Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1908-05-25

1855, net gain Iduring the year Of
"a. There We're 1873 initiated during
the IL months Twenty-four members
died, 81 were dropped for non-paypent |
of dues and 40 withdrew. The total
available cash assets of the subordinate
encampments December 81 last was
S7,179.68. The debts amounted to SSS.-
81. The encampments own regaila
and other property to the value of
st, o43.56. There was received during
the year from dues ETC. 1927. 26. OF this
amount 1854 was paid to the grand
treasurer. the rest being for supplies etc
Grand Patriarch W. E. Coombs recon-
mended several changes in the consti-
tuition, one Of which provides for the
raising Of the minimum admission fee
from SIS to $40. Among those at the
! Gill home at Ludlow are Meldon
| Wadsworth, of Bennington, now in his
| goth year and ali Odd Fellow in good
standing for So years, and E. B. Holl-
lister, the oldest past grand master in
the state. The latter was grand mas
ter in 1866 and has been an Odd Eel
How for Sc years.
Two Railroads Sued.
Suits aggregating $50, 900 have been
brought by Atty. Gen. C. C. Fits. of
Brattleboro, against the Central Yer
mont Railway Co. and the Rutland
! Railroad Co. to recover taxes which the
state claims are due and unpaid. The
Central Vermont. company is sued for
$50, 900 and the Rutland company for
$50, O00 Both suits are returnable at
the August term of the Grand Isle
county court. The absolute tax OF
per cent which the statute imposes
upon the appraised valuation of rail.
roads in this state would amount tc
SOL, in the case of the Central Yer.
mont road, but the company elected tc
pay on gross earnings, taking advan
tage of the provision which allows rail
road companies to pay in lieu of the
per cent tax, tax of % per cent OF
gross earnings where the earnings. de
not exceed $1,000 mile of roadbe(
and a gradually increasing tax as thu
earnings per mile increase. The com
missioner of state taxes and the attOr
ney-general claim that previous tt
1907 the returns of the Central Vernon
9 company gave the mileage as 297, tina
the roadbed as now figured includes al
the spur and side tracks, making
297 miles is the correct basis upol
which the rate of taxation should b.
figured, and that the increase in tn
amount of roadbed reduced the ia,
rate, making a difference of 500, 900
year. The state claims that the com
pany. not having paid its taxes in full
pay on gross earnings, but must pa,
: the full l per cent tax, amounting t
, $50. 900 more than it has already paid
The statute also imposes a penalty o
500 day for non-payment when due
and the accrued penalties in thi
instance amount to $50, 600, which tn
court has a right to remit. The cas-
of the Rutland Railroad Co. introduce
new feature. That company ais
elected to pay on gross earnings
These earnings exceed $1,000 Year
J mile, but as the statute requires tn
- taxes to be paid semi-annually tn,
company claims the right to pay tn
minimum rate of % per cent, the earn
ings for such semi-annual period bein.
less than $4,000. The commissioners
of taxes and the attorney-genera
contend that the strict letter of tn,
statute should be adhered to in maxim,
: the computation, that the yearly earn
ings of the railroad do not come within
the minimum tax rate, and that tn
proper rate would increase it's take
$40, 600 year. With this company, a:
with the Central Vermont company
it is claimed that there is now no op
ton but to pay the full l per cent tas
/. on the valuation of it's property. max
ing difference of $22. 900, also the &C.
crued penalties Of 500 day.