Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-29
WHAT OUR NEIGHBORS SAY
Editor whitney believes TINT state
supervision Would Help TO Solve
Taxation problem.
(From the Northneld News. }

(From the Northneld Ncws.)
Undoubtedly the most important ques-
ton before the Legislature Is the mat
ter OF better system Of taxation. When
as pointed out in Governor Prouty's
message the offsets FOR debts owing
leaves over 100000 less taxable per-
sonal property in Vermont In 1908 than
In 1900. although nearly sS.00oc0O more
in valuation Is given this year. there
must be something radically wrong.
The special tax commission in its re-
port recommended doing away with the
offset for debts owing, which the Gov
ernor endorses This plan undoubtedly
appeals to many as sure cure,
while others argue that IL the measure
was tried for n couple OF years and did
not meet expectations it would be an
easy matter to return to the present
system.
The adjustment Of offsets for debts
owing would undoubtedly bring more
personal property in to the grand list.
The News, however Is frank to say
that 1T cannot convince itself that such
"A measure ought to be adopted. 1t
would work "A most decided hardship to
the honest debtor. as indeed Governor
rrouty practically admits In connection
with this recommendation.
1t would also have most decided
tendency to discourage many enterprises
that are obliged to borrow portion of
their capital The Young man with
limited means. who wished to begin for
himself in some undertaking, would
certainly hesitate wien he found that
he must pay taxes on whatever he Dor
! rowed as we'll as or what he owned
and We are all talkng about keeping
him In Vermont.
It occurs to the News that it would
be much better to al least first try the
; experiment OF state supervision OF local
} listers and better equalization of per-
3 sonal property and real estate. before
the man with honest debts is made to
: suffer for the acts of the dishonest
property holder.
1 1t might be an advantage in this con-
nection t. require person claiming an
offset to file sworn inventory OF his
personal property once in three months
= for something of that kind. 1t would
be no particular hardship for an honest
man to do this but It would be a
= mighty Inconvenience thing for who
manipulated his personal property list
Q to escape taxation. But this tax should
state TREASURY.
The News believes there Is great pos
sibilit,es in state supervision Of list
,. ers. There Is no doubt that many of
! them do not grasp the full meaning Of
the lt-w that others are unduly In
nuenoed from one cause and another.
l. often for reasons for which they cannot
= be Justly censured. while still others
are made victims q sharp parctices.
These local officials would. for the
most part undoubtedly welcome state
supervision. which would often relieve
a them Of embarrassing situations with
:. neiGhbors and friends IN the discharge
of their duties. The commission. how
ever. would need to be made up Of
strong. capable and aggressive men.
= The question Of taxing intangible
, property Is also q problem. but on the
whole the News believes that Governor
Prouty can maintain pretty strong
= position In his recommendation to
| amend the law so MS to make a rate of
taxation Of flve-tenths Of one per cent.
as an experiment Mt least.
e Certainly the present general assembly
@ will not be justified In leaving the taxa
ton laws longer in their present un-
satisfactory state. There Is an oppor-
tunity to DO something that promises
relief without imposing on that class
OF taxpayers who are leae, able to stand
the burden Of unjust taxation.
Il TRESPA SSING ON RAILROADS.
(From the St. Adams Messenger)
n Among many Interesting and inform
X ing features OF the recently Issued bien-
o NAL report Of tho State railway COM
o misRioners the fact Ia recited that dur
q ing the two year. ending June 81. 1905
& no less thnn "a persons were killed on
the steam railroads Of this State. and
It that OF this number six were passengers
"a were railroad employees. and 81 were
trespassers' Think OF that More than
half the people killed by the railroads in
v that period were killed because they
were on tho railroad property when they
had no business there! And yet It has
apparently been impossible in years past
to get legislation that would tend To
n put an end to this by penallzing tres
passers on railroad property. The COM
j. missoners say In their report:
THE number Of persons killed or IN
iurcd because of walking on the road
l. bed of Tie various railroads in this
State should challenge the attention of
railroad IS made a common highway for
pedestrians. !ntN ing women and child
, rem. simply because n few rods Is there
by saved In travelling. II Is very incon-
, sstent public policy for the State. the
towns, and the -ailroads annually ia
expend large sum OF money for the
abolishmert OF grade crossings for the
purpose OF protecting the public from in
jury ty railroad trains. and stu to al
low that public. including women, old
y men, and children, to mako highway
of the various railroad roadbeds We
earnestly recommend the enactment OF a
\. statute providing substantial punish
mont for all persons that trespass on
Y. the right of way OF any railroad In
this State The railroad commissions OF
IF most of tho others states have reached
D. the same conclusion and have made
n similar accommodations for remedial
It Legislation We quote with approval the
following utterance Of the railroad COM
mission OF the state OF Indiana:
J 80 our observations. reports Of in
spectors. and of tho carriers, all show
. that the death roll of trespassers will
continue to increase until tho power OF
the law, backed by strong pressure
IN and sentiment, IS directed against this
g fatal nuisance. The railroads are public
1T highways, indeed. but not highways for
n Trt