Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-20
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
The Part Taken by Some of Our ver-
mont Authors in Literature.
(From the Shirt Of tho Age J

" TOHn INC SpiIll ol thc fsSe)
Has Vermont produced many writer's of
note? correspondent asks us this in
| teresting question. An examination of
the records of American literature shows
that Vermont stands we'll in this field.
Mr.. Oscar Fay Adams has compiled a
list of writer's which this country has
| produced who are entitled to be called
| authors" He mentions about 5000. If
we estimate the number Of those which
Vermont should have produced. using as
a basis the relative populations of the
fcountry at large-including Canada, as
Mr.. Adams docs in his list-and of Yer
mont, we find that Vermont should have
given birth to less than half of one per
cent of the whole 1900 writer's, or 80 AS
| a matter of fact, about 80 of all the
authors whom Mr.. Adams mentions were
| born in this State. BY rough estimate
we find that Vermont has given birth to
about one per cent of all the persons who
have been born in this country since it's
| first settlement On this basis Vermont
| should have produced only 90 authors en-
| titled to a place in Mr. Adamss book
Vermont then, has improved her oppor-
tunites. She has done her full duty and
| from five to two and a half times more
TAXATION OF MORTGAGES.
(From the Brattleboro Reformer)
1t is not too early to begin to hope for
and work for some legislative action by
we neNt General Assembly 10 reneVe
uoupIe taNation. According TO the pres
eht system IN vermont rnortgaged real
estate is taxed on the value of the prop
erty and on the value of the mortgage.
| This money loaned on real estate secured
w d i'iortsase. is taxed 10 the borrower
anu 10 me lehuer except When the lender
IS a pank or trust company The defect
II apparent me remedy is not apparent
m Ia Gbr he
li'inc' >" as 10 dlSpehse Justice In all
cases ne taxation law OF vermont is
Su'h tHat JUSTICE Is obtained III very Few
| CdScS' DouDie taxation makes dishonesty
Almost JustlIlanle ana Expresses the poor
al ihe expense oil the rlch.
ne ones most seriously affected are
INC FARMERS Inc aErlCuItural resources
OF Nermont are more thoroughly utilized
thail It's otheF natural advantages. The
farming elefnent is the most numerous
anu powerful, ana mas in its hands CON
tr"i OF the state Legislature and the
| ''ate government Inc only requisite to
procure a chahSe is the suggestion of
nettei law ana the CONVICTION among
,nc lar ihers that proposed law would
ne oet'er'
| 10 Understand all phases OF the taxa
tIon Propiehi IN It's relation to Vermont
| IL Is necessary TO have special experience
| ana training Ill law, IN collecting rev.
average farmer mas not the time nor the
| opportunity TO acquire such experience
anu framing MS business Is to work the
iarn ana pay the taxes, and with the
pest ul7poSltlon IN the world to better
thlhss, ne Is poWerless 1t must he re-
i'eih'titu 'Hdt sudden chanSe IN policy
regarding so important question is un-
utsr""le ana Woulu create considerable
dls'ress uhtll II became well established
~ III inc beginning taxation had been
justly apporuoned we should have been
spared much trouble now. But, admit
tlnS' AS everyone does, That our present
system is laulty' Is II wise or Kind to
those VINO come after us to fold our hands
an" WINNIE, hotiHhS can DE done, be
cause we nave become so accustomed to
thc present system?
Legislature next fan a man who is com.
pctcnt to discus. the question of taxation
who is willing to devote time and thought
so run of law that he can't norceive ms
| tice. a farmer. perhaps. who is some
what better Informed than the rest Of Ms
a doctor, a minister. a merchant a dem.
! ocrat, republican. any one who is
eminent for wisdom and virtue !" Roar
| in mind the Importance of the questions
which come before the General Assembly
and stop sending representative because
Inc mo.t reasonable idea ,o bo,o ,.o+
/ cncounto red in the multitude of sugges-
! tons for the relief of double taxation is
| the simple one that the lender on "A mort
gage shall pay taxes on it at its actual
value, and the borrower shall pay on the
| remaining value of the property if such
there be. Thus a mortgage on real estate
would he an Offset to the property of the
| mortgagor as il is now on personal es-
| tate. This plan has serious difficulties
which would in time adjust themselves.
| but it is based on the principle that ach
| should pay on what he owns. If the tax
| rate should rise it would not make the
amount of the tax on mortgaged real es-
| tate more, but would make the taxes on
| other kinds of property more. 1t is about
| time that some of the other kinds of
property bore an equal share in taxation
,,.r r,,, ,tc,, 1.ox.r.,o, or, ,,,,
n,t,II1nInrrs r.
ii'iiii i-NH''
(From the Montpelier Journal)
re- 1....-... ~, =. ., ~
,.,,. ~ az ..eeus ~ 80 as
81 ,'"lS W ""' anu 'e e,ei, Niisnt pc
,t', a. ~ VI VIC = Hi,ipi,lles' 'uuse
-l.'l' w - F'""'"iS "''t'" " DC
,,, huI' s'ep 'eAl ~ tne
~ 80 ms - " coi'u',ioll ma Mou'u ne
, 81. n''r n o,i''