Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-01-14
ANOTHER TAX SUGGESTION.

Mr.. EDITOR IL believe that the
only true basis for taxation is a fair
and true valuation OF all the property
in the state, both real and personal.
just as soon as we begin class legisla-
ton, just so soo trouble begins.
Under our existing laws there is a
large amount OF property which does
not bear any OF the burdens Of taxa
ton, either for town or state, by rea-
son of the exemptions. The grand
list is the only means we have 10 raise
money to defray the expenses OF the
towns, and any laws which tend to
lessen the amount make an additional
burden upon the poor taxpayers.
The state legislature, in its sympa-
thy for the poor taxpayer, made a law
to exempt personal property to the
amount of debts owing, but the law
comes far short OF the expectations. as
| will try to demonstrate. Again, in
its sympathy, it has exempted the
right to deposits in savings banks to
the amount OF $1,000, and | think that
most monied men would be willing TO
make it $1,000, and this, to my mind,
is one of the causes of the depression
Unreal estate.
The great trouble with this act is the
poor have not the $1,000, and the rich
mar has. and if the latter has a wife
that he thinks a great deal of (and
most monied men haye) he will give
her $1,000 to deposit too and this
,no,aY = NOT anu hara6f 20 the fnmnc
in the way OF taxation.
What we would propose is to do
away with double taxation and ex-
emptions except the right to deposit
$500 in savings banks. A person who
has $500 in the savings bank should
be able to pay taxes on the remaining
property.
| will take my own town of Gran
willie to illustrate my theory; a town
with a small grand list and the people
heavily in debt; at least you would
think so if you should happen along
about the first OF April. | will use
$1,000 for list which is somewhat larger
than the true list. II takes about
$4,000 yearly to run the town which
means two hundred per cent on the
list.
We win suppose that Mr.. Buck has a
listed at $1,000 upon which be has
paid $500 he also has $500 personal
which makes a list, after de-
lueting his personal estate from the
$500 which he is owing. with poll
of 80, which will make a tax of
BIS. He is paying on 5000 which he
las not got. A man with a g list will
81 taxes.
We will suppose now that after
away with the double taxation
nd exemptions il will raise our list
'ne-half, which is "A low estimate. and I
We have a list of S2250. Let us see {
low how Mr.. Buck stands in regard to 4
His list would be $40 and on ,
he new list would have to raise about I
l.33 which would make a tax OF $
and on the 81 list the tax would 5
$500. c
Again we will take a person who
lands ven with the world and is pay
ne taxes upon what property he has. !
lis tarm Is listed at Sll00; his per- c
onal estate $500; poll $500; which
lakes a list of $22. Under the pres q
mt law his tax would be S44; under +
new law his list would be the same !
nd his tax 1926. 8
| cannot conceive of a case where
he person is paying taxes upon what v
roperty he has or more than he has {
.hlch this plan would not benefit u
ccording to the mount that it in S
'eased the grand list.
!. is said that there is a time when b
'rbearance ceases TO be a virtue and 5
the legislature of Vermont is liable 5
have many more of such sympa- 5
etio attacks | would advise the poor e
xpayers to leave the state while they /
money enough to get out. s
A. +. KENNEDY.
Granville, Jan. 3, 1904. 7