Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1896-10-09
The Governors Message
Executive Recommendations Made
by Hon. Josiah Grout,
The Cost of a Legislative Day
Shown to Lawmakers.
Work and Needs OF Different State De-
pRrtments.


pRrtments.
Gentlemen Of the Senate and House Of
Representatives:
Elected and sworn to be governor of
the state, humbly enter upon the duties
Of the Office, impressed with the import
ance of the trust. In so doing 1 would
gratefully and appreciatlngly acknowl-
edge the honor conferred, craving the
kind forbearance of all.
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
rom time immemorial has been in
stinctively 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 its use, wherein lies the
value.
In raising and appproprlating the pub
lie moneys be just and rudent; avoid
both extravaganza and PAL. 'mony; keep
the resources secure and the credit firm.
Taxation.
Our revenue flows into the treasury
from various sources, and out in various
cs. Instead of presenting to you a
tIment from the treasurer's report.
Wing its different features, It seems
lter that you should examine 1t for
ourselves. 1t is brief and able. rem
dering clearer the particular workings
of the treasury than any abridgement
of 1t 1 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 for
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 sx-
penses can be six expectation, a smaller
mere last spring. Her pAsDahq is Jeprs
N. TaiSunice +rhis Calculation Ell.
to bes the proverbial If. 1t depends
wi'the work of the session, and before
reach the state tax question you will
ow by your own conduct how large II
should be.
Corporation Taxes and the Tax Com
missioner's Report.
Thirteen annual taxes have been coll
lected under the corporation tax law.
the first in 1883, amounting to 1896, 67S.51
and the last in 1895, amounting to $780,
723.04. The tax for the last biennial
period was $734,572.S1. being $42.S51.62
more than for the preceding biennial
period. These taxes show a uniform in
crease. are cheerfully paid and are i'm
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 q
very important official duty. The faith
fulness with which the work is done sig
miles much to the treasury. Your at
tention is directed to the commissioners
report for the information 1t affords con-
eerning 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 upbuilding the state, al
ways acceptable to the poorer, is gener-
ally agreeable to the weather. towns,
for they we'll know any excess they pay
inures to the benefit of the state as a
whole. All, believing in Vermont, recog-
nize that dong 1t 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 profitably
use more money and incorporated school
districts are reminders that the poorer
communities have a right to equality in
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
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 debt, or more than he is worth.