Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-10-17
TO INCREASE THE REVENUE
OF THE STATE.

|
The first of two important subjects
is means of increasing the revenue
of the State There are two ways by
which this might be accomplished,
either to decrease the expenses or to
increase the income. In either way,
the net revenue available will be in
creased. As already stated, have not
yet had time or opportunity to go into
the detail of operation of the various
State institutions nor the cost of the
State Government sufficiently to feel
competent to advise on this subject;
later propose to do so and possibly
may have something to say, but speak
ing generally, do not believe the ex-
penses of the State institutions can be
materially cut down. There is no State
in the Union where every dollar thus
expended is made to go further than
in Vermont, in my Judgment. and it
may be possible the expenses are al
ready cut down a little too low for the
best results to the State.
In respect to the revenue, however,
there is no opportunity for improve
ment. That available to the State from
taxation is about half million dol
lars each year; $3.50, 900 of this sum is
raised by a tax on corporations and
other similar groups of persons each
year, and the balance, ($125, 900 a year,
is raised by tax on the people of the
State. 1t would be, in my judgment,
unfair and unnecessary to tax the
people for State expenses more than
this sum. Rather the tax ought to be
wiped out altogether. The people are
already paying taxes enough. Nor as
at present advised do think the tax
ought to be increased. It's a serious
question whether these institutions
also are not, as a matter of fairness
and Justice, all around, contributing
more than their full share to the sup
port of the State government. Nor, as
between such institutions, do I think
there is great inequality in the amount
contributed. Each group of persons
under the corporation tax law in COM
parison to the others, seems to me to
be bearing it's fair share of the burden
of taxation so that it is necessary to
look elsewhere for an increase of rev.
enue
In many of our sister States there
has been radical and extreme legisla-
ton with a view to reach the estates
of rich people; whereby Inheritance
taxes, income taxes are imposed on
this class of people to their infinite
distrust and annoyance. Legislation
of this character is growing in sever
ity and volume, with the result that,
upon good reason or otherwise, great
many fortunes, and innumerable small
ones, are being driven from those
States into other States where the
laws are less drastic-or out of the
United States altogether. Such for
tunes will never locate permanently
until they have some harbor where
they can anchor in safety, and where
they shall be insured against attacks
from what they deem, justly or un-
justly, extreme legislation.
It is with a view to inducing such
storm driven individuals who are
give the State of Vermont the benefit
of their wealth and receive in return
that safe and certain protection which
this State can give as we'll or better
than any state in the Union, that I
suggest the ACCESSIBILITY of adding to
the present corporation tax law a
provision that shall allow any non
resident, who may hereafter become
a resident of the State, the privilege
of entering into contract with the
State under it's seal for term of
years, say 80, whereby PERSONS tax
es shall be fixed at a specified sum
annually, such fixed sum to be meas
ured by percentage of his sworn in
come Or to be an amount agreed upon
between a commission appointed by
the Legislature and the party who
avails himself of this law. Such sum
would be in lieu of all other State or
local taxes on his personal estate, and
to be paid directly to the treasurer of
the State for it's benefit annually, the
fundame ntal idea being that non
resident may come here, and before
assuming the responsibilities of citi-
zenship, may receive contract that
the State will tax such person an an
nual specific sum to be agreed upon
and no more for the term of his con-
tract. Once the contract is signed by
the State the non resident becomes
resident and pays his annual fixed
sum and is bothered no more pending