Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1906-08-23

flat as a FOUNDER with the publication
of this letter.
THAT HORRIBLE TAX QUESTION.
Mr.. EproR.-
As the various political parties Of
Vermont have adopted platforms prom
Using 10 equaliZe taxation, II behOoyes
the people to get legislators that Will
give us a better, and not a worse, law
than the one now in force, and right
here let me say that | am not a cdndi-
date Tor any office and do lot write
this article seeking votes.
The object claimed for making a
change is to do away with double
taxation so called), but the method
adopted for doing this should equally
tax the wealth OF each individual, d.
vide the burden between the different
towns and districts in proportion to
the wealth that Is contained within the
limits Of each town and distric and
avoid all determinations against any
class Of citizens OF any class Of proper
~. To DO this, we must tax the wealth
OF each taxpayer, instead OF the prop
erty in his possession, regardless OF
whether that property is paid for or
not To find his wealth, IL is necessa-
rs 10 appraise all his property At lis
true value in money and deduct his
debts owing from That amount To
tax II II do not include corporation
property, we have a special law for tax
ing thar we must set The balance which
is. his wealth, in the list where it be-
longs Now the question arises, Where
does il belong
A long practical experience has
shown us that all visible property
should be set in the list In the town,
village, fire and school district where
the property is situated and all inyisi-
BILE property In the town, village, Hre
and scnoOi district where the owner
resides, ii he resides in the state.
That is now the law, and that would
set all the property within the limits OF
any town or district into the list in
such district, and give each taxpayer
the benefit secured by any local tax,
and give every voter the right 10 vote
tor or against any tax that may De as
sessed upon bis property, unless be
from choice may wish 10 own some
property where ne cannot vote.
All admit That property should be so
set, as il is impossible to equilize the
tax between the taxpayers and between
the different towns and districts, unless
it is so set. Besides, unless II is so set.
il gives others the benefit OF the tax.
and the right 10 vote heavy taxes upon
that property, and no chance Tor the
ownerto vote against Il. I'm a small
way, this would be taxation without
representation which our ancestors
fought a seven-year war rather than
submit to.
Now ii we tax all property, both Wis
IDLE and invisible. and set il in the list
as the law provides, and allow no de-
auctions Tor debts owing, we create
what Is called double taxation"
and if we set all invisible prom.
erty in the list in the town or district
where the owner resides. (Which we
should) it is impossible to avoid .'dou-
BILE taxation unless we allow this de-
duction irom the taxable estate instead
OF the personal estate, and ii we try 10
avoid It by setting invisible property
in some town or district where the
owner does not reside, or If we do not
set it in any district, by not taxing il
at all, as the Clement plan proposes.
(unless the debtor aud creditor both
live IN the same town, village. fire and
school district we merely SHIFT this
unjust burden IRON the back of the
sufferer of onto innocent parties.
For proof Of this. let US illustrate.
and keep in mind that a law that will
work with equity must work in all
cases in both large or small towns or
districts, and 10 residents and non-res-
ldents OF each town or district. Now.
Mr.. Editor, supposing | have farm
IN Chelsea, appraised at $1,000, and
You have a mortgage on il OF Il 200
and You rent a house of Mr.. 4 81
Randolph, and live there, said house i
appraised at $1,000, and this was all
the taxable property and all the wealth
that each Of rs three own, which was
$1,000 each. and we were an the taypav-
ers in both towns, and neither Of Us a
poll tax payer. In justice each of rs
should have a grand list Of $40. CbeI-
sea a grand list OF $40 and Randolph
a grand list OF so Under the present
law, each Of You two would have a
correct list Of SO and Randolph a cor
rect grand list Of $50. which would
represent the wealth Of each, and AN
the wealth within the limits of the
town in this Illustration, and Chelsea
would have an unjust grand list of so
and | should have an unjust list OF 800
which would be twice the amount =,
my wealth, and twice the wealth with
IN the limits Of Chelsea, with vour
mortgage on my farm. Now to divide