St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-10-09

credit was given, and the credit, are botf
taxed.
i. should pay taxes on the credit, fol-
A. pays him interest with WI lch 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 oWei
for 1t besides. 1t Is conceded that this
feature of our tax system is wrong, ano
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 beer
suspected Of making bad matter worse
Remember it Is the debtor that should be
relieved. If farm mortgage Indebted
ness wherever held, were taxed against
the mortgage, the tax paid by the mort
gagor and deducted by him in settling
with the mortgage, and the mortgagef
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
mortgagor and MORTGAGE, would theL
pay on what they respectfully held ir
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
feet your earnest attention, and unless
satisfied it is a wrong, without remedy
provide necessary legislation.
state Expenses.
Next in Importance to income are eX-
penditures.
A contentnd treasury must receive
more than it disburses.
The income should be sufficient to meet
the proper needs of the state. In repre-.
sentng 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 $l,ll009I56, being the
largest Of any in our history. The pre-
ceding term cost $92O,3974S, and the next
term preceding that cost $l,O3l, 1902,
These are large biennial expenditures
They should be decreased instead of in.
creased. The expenses of the state have
gradually augmented during the last
"a years; 50 have our public gratuites
and institutions The increase of eX-
penses, apprehend, has been principally
occasioncd 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 and adorn our civilization.
Without prejudice to the past, or al
lowing it to influence the present, let us
consider the various eX-
pcnses of the state and according to the
times, fearlessly and fairly adjust each
item.
Previous to 1880, our state tax averaged
about 69 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, 1t has been fol
what we need.
State Auditors Report.
The state auditors concise and abla
report is an instructive bill of particu-
lars, showing where and for what, the
public money is used. 1t is not con-
venent 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
of expense and the auditor report, show
Ing plainly what you ought to know upon
this subject, fortunately renders such q
mention unnecessary | respectfully re-
fer you to it, urging upon your attention
the business it presents, 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 in
creased without apparent reason. The
fees paid by the state in state cases tol
the biennial period Just closed, amounts
to 81, SAB, and for defending respondents
SO, 2S6. A limitation placed upon these
fees might do justice and make a say.
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 to
state institutions and necessary to theil
preservation or more economical man
agement, will be expected,
We are committed to care for our own
and an economical provision of a busi-
nesslke character, for all state insttu-
TONS is an evident duty
In conldeflnS retfenchment 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 to
the best of your ability.
Roads and state Road Commission.
Ig n ipl rNf, al, Al.
and poor roads are heavy tax upon any
community. A general interest in road
Improvement exists throughout the
states. Early in our history national
appropriations were made for interstate
turnpikes, then came railroad building
absorbing all thOught concerning tray.