Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1898-12-02

We clip the following from the Bur-
lington News. There is but one opinion
about either the monstrous immortality
or infinite foolishness of the proposed
law:
1t makes Vermonter's ears Jingle to
read the comments of the leading news
papers of the country on the bill exempt
ing milliOnaires from taxation in Yer
mont. The comments are all one way.
All the papers treat the bill as unjust,
demoralizing and in the highest degree
immoral. AS a sample, and in order that
our Vermonters may know the sentiment
of the great outside world, we reprint the
following editorial article from the New
York Journal:
ANY millionaire who wants to dodge his
taxes ought to live I'm Vermont.
ANY man of slender means who dOesn t
want to pay millioaire's taxes for him had
better avoid Vermont.
As there are more men of slender means
than there are milliOnaires, the recognition
of these facts will probably expedite the
depopulation of Vermont, which has been
proceeding at moderate rate for some
years.
But TO proceed from the general to the
particular: The governor of Vermont has
thought it wise policy to invite millionaires
to reside in the state over which he tenn.
pOrarly presides and to offer them induce
mcnts i'm the way of communication rates on
taxes. Under his benevolent system any
nonresident millionaire desiring to live in
Vermont can make n 30-year contract with
the state board of tax examiners for an
annual tax during that period. As the
avo wed purpose is TO lure the thrifty million
aire. the bargain, il may be assumed, Will
not be a stitf one on the states part Any
New Yorker who wants to dodge his taxes is
invited to take up legal domcile in Yer.
mont and shield his evasion of the tir-t of all
public duties behind the power of "a sovereign
state.
1t is true that this plan Is not yet law,
but the governor has suggested II ana one
house of the legislature has adopted it. If L.
becomes "A law it will
Make the state a refuse of tax dodgers
from all parts of the nation.
2.-Greatly facilitate the development or
huge landed estates to the detriment of local
trade and prosperity.
If that is the sort of contribution Vermont
wants TO make TO American liberty the
temper of her people has char ged since the
days when they payed manly part in the
revolt against British tyranny.
The Hartford COurant-one of the alb
lest papers in the country-is equally en-
phatic in consideration of Vermont's
new departure. 1t says:
One of the most contemplate figures of
these daysis the rich tax.doger. Protected
by the law in the possession of property that
too often Is his legally rather than morally,
he devotes time and money to avoiding the
payment of his proper share of the cost of
maintaining the government that ables him
to enjoy what he has. 1t is the meanest kind
of ingratitude. We see in and about New
York, for instance, men, who do not know
how to use their large surplus income,
fighting the tax collector through court after
court, while men of slim purses have to pay
their full assessment, which is more than
their proper share and heavy burden.
Toleratng this sort of thing is bad enough.
Encouraging it by law is both serious and
ridiculous. And that appears to be what
they are undertaking in Vermont This is Il
SCENE to induce the immigration of the rich
taXdOger by promising to let him dodge.
What an influx of noble public spirit such Il
pc nuation i'll bring with it
If an increase of the tax rate is made
necessary by the peril of the state or the
country, how quickly they will rally in town
meeting to announce that this does not
concern them, because they have n contract
as to their taxes! If ii costs more than eX-
pected to lay sewers for carrying disease
from their doors, to maint In the fire de-
partment for protecting their property, or to
paw the militia or the police for protecting
their persons, what will that matter to them ?
Their bargain Will stand for 30 years. If this
throws an unbearable burden on the poor,
then the poor will have their usual remedy.
They can quit and the wealthy immigrant
can buy up Tor preserves the lands that are
thus deserted.
OF course. the scheme cannot work, even if
the bill passes bo h houses and is signed by
the governor. Its principle is repugnant to
justice; and the final courts, If not those of
the state, would declare ii unconstitutional.
Imagine rich spectators advertising for
proposals from legislatures to see which
state will take them as citizens for the next
ship that would a sure. Vermont may well
be ashamed of such measure. If her own
people are willing to tax themselves extra
in order that the very rich of other states may
find shelter from the fair burdens of citizen.
ship, they must be queer lot.