Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-05-28

of the engine. His jaw was fractured,
/ his ribs were crushed, both legs broken
below the knee, and his right arm was
ground tn a jelly. Death was instanta-
neous. Dioble had been out of work and
/ is believed to have become respondent
over bard times. He is also said to have
been deranged of late.
A very severe accident occurred in Wat
erbury Monday, May IS, while Mrs. w.
+. Davis was driving a spirited pair of
horses, taking some guests of the Water
bury Inn for an outing. While crossing
bridge on their return, one of the
horses became suddenly frightened and
py quick jump broke whiffietree. The
carriage was overturned, with Mrs. Davis
and Mrs. Grant beneath. Mrs. Grant
was severely injured. Both thighs were
broken and she suffered other painful in
juries. On account of her advanced age,
her injuries are serious. Mrs. Davis
thought herself uninjured, but after the
excitement was over found herself con-
the surrey, Mrs. Fl. l.. Farwell and Miss
Evelyn Lease, both of Montpelier, es-
capped without much injury.
A strange condition in the present liq-
uor law has just been discovered by one
of the license commissioners in Winoos-
XII. A mother applied to him to issue
a notice forbiding the sale of intoxicating
liquor to her son. When the commits
sioner turned to Section 5,225 of the Pub
lie Statutes he found that a parent was
given no power to secure such an order
from the commissioners. The section
reads, ssThe husband, wife, child, broth
er, sister, guardian or employer of per-
son may, in writing, notify board of Ii
cense commissioners to forbid the sale or
furnishing of Intoxicating liquors to such
person." The word parent is not includ-
ed. This act was scrutinized by critical
eyes before its passage. A subsequent
/ Legislature has amended it, but this omis-
sion, it is said, was not discovered until
now, or nearly four years after its pas
sage.
The recommendations CT the commits
sion appointed by Governor Proctor to
investigate the system of bookkeeping
and auditing now in force in the office of
the auditor of accounts were made public
4 last week. The commission, composed Of
1 Hon. j. A. DeBoer of Montpelier, Hon.
| DIN Merrill of Enosburg Falls and Hor-
ace F. Graham of Craftsbury, while espe-
cially commencing the service of Dewey
/ I. Hanley, deputy state auditor, and rec
/ ommending special recognition of the ex-
ira services he performed for the commits
/ sion, also recommends that the force in
the auditors office be increased so that
1 the business can be properly handled,
and that $500 be annually appropriated
/ for this purpose. The recommendations
made by the commission to the governor
are based upon the theory that no money
/ shall be paid out by the state treasurer
the claim.
| State Sues c. v. and Rutland Rwy.
Acknowledgement Clarke c. Fits OF
Brattleboro brought suit last week
against the Central Vermont Railway
company to recover 100000, and against
the Rutland Railroad company to recov-
err $50. 600, in behalf of the state for
taxes, which the state claims are due and
unpaid Both suits are returnable at the
August term of the Grand Isle county
court. The statute imposes an absolute
tax of per cent on the appraised value
of each railroad, which in the case of the
Central Vermont and its leased lines in
this state, is S91, 17a, but railroad cor
poration may, in lieu of the per cent
| tax, pay minimum rate of q per cent
on the gross earnings when they do not
exceed $4,000 per mile of the roadbed oil
each railroad located within the state.
Then this rate increases as the earnings
per mile increase.
The Central Vermont Railway company
for the year 1907 figured in all its side
tracks and spur tracks as roadbed, max
ing the roadbed in Vermont 410 miles
The returns previously given by this
company to the state commissioner OF
taxes made the mileage 297 miles. The
increase in roadbed increases the tax and
makes difference of $4,000 year.
The encouragement and commissioner
of state taxes contend that the mileage Of
2e7 miles is the correct basis upon which
the taxation should be figured, and they
further claim that inasmuch as the com
pany has not paid what is due on the
gross earnings it no longer has the option
to pay on the gross earnings, but mus
pay the l per cent tax, amounting t.
$50, 900 above what has already beer
paid.
The statute also imposes penalty O
800 day for the failure to pay wher
due, and the accrued penalties in this in
stance are figured at $4,000, but the
court has the right to remit the penalty
The Rutland Railroad company alst
elected to pay on the gross earnings
The law requires Inal the taxes DC pdlt
semi-annually and the Rutland compan,
claims the right to pay the minimum rat
of 20 per cent because the earnings TO
the semi-annual period are not in excess
of $4,000 mile, although the annua
earnings exceed that sum.
The commissioner of state taxes ant
the encouragement contend that tn
strict letter of the statute should be ad
: herei to in making the computation, tina
the yearly earnings of the Rutland rail
road do not come within the minimum
tax rate. and that the proper rate would
increase the company's taxes $4,000 I
year. They also contend that the com
J pany has no option but to pay the full
per cent tax on its valuation, making
: difference of $4,000, also the accrued
: penalties of 500 day.
Ladies' hair work. Mrs. III. FL. Bean
f Maynard, Mass.
. BROAD BROOK
Mrs. NJ. A. Cox has returned TO he
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