Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1896-10-14
1t don't rot clothes-Harmless soap.
The Two Messages.

lue lWO WCssdkcs.
Thursday before joint session of the
house and the senate Ex-Gov. Woodbury.
and Gov. Grout delivered their biennial
messages. Both were able and compre-
hensive documents and worthy the careful
perusal of the freemen of Vermont. We
cannot give these messages in full but give
below few sentences from both.
MIR. Grout said speaking of double taxa
ton:
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 it
does there will 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 debts
against personal property in making the
grand list are an acknowledgment that
taxes should be paid upon the basis OF solv-
ent 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 debtor.
| If A cannot offset his debts against his
property appraisals he pays taxes on more
than he is worth. b may hold credits Sc
cured on AS farm, the full appraisal of
which goes into AS list. In this case the
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, becaus
he pays interest to B and owes for it bee
sides.
1t is conceded that this feature of our
tax system is wrong and that the parties
burdened by it arr entitled to relief.
Speaking of the prohibitory law he said !:
The general temperance of our people is
superior to that of any sister state. Our
prohibitory law insures better home for
the laboring man and his family here in
Vermont than in any other community of
its size on the face of the earth.
Provide in such way as commends itself
to your discretion better enforcement of
this law or public expectation will be dis
appointed.
Salary the municipal trier and compen-
safe the prosecuting officer according to
the fruits of his labor. prosecuting Off
GERS were paid special fees, under we'll
regulated system in cases arising under the
prohihitory law, the county courts approx
ing semi annually their accounts, better en-
torcement might follow.
| Officers cannot nurse crime in Vermont
for the fees derivable from prosecuting it
unless the people are willing. Interest the
prosecuting officer and make it an object
for him to do his work, if you would be
sure of the best service. Pursuing and
Furnishing crime as work of love cannot
always be relied upon.
Ex-Gov. Woodbury's message was an
unusually timely and valuable contribution.
His recommendations should carry weight
with the legislature.
What will those crying "away with the
railroad commission" say to this?
The work done by the railroad commits
sion has been thorough and effe ctive. Tie
expenses have been moderate. The re-
port is concise and comprehensive, and Il e
cost of printing has been very much lei S
than formerly. Contrary to the opinion OF
many people the power conferred upon the
commission by statute is very large, and
believe the present board has used It's
power without fear or favor. No commits
sion is more valuable to the state, in my
opinion, than this. Very little of its work
appears upon the surface. Many evils are
corrected quietly that are never made pub
| In o(
trains upon some of the railroads in the
state prevailed to some extent last summer.
Believing such practice is contrary to the
moral sense of our people | suggest that
the railroad commissioners have performed
their duties faithfully. While the railroads
do not object to the commission, they did
not propose its creation, and would not, |
believe, oppose its abolition. The COM
mission was created at the request of the
people and for their benefit, and is, | be-
lieve, doing good and necessary work.
Speaking of state expenses he said:
Our expenditures have been unusually
large during the last biennial term, but we
have wisely adopted the principle of pay
ing as we 60, and you will find by refer
ring to the report of the treasurer that the
funded liability of the state remains the
same as at the beginning of the term,
namely, $135, 800. The payment of the
temporary loan of $4,000 is provided for
in the estimate of funds available for the
year ending June 80, 1897. The expenses
OF the state for the last biennial term were
81, 179, 1876. 40 for the preceding term,
1920, 1897 48; excess over preceding term,
$25S, 1877 "a Deduct from this the amount
expended for permanent investments in the
state asylum and house of correction, etc,
as shown by auditors report, 1912 900,
and it will leave the excess of expenditures
over the preceding term for other than per-
manent improvements, SIG, "a. The
other extraordinary expenses of the last
biennial term, other than for permanent
improvements, are as follows
Cost of printing and editing Yer
mont statutes, about $14,000.00
Paid for books for town free libra
ries, under act of 1894 100000
Expenses on account of tubercu-
losis, about 100000
Unpaid bills of Vermont state asy-
lum, accrued from July L, 1894,
about 100000
The difference between this amount and
the amount of like expenditures during the
last biennial term is S21 ,3SS.S7. To this
add the amount mentioned above, S46,-