Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-11-13
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
Tho Hon. j. n. Walbridge Discusses tn /,
state Highway Tax and Communism.


per the question contained in recent
issue. under the title THE Spirit of Con-,
munism."
The article alluded to seemed to me to-
be fallacous in its roasonings and to cast
unjust reflection on the small towns, esi .,-
cially in Essex county. | am not in a.y
sense an advocate or paternalism. O.,
not encourage that selHshness or spirit
of dependence which prompts towns 10
ask State aid because they are burdcur.
with disastrous washouts and roads ar
cult to maintain except in case of dire
necessity.
Some years since the town Of Con-
cord suffered from a cloudburst, viii b
destroyed miles of good road, and swc't
out many bridges. There was no thong
OF asking State aid. but the town was
compelled to raise $500 on the grand H.,
to cover current expenses.
The article referred to says In substan''
that there is no difference in princI'
between the forcible distribution of a pa
Of the wealth of J. Pierpont Morg
among the people Of the Empire StatO
and the enactment of Ia W which CON
pels the millionaire of Rutland to help
build roads for a poor town in Essol
county" "The passage of such schemes
is communism. just so surely as would
he the taking Of wealth from the million
aire and distributing 1t for the benefit of
others. the difference being In degree
solely" 1t seems to me that the mere
statement OF this proposition Is its own
rcfutation. Are not the people Of Essex
county paying their share Of state taH.
a part Of which accrues to tho benefit o.
the Rutland millionaire in many way,
notably in the protection Of his person and
property by, state logislaton9 Within III"
! limits of Essex county there are locat I
! approximately ono hundred miles Of rail-
road and many stations Equity sccms -
require that this valuable real ostat"
should be taxed IN the town where It Il
! located some IF which bonded hea,.i1y it
aid Of it's construction but on the nloa -
convenience and cypediercy. tho LegislH-
| t,lre has doc~eed that this nroperrv srotii1
paw only State taxes This plan miniruizas
the State tax NJ the "Rutland million
aire" nj the expense Of citizens in "a poor
town IN Essex county" Take another II.
lustration.
In 1SSS tho representatives. Of the tov.s
| of Grand Isle county asked for m ammo
Ipriaton of 100000. 7 think 10 build I
bridge on Lake Charunlain. Tho bin was
reported favorable hut IN the absence ~
tho chairman ~ th, committee was re.
| fused n third reading Tho writer ther
representative from tho town IF Concord
moved n reconsidcra ton rrir1ariIv as nm
act Of courtesy to tho chairman also h..
cause II was expedlert that the hri 1e1
should he built if eyer whom tho T'.t.. 4
states rovornn'or+ was removing ro. 81,
from, tbo channel that could bo used v.it.
ont exnerso. for the foundations and Is.
cousa +ra committee rerortod II ae u rub-
Ito recoeeitv and ba7eet 70 that IA ~
the state.
The hill was enacted. and the hea ..''..
+axed farmers ~ tho moor towns Of r.
GOV county holncd nav for a public 49,.
located II, a distant and wealthy =arta.,
90 tho cta+e and IN IN, haro1ts Of Win u
,bev have ro-,or directly shared Tho v.ri-
tor of the editorial in irving to make ou-