Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-10-29

caught. And as it is now, they are not
caught.
rfMr. Jones claims to be owing Mr..
smith, who lives in Montana, $1,000, the
listers take bis word and stop there. II
Brown a Robinson, dry goods dealers,
claim to be owing Fox & Tippin Of New
York, wholesalers, $4,000 for goods April
list. their word is taken. There is no
further investigation. This Is loose and
wrong. 1t opens the door to the abuses
complained Of. Human nature would be
further advanced than it is IL it failed to
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-
IarIy, and has given evidence under YER
bal oath, setting forth distinctly to whom
he is indebted, how and 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 taken afterward to give due con-
sideration and, if desired, investigation,
into the matter. In the case of mer-
chants, the bills Of goods for which Of
sets are claimed should be produced and
the facr Of their arrival or non-arrival on
April LIST fully established. II men have
time enough to visit the town clerks
office and pay dog license once year,
it cannot be great hardship to attend
one hearing before the listers to establish
their offsets. II this plan, fairly tried out,
should not avail, then no offsets should
be allowed for debts owing outside the
state, which class 1t is sometimes hard tC
trace. But we believe it would avail, and
that the latter step would never be taken
With the abuses Of the Offset removed
there can be no argument against it, fol
ii is essentially right. A man heavily
plunged in debt should be taxed not OF
what he has in his possession, but OF
what he owns above his indebtedness
That is his real property; he pays inter
: est, usually, on what he holds unpaid for
II is tremendous hardship for many
: debtor to meet his interest, his INSURANCE
and other nxed charges, and even to pa.
taxes on the part be owns clear; If forces
TO pay also on the encountered part, /
must mean ruin to many.
For years the injustice of requiring tn
mortgagor Of farm property or other rea
: estate to bear taxes on the appraised valu
Of the whole property has been seen ant
: recognized and deplored and declares
against in party platforms. Now it j
proposed-.not to rectity that wrongful
to do the same thing with personal prop
erty--double taxation for all kinds o
debt.
Up to now, the mortgaged farmer, de
! MED the right to Offset against his real es
tate, can Offset against his stock, produces
. tools and other property.up to the amour
OF their appraisal. II this change i
made, he can do that no longer.
"HOw much have-yO got here3" tn
: lister viii ask next spring.
"Oh, my farm, 80 much; stock, 8
much; produce, so much" the farms
viii answer.
"An right, good day.
"But owe 50 much, the farmer wi
add.
+ "No matter; that doesn't count tn
i year; law was 'mended last fall so'r the
: amt no offsettin' now.n
|. After the lister is gone, the farmer wi
! take down his law supplement and loo
n it over. Then he viii make note or tv
t, on the cover, and
5 And in 1910 something win dropl
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