Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-09-02

which bears the ear marks of honesty,
and which the despicable odor of mis-
A MATTER THE AGENT EvADEO,
In his evasive attack on the admins |
tration of the Republican party IN
Vermont, the Democratic advertising |
agent entirely avoided some facts con-
corning State expenses and their rela-
tion TO State taxes which are of real in
terest TO the voters of Vermont, ana
which show that the Republicans nave
striven to lift the burden
of taxation from the people with con-
spicuous success. Let us look at the
years 1882 and 1904 from another
standpoint and judge just why the
Democratic advertising agent did not
call the attention of Vermont voters TO
this particular matter.
During the two years term ending
July 81, 1882, THE EXCESS OF EN-
PENSES OVER RECEIPTS WAS
THE ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF $751;
1Sl. AZ and after the people had PAID
DIRECT STATE TAX OF S464,953.19,
or about $50 FOR EVERY MAN,
WOMAN AND CHILD IN THE
STATE, there was still a SHORTAGE
OF $1O2, 427.G3.
During the two years term ending
June 80. 1904. there was technical
deficit of very few thousand dollars,
and NOT A SINGLE CENT WAS
PAID into the treasury In the shape
of a DIRECT STATE TAX upon the
people, AND NO STATE TANES
WILL BE REQUIRED FOR THE
NEXT TWO YEARS. What matters
ii to the taxpayers of Vermont If State
expenses do increase as the State ad-
vances, if the Republican party can
and has legislated the burden of taxa
ton from the shoulders of the people
to the shoulders of the corporations
where it belongs. This is a feat in the
mana cement of State affairs that can
not but receive the praise of every
ordinary taxpayer, be he Republican.
Democrat. Prohibitionist, or Socialist,
and according to the Democratic ad-
vertising agent the Republican party
is entirely responsible for 1t, because
be says they have been in absolute
control during the period mentioned
WHAT WILL YOU GUT OUT7
The voters of Vermont are sure of one
thing at least, and that is, the Legisla-
ture will always enact the will of the
people if such course is right and hon
orable in every way. In fact this is
particularly true of the General Assem-
bly, of Vermont, because the men who
compose it are direct from the people
and no legislators in tue world are so
closely in touch with their constituents
as they. This being the fact the voters
of Vermont can strike from the above
list, representing increased expenses,
any or all the items they choose, for
the legislators will obey them in all
honorable requests.
Keeping in mind that the administra-
ton of Vermonts government does not
cost the taxpayers single cent in di-
rect taxes, what shall we strike out
of the list?
AS before noted the increase in the
cost of caring for the insane is entirely
due to the fact that whereas in 1882
the various towns cared for their in.
sane at home or in Brattleboro as they
could with least expense, in 1904 the
entire burden was carried by the State
WITHOUT A STATE TAX.
1t would be idle to assert that any
voter in Vermont will advocate going
back to the town system in caring fol
the insane. An example of single
town will illustrate the folly of such {
course. In 1882 Chelsea maintained
two insane people at Brattleboro at q
cost of about $500. In 1904 Chelsea ha(
ten insane persons being cared for by
the State free of expense to the tow
WITHOUT A STATE TAX.
In 1882 Vermont let her veterans Of
the Civil war care for themselves Sc
far as the State was concerned. Ii
1904 the State paid $11 ,2S7.5O as hel
share of maintaining the Soldiers
Home at Bennington. Is there Demo
crat in the State who will, openly sa,
this 4 IN OF eNpensc 40 d pat OF the Re-
publican system of robbery, inasmuch
Is it is maintained entirely WITHOUT
A STATE TAX?
The various school appropriations
might be cut to the old time figure and
the wheels of progress turned back or
stopped, but who vii. be the first to
advise it, especially as the bill is paid
WITHOUT A STATE TAX.
We might go on through the whole
list, and perhaps it may be well to nut
the knife to some of the appropriations
mentioned. (The Republican platform
mas plank upon which this can and
VIII be done if it is for the best interests
OF the State). Some of the increases
mentioned above originated with Demo
Gratis, some with Republicans, none
were strictly party measures, and all
were paid WITHOUT A STATE TAX
FINALLY it may be said that the ex
penses of commonwealth in these
latter days are bound to increase. The
trend OF civil government in Vermont il
particular is in the direction of the
state assuming the burden of the towns
especially the smaller ones, and this III
all probability will continue, for what
town in Vermont will raise an objection
SO long as it is done WITHOUT A
STATE TAX.