Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1896-10-09

poses and objects of their crea-
ton. 1t was thought then, and
it is as true today, that the bust
ness which belongs to men in
their individual capacity can be
best and more safely managed
by the brairs of an individual
than by political, or semi-poli-
teal organization. Constitu-
tional guarantees were made to
prevent political communities
from being dragged into wild
schemes by such men as think
that through dreamy theories
they can strew humanp pathways
with silver that can he-picked up
at will. There is too great a
tendency to disregard constitu-
tional guarantees and to lead
men into hopes which expert
ence shows have seldom been
realized. If a scheme is suggested
which may bring advantages to
some over Others it ought to be
examined with the sharpest jeal-
ousy before adopted.
Taxation. There seems to be
ample opportunity for the exer-
else of reformatory work in the
matter of taxation. ANY ex-
emption from taxation at all is
OF questionable propriety because
the constitutional theory is that
all should be taxed equally ac-
cording to the interest of each in
the substance he has in the COM
munity, and extreme poverty or
inability to contribute seems to
be the most humane cause for
exemption. But the tendency of
the times is to go farther than
that and to exempt men who
are able topay. This is done on
the ground that the business oil
such men contributes more di.
rectly to the public good, but
the trouble with this considera
/ ton is that these exemptions are
used as a bid to induce men not
to 90 into the business conten
' plated but to locate in one com
( munity in preference to another
). while it does not contribute tC
q the general public good by Undue
ing them simply to go into ont
| locality rather than another
{ Now while exemptions ar
S scarcely defensible on an,
Il ground, if made at all the,
/ should be SO guarded that they
5 shall not be allowed unless clearl,
/ a public and general benefit, ant
: never when individuals are bur
I dened by the exemption thereb,
: getting no benefit at all. TIL
: outlook now promises man,
e attempts at this kind of legisla
i ton during the present session
e But this is not all on this subject
/ Formerly listers assessed indi
= viduals on their comparative
. possessions and in that way, al
: though they fell short assassin.
e many as much as they possessed
) by comparing one with anothe
> they distributed fairly the publi
= burdens in this respect. Nov
l. each man determines for himsel
{ how much he shall be taxed ant
e his statement is very seldom
I questioned. So that how mucl
) each shall be assessed depends
L upon the avarice and the verac
S ity of each taxpayer. The con
II scientious man may put into tn
y list all he has, while anothe
: puts i'll half of his, thus imposin,
{ a penalty for veracity and offer
e ing a reward for falsehood. An
other feature of the present legis
y lation compels the man who ha'
| a mortgage on farm of 81 900
; to pay taxes on it. That is al
S right. But if the farm is worth
u $500 the farmer has to pay OF
+ that, thus paying on $3.50
l. while he has only $500 interest
S in it. Now this compared will
n the treatment of a man who
a owns $500 in value of persona
property, and who owing 81 ,OOC
! pays only on $500, is simply ar
/ outrage.