St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-12-23


creating a commission to administer the
tax laws. In fairness to these members
who have once voted against abolishine
offsets it must be said that the Offset
bill, which was killed, stood alone, and
it has since been found that many Of
them voted against it because there was
no assurance that the intangibles bill
would pass. They did not want to
abolish Offsets unless they had some
assurance that they were going to get
the benefit of lower rate of interest
Therefore, the committee propose to
combine the bills so that il one passes
the other will also pass. This new
committee on taxation is composed O
the eight members of the committee who
! first reported the bills and % members
who are on record as voting against the
offset bill. If the % members can agree
with the eight it is practically certain
that the report they submit will be
accepted by the House. Their proposal
to permit man to Offset his debts to
the amount of $1,000 will let in practi
cally all of the farmers and poor men to
the extent of their whole debt, but will
prevent the gross abuses practiced by
the merchant and manufacturer. While
it is plain to be seen that this is a com
promise measure and the principle is as
wrong as under the existing law, yet the
many abuses will be impossible and the
farmer will get an advantage over the
merchant and manufacturer. But even
at that, it would have to stay on the
statute books for 20 years in order to
even up the advantage
The purity of election bills will not get
through without a struggle. They con-
tain some very stringent features among
which is the clause forbidding the free
transportation of voters to and from the
polls. The public utilities bill, putting
all public service corporations under the
supervision of the railroad commission.
will be fought to the bitter end by the
telephone companies. This has already
been discussed through these columns
and the matter stands the same as it did
at that time Several employers liability
measures have been introduced, but the
one most likely to pass is the one apply
ing only to corporations. The Normal
school question is yet unsettled. Some
favor an appropriation OF $4,000 to
FIX up one of the present schools. Others
have in view more elaborate school
building which shall be in keeping with
schools of other states and they think an
appropriation of $4,000 at this time
will delay for long time any further
action toward one central frst-class
school The taxation of railroads,
although at first not supposed to be a
very serious measure, has assumed pro.
portions which make it serious matter
for the railroads of the state Mr.. Howe
of St. Iohnsburv introduced a bill pro.
viding that railroads should pay a tax
of $3.50 on each $1,000 of their APP.
praisal. The bill was reported adversely
by the committee on railroads, but Mr..
Howe carried the fight on to the floor OF
the house and showed that the aver.
age tax rate in the state is about SIG on
$1,000 and that heretofore the railroads
are only paying about IS. 1t being gen.
orally understood that railroads are
good paying properties, he did not see
why they should not pay at least three.
fourths as much tax as the farmer, mer.
chant and manufacturer. The house
heard strong arguments on both sides
and passed the bill by an overwhelming
majority of more than four to one.
On Thursday a committee was ap.
pointed to take an account of stock and
see what prospects there were for final
adjournment before Christmas. This
committee soon reported there was nc
possibility of doing good work and ad
journing before the holidays. Thereupon
it was decided to take vacation of two
weeks. When the legislature adjourned
Saturday morning it was to recOnvene
again on Monday evening. January 4
This vacation will do the members much
good There is no doubt that many ot
the farmers need a rest and a chance to
stretch themselves. 1t is no Joke to sit
at desk even five hours day and
listen to the dry oratory which must
necessarily accompany many of the
measures which are about to become a
law. 1t is fact that many of the mem
bers must attend committee meetings
until late at night and when they final
ly get a chance TO get to bed they are as
tired as after a long hard days work
upon the farm.