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

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 1t,
| 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 1t besides. 1t is conceded that this
feature of our tax system is wrong, and
that the parties burdened by it are en-
| titled to relief. The indirect remedies
heretofore proposed are at the best
theoretical Some of them have been
suspected of making a bad matter worse.
Remember 1t is the debtor that should be
relieved. If farm mortgage indebted e.
| ness wherever held, were taxed against
the MORTGAGE, the tax paid by the mort
gagor and deducted by him i'm settling
with the MORTGAGE, and the mortgagee
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,
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, the
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 it is wrong without 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 10. 80.
These are large biennial expenditures
They should be decreased instead of in
creased. The expenses of the state have
gradually augmented during the last
% years; so have our public gratuities
and institutions. The increase of ex-
penses, l 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, if 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
higher improvements, which mark our
progress ana adorn our civilization
without prejudice to the past, or al
lowing it to influence the present, let MS
discriminatory consider the various eX-
pcnses of the state and according to the
times, fearlessly and fairly adjust each
item.
previous TO lNOO, our Stetlt letN oNci as SN
about SO cents for the biennial term, and
since it has averaged about IA cents. The
actual tax burdens to the people have
not increased. and while we have eN'
pended more money. it has been fol-
what we need.
state Auditors Report
The state auditors concise and able
report is an instructive bill of particu-
/ CHI Hk-b
public money is used. 1t is not con-
venient in a 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 auditor report, show
! ing plainly what you ought to know upon
| this subject, fortunately renders such a
mention unnecessary. | respectfully re-
| fer you to it, urging upon your attention
the business it presents q study of which
will assist in reaching an intelligent, eco
nomical action upon measures inviting
money from the treasury. Your atten-
ton is especially directed to court eX
penses, which, it is claimed, have m
| creased without apparent reason. The
| fees paid by the state in state cases fof
the biennial period Just closed, amounts
to 81 ,643, and for defending respondents
| $9,2S6. A limitation placed upon these
fees might do justice and make s1v.
| 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 ia
state institutions and necessary to theil
| preservation or more economical man.
agement, viii be expected,
We are committed to care for our own
| and an economical provision of a bust
nesslike character for all state institu-
tons, 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 ia
the best of your ability.
Roads and state Road Commission,