taxes should
be increased, special appropriations kept
at the minimum, so that ordinary eX-
penses can be the expectation, a smaller
tax will suffice. This calculation en-
counters the proverbal if. II depends
upon the work of the session, and before
we reach the state tax question you will
know by your own conduct how large it
should be,
Corporation Taxes and the Tax Com
missioner's Report
Thirteen annual taxes have been COL
lected under the corporation tax law
the first in 1888, amounting to 1896, 67S 81,
and the last in 1885, amounting to $685.
72304. The tax for the last biennial
period was 1874, 572.S1 being $42,35l 81
more than for the preceding biennial
period These taxes show a uniform in
crease, are cheerfully paid and are i'm
portant to the state They should be so
assessed and collected as to deal justly
by the corporations paying them, and at
the same time so as to realize for the
state in proportion to the protection
afforded. An inquiry into the equality
of assessment is suggested as a proper
Investigation.
The assessment and collection of the
corporation taxes, constituting toward
rs per cent of the states revenue. is a
very important official duty. The faith
fulness with which the work is done sig
nifes much to the treasury. Your at
tention is directed to the commissioner S
report for the information it affords con
corning this source of income.
The Five Per Cent State Taxes
These taxes are equalizers of the
school and highway burdens in the diff
ferent towns of the state. They are
drafts upon the stronger in favor of the
weaker. Steps in the direction Of true
democracy is calculated to strengthen
our education and improve our roads.
This plan for upbufing the state, al.
ways acceptable to the poorer, is gener-
ally agreeable to the Weather towns
for they well know any excess they pay
inures to the benefit of the state as a
whole All -lieving i'm Vermont, recog.
nize that doing it unto the least is doing
1t unto the greatest, and so welcome the
per cent state taxes, Whether this
step in the right direction should be
heightened, is a question for you to de
eide. Road Improvement can probably
use more money, and incorporated schoo
districts are reminders that the poorer
communities have right to equality IL
school burdens.
Double Taxation
The public burdens should be borne by
all equally, according to what each tax
payer Is worth, yet the grand list upon
which taxes are extended does not rest
upon such an equitable foundation; until
1t does there viii be uneasiness among
the people. The taxpayer who owes
more than the appraisal of his personal
estate, as the law now stands, pays taxes
on his debt, or more than he is worth
Offsets against personal property IN
making the grand list are an acknowl