Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-10-14
The Question of the Hour.

In view Of the remarkable depreciation
in the value OF real estate in Vermont dur.
ing the last few years it becomes the ques.
tion of the hour to ascertain the cause and
to find some remedy for this serious draw.
back to the prosperity of our native state.
One of the causes Of this depreciation
is undoubtedly unequal taxation. But
very few young men at the present day
! would care to involve themselves i'm debt
| for a farm or other real estate, as under
| the present systemof tax alton there would
| be but little prospect of his being able TO
call it his own. What inducement shall
we offer him to enlist his energies in the
| building up of the prosperity of his native
state and remaining as one of her honored
citizens? AS aborer he pays only a
small tax, aud should he be called on to
assume double burden in seeking a home
for himself and family? In justice to him
we claim that he should not he required to
assume any more OF the burden of taxa
ton than lie has an interest in the real es-
tate of which h becomes the purchaser
Suppose he agrees to pay $500 for real es-
tate and makes payment Of 500, then
he holds that interest in his home and
! should be required TO pay his tax only in
proportion to that interest
Can this be done? Can the problem of
double taxation be solved? | assume that
1t can if we put forth the energy in pro-
portion TO the magnitude of the interest
involved. Massachusetts has by legisla-
ton made a step towards the elimination
OF this burden and shall not Vermont com
plete the measure aud bring back prosperi-
ty to her homes? Can this be accomplish.
ed by legislation? | think it can. but il
must be by men who have vital interest
in farming industry and the prosperity of
their native safe.
II seems to III, that previous committees
! of the Legislature, instead of taking the
bull by the horns and hanging on, have
been chasing him round by the tail En-.
ergy wins, gentlemen, and requires effort
how? Let committee be appointed by
the governor to consider the M after an to
serve not merely through the session but
during the vacancy, and report to the next
legislature after a thorough investigation
of :he subject. think 10y comparing the
different laws on the subject through the
Union and consulting the views of promi-
nent and interested farmers they NAV be
able To arrive at some definite conclusion,
II, as | have said, they devote their whole
energies to the matter with a d-termna-
to- 10 solve the problem. Objections,
How about the list? Let the real estate
b put into the list at the lowest cash val
ue and conform nearly with the price paid
by the purchaser Let the list be set to
both parties as they have an interest In the
same, and each pay their tax in proportion
TO that interest. This can be done by
making bracket on the real estate boon
as is now done for partners, and carrying
each value TO the final column The eff.
feet would be TO put the personal property
into the list, Unless the purchaser was ow-
ing for the same, when he could Cffset IL
as at present. or course no mortgages on
the property go into he list. as every man
pays on what he owns or has an interest
in the property. Objection No. l might
be that real estate is only appraised
qua1rennially, and the purchaser might
pay during that time. But this could be
remedied at the next appraisal and during
that time the mortgage would have his
money at interest, which would more than
balance the taxes.
Objection No. 2 II the purchaser
should pay more than the list price, what
then? Why, he would have the benefit of
taxes and the selling party OF the interest
on the money. What il the price was be-
low the list? Then the seller would get
the benefit on the taxes and the buyer of
the reduced price, though the supposition
is that the place stand on the list at the
price paid. This may not be a solution,
but hope | have shown to you that
take an Interest in the welfare of my ma
tive state and her future prosperity.
HENRY A. CARPENTER.
Newfane, VI