The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-08-31
Absurdities Proposed.

Editor Of Wdtchmdn:-The commu-
nication in your paper of August II, on
"Absurdities in Our Tax Laws is sug-
gestive of the remark of Josh Billings
10 Ingersoll after hearing the lecture of
the distinguished skeptic on "The Mis-
takes of Moses" He said, in sub.
stance: II was interested in your little
talk, but would give three to one to
hear Old Moses on the mistakes of
IDgersoll."
1t is true that there are absurdities
in our tax laws, but If they are as album
dant as in the communication of "E. F.
p" taxes and governments had
better be abolished. He says: "Oue
absurdity is in holding that tax for
certain purposes is debt, but for
certain other purposes is not debt"
AS he does not attempt to explain
that statement, we may infer that he
acted on the theory that discretion is
the better part of valor," aud hence
that he had better not attempt an ex-
PLANTATION.
Another statement on par with the
above Is: "The laws enabling creditors
to collect ordinary debts are much
more effective than those given to
towns to collect taxes" The average
citizen and taxpayer will hesitate long
before taking this for granted, and then
will decide against it.
Again he says: "Our practice as to
collecting tax seems to be based on
the theory that the grand list is the
real tax, and hence if this list is found
defective the tax fails" Here he
seems to have put the cart before the
horse, or turned the whole thing bot
tom up. The business of the listers is
to make just list, and they are sup
posed to understand their business. If
legally -defective list could be used as
basis for taxation, it would encourage
a want of care on the part Of listers
and the resulting injustice would be
greater than making void tax assessed
on an illegal list.
make no issue with him as to the
want of value of an oath in a tax re-
turn, or, as l would state it, as affixed
to list. 1t is an absurd thing to do or
require. If all property was taxed
once and only once, there would be no
occasion for such requirement. Prop
erty cannot well be concealed 1t il
only fabrtcdttOnS of property that can
be concealed.
While / claim that all of "E. F. IS"
proposed amemendments are absurd,
the worst of all is number four, where
he proposes TO present claim by q
town against dead mans estate for all
his delinquencies in giving his lists, to.
gether with number three, that there
should be no statute of Limitation in
20 4 lc
case of an individual who has time to
present his claims while his debtor is
alive, but neglects to do it because he
fears to face such debtor with his alb
surd claim. Such claims as those are
summary disallowed by an average
board of commissioners.
No one can object to "E. F. p. 50
statement, quoted from Ex-Presiden
Harrison, "that there is no moral dis
tinction between frauds against the
public revenue and theft" so long at
that public revenue is just and equi
table, but when it is tainted itself
with frauds, jobbery and the greed Of
State officials, when laws are made for
the benefit of cliques and private asso-
Citations to the disadvantage of the peo-
pie generally, -as many believe to be
the case with some of the fish and game
laws, that they are for the official benz e.
fit of the fish and game league-and
when they pass laws that are them
selves of the nature of theft, and of the
sneak thief variety, as is the case with
inheritance tax laws, it is time to call
halt, it is time for revolution.
Co.'S.
Gaysville, VT, August 10, 1898.