Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-11-05
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
Considerations in Relation 20 OHscts
for Debts in Taxation.
From the Randolph IIo-aid.)

This paper took stand carly In cpposi-
ton to the recommendation of the special
tax commission that the privilege OF off
set for debts owing should be abolished.
Now that Governor Prouty has en-
dorsed tie idea. ana bills are already m
10 carry into effect, we stil oppose It,
elieving such a change In the tax laws
would result in adding injustice to injus-
tice, as it relates to debtors. and by In
creasins their burden would tend 20 tho
general III.
Neither tn. tex commission nor Gov
ernor Prouty claims that the proposition
Is right In theory. or ba Sed on correct
principles. In fact the Governor admits
that in theory 1t Is not absolutely cor
rect but both maintain that In practice
II ~ou;-; como nearer being Just and
equitable to the wltAlc body OF taxpayers
than the present law.
Nobody over contended that the pres
cnt law wns either perfect in theory, cr
that 1t worked even near approach 10
Justice and equality In operation But.
bad as II is. il can ne made worse. and
this will be shown when the propos cd
change goes into effect and every debtor
r. virtually taxed D. all his debts, az
though Z were free property.
The chief contention OF the advocates
OF q change H. that the offse. privilege ,s
abused that p"oplc magnify their debts
In order to extlnEuish, ns far as thoy can.
their taxable property that merchants,
especially, place orders for goods about
April I and claim to be owing for them
before they are received and subject 20
taxation, and that the grand list Is de-
pleted by these and other means TO the
extent 81 several million dollars, thus IN.
creasinG tho tax rate at the expense OF
the honest people who actually pay on
what they have
II will not be denied that such abuses
DO exist. and that the grand list Is mate
rally affected thereby. But what steps
do we take to prevent the abuses? Al
most none Except in interchange with
In the State between listers Of the vari-
Gus towns Of list 81 debts due and ow-
Ing. there is no check whatever upon the
taxpayer-he can claim what he pleases.
and unless contrary returns come from
other parts Of the state his sworn record
Is accepted. Experience shows that this
is insufficient Unfortunately. people will
lie in their tax inventories ana swear
to II. IL they arc pretty certain not to We |
caught And as It /, now. they are not
caught
II Ny Jones claims 10 be owing Mr..
Smith. who lives in Montana $1,000. the
listers take his word and stop there. n
Brown & Robinson. dry goods dealers,
claim to he owing Fox g. Tippin Of New
York. wholesalers s. coo for goods April |
LIST, their word Is taken. There Is no !
further investigation. This is loose and |
wrong. II opens the door to the abuses !
complained of. Human nature would be |
further advanced than ii IS If 1t failed 20 |
profit in some cases.
Now there are various ways to close |
this door far short Of abolishing the
privilege outright. To begin with. the
board Of listers ought not to allow any
offsets whatever until the taxpayer has
appeared before the board. sitting regu-
larry. and has given evidence under YER
bal oath setting forth distinctly 10 whom
he is indebted. how ana when the debt
was incurred and presenting some corrob
orative proof by writing. document. bill
or note. He should be questioned closely !
and carefully by the listers and time
enough taker afterws I'd to give due con-
alteration and. If desired, investigation,
into the matter. In the case Of mer-
hants til, bills of gods for which Off
gets are claime1 shouts be produced and
the fact Of their arrival or non-arrival on
April LIST fully established. II men have
time enough to visit the town clerks
Office and pay a dog license once year
Il cannot be a great hardship to attend
ono hearing before the listers TO estab-
ISL their offsets. II this ,lan. fairly tried
ont shoule no: avail. then no offsest
should be allowed fo- debts owing out
side the Sta'a. which class II IS some
times hard TO trace. Blu. We believe It
would await. and that the latter step
would never he taken.
With the abuses OF the offset removed
there can be no argument against IT, for
II is essentially right. 4 man heavily
plunged In debt should be taxed not on
what he has In his possession. but on
what ne owns above his Indebtedness.
That is his real property he phys inter
est, usually, on what he holds unpaid for
II is tremendous hardship for many a
debtor to meet his interest, his insurance
and other fixed charges, and even 70 nay
taxes on the part he owns clear II forced
to iay also on the oncumbcred part, It
must mean ruin 10 many.
For years the injustice Of repuiring the
mortgagor Of firm property or other real
eStHte 10 pear lbN's on mo appraised
value Of the whole property has been seen
and recognized and deplored ana declared
against In party reforms. Now II Is
propsed-not TO rectify that wrons--but
to 40 the same thing with personal prop
erty-double taxation for all kinds Of
debt
rTp to INV. the mortgaged farmer, de-
nice the right TO offset against his real es-
tate. can offset ngainst Ms stock. produce,
tools and other property up 10 the a.
mount Of their appraisal. II this change
Is made, he can do that no longer.
How much have YOU got here" the
lister would ask next spring
ooh, my farm. so much: stock. so
much; produce so much" the farmer
will answer
"All right good day"
'But 7 owe 30 much" the farmer will
add
NO matter; that doesn't count this
wear; law was 'mended last fan soft they
amt no osrcttin' now"
GFrom the Londonderry Sifter)
''If the present Legislature would pass
bill carrying with 1t an appropriation
OF three thousand dollars for permanent
State road, the amount to bc spent dur
Ing the next two years. would mean an
advanced step This amount would build
many miles OF road. Good roads benefit