Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1904-10-27

annually expended in maintenance of road
bed. terminals and rolling stock: the aver
age expense Of operating such road. the
surplus or deficit resulting from it's past
operation; and the length OF time these
several conditions had existed, were all
carefully considered and compared
In other words 1t was the purpose OF
this department to so establish the APP
praisal of each road. that should all pay
the tax OF seven dollars per thousa I'D
OF the appraisal, eneh road would sc pay
ing a reasonably fair amount when com-
pared with all other railroads thus pay
ing.
A schedule showing the old appraisal,
If any. established prior to December.
i'N: and the new appraisal made at that
time is hereinafter submitted.
The Barre and Montpelier Traction ana
Power Co.. Brattleboro street Halfway
Co, Burlington Traction CO., Hoosac tim
mol and Wilmington r. r. Co. Military
Post street Railway CO.. and Springfield
Electric hallway Co. appealed from she
appraisal to the commission composed
Of the lieutenant governor secretary ~
State aud auditor of accounts. such COM
mission being created by statute 20 near
all appeals involving such appraisal. and
whose decision therein is final Three Of
such appeals were withdrawn, and three
heard and determined by such commits
sion. Upon hearing. the appraisal for
he Barre and Montpelier Traction and
Power 60, was affirmed by said commits
sion, and the appraisal for 'he Brattlc-
boro Street Railway Co. and the Spring
| field Electric Railway Co. were reduced
in amount as shown in said schadule.
RAILROAD TAXATION.
Al present there arc no provisions in
the law requiring railroad companies leas-
ing trackage rights from other railroad
companies, and using such traokaRe
right. Jointly with the lessor, to pay
taxes within this State. 1t is therefor.
respectfully submitted that the law should
be so amended that such trackage rights
may be appraised for the purposes Of
taxation.
It t. also Respectfully submitted that
section No. 20 of act No. 20. 1902 should
bc so amended that there may be M
question made by any railroad company
about the time at which the returns and
payments therein mentioned shall he
made
1t would seem just that the payments
covering two and one-half per cent. OF
the gross earning should he 'naae semi
annually. and at the same time that pay
ments upon taxes based upon appraishl'
are required to be made. This has beer
the uniform practice during the existence
of this system of railroad taxation, anc
has never been questioned but IN on'
or two instances. The law should b.
, made SO plain in this particular that Il
, cannot ne susceptible of more than one
construction.
INSURANCE.
In determining the amount of pre',iun
subject 10 taxation under the provisions
OF section RI. act "a 1902 all sums actual.
o paid for reinsurance on r1skN witnn TN
state by ono insurance company 10 IN
der the laws OF this State or tn ag.lt
within this State of foreign nSuranc
cumpa mics licensed to do business herein
may be deducted from the total amour
ot premiums on Vermont risks.
This provision was embodied in tn
law to deter companies from placing
rcinsur lnce with companies not aWhor2
ed to do business in this State. The re-
insurance heretofore reported has rot bee
large in amount but in most insta nee
has been placed through tho nome oftre
OF the companies placing or acceptn
"a such reinsurance.
. If tho law were amended that a
premiums for reinsurance paid to n com
@ panN authorized to do business in Yer
II mont might be deducted. whether rai
V through its authorized agents herein or I
Y the hon" office. it would mako but littl
+ difference with the amount of taxes there
h by affected.
4 As tn" l1W now stands, II Tho rflrsli
: ance transactions are conducted throug
tho home offices, ~ nearly all such tran
i sactions uSu0lly are, tho company plht
I Ina tn" reinsurance pays the tax of tw
per cent. upon the e:.tiT" premiums r,
t cciVed, and the company accepting IN
. reinsurance also pays two per cent. O
n such part OF tho original premium %
: turned over for tn. purchase OF reir
suranc", thereby suhjcc,inR all such prem
iums paid at tho home Office Of thu foreig
company to double taxation. Tho sua
eost'd amendment would obViatc d.'lo
taxation of such premiums with list,
loss to tho State.
PARLoR AND SLEEPING
CAR COMPANll':
since 1890 parlor and sleeping car coz.
pancS have been taxed ut the rate &c nv
per cent. OF their entire gross earning
on business done wholly witAin ,hIs Stat,
Very few passengers take a Tloeping
pprlnr car at a point in this State f.
- another located therein; and heGce near
>. all of tn" sleeping car business and
= large part of the rarlOr car bus;nci
goes utax"d because not done who'll
y within this state.
It would contravcne the federal consl
tuition to inpos" direct tax upon sue
- part Of its earnings as ar" intereta'
except II be done along the lines doptt
- in this state for railroad telephone rr
- telegraph business.
While Tho rate of five per ceNt. IL nighj
than any other rate Of taxation. set II
gross earnings from parlor and sioepit
car business done wholly within this st !,
are SO small that the tax is ins.galican