The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1908-08-01

alton, still II Is to be feared that COM
plants are justly made, both as to
the equality Of the mode OF taxation,
and rs to the uniformity OF the exc
cution of the laws on this subject"
In 1925 the existing tax laws were
revised and consolidated Polls were
set in the list at $40, with certain ex-
emptions. The valuations OF personal
property we're reduced about fifty per
cent on the average. For the first
time reference was made to the taxa
ton Of stock in corporations. The
faculty tax was preserved. Methods,
somewhat inqulsitorlal, for the ascer.
iainment OF the taxable estate were
adopted; prior TO that time 1t seems
that the returns by the taxpayers of
their lists had been voluntary, In the
main. rather than forced.
I he act of 1926 with amendments,
was In force until lS41. At this time
the injustice Of listing property at
fixed arbitrary rates became manifest,
and the law was changed to compel
the appraisal of all property, both
real and personal except such as was
exempt and the setting of the same
in the grand list at one per cent of It's
valuation, which method has conlin-
ued to the present time. Polls were
listed at 81 each. The act of 1S41
eliminated the faculty tax, but this
was restored In 1912 and polls were
listed at So instead OF 81. All person
nj property was subject to Offset for
debts owing but such offsets were
bona fide.
/ Various changes were made from
time to time, more In detail than prin.
Iciple until 1850, when the faculty tax
was abolished, and since that time no
such tax has been assessed in Yer.
mont.
In 1914 it was provided that a per.
| son assessed any greater sum for
money or debts due than he had been
in the preceding year should be noti
fed thereof by the listers and in 1856
/ this provision was enlarged to compel
the listers to notify every taxpayer
whom they assessed for money on
hand, debts due or to become due
stock In trade or manufactures, Of the
amount of such assessment.
IN 1862 dogs were made taxable
and IN 1864 the work of the listers
was facilitated by compelling taxpay.
ers to hand In lists Of their real and
personal property by April 10 OF each
year, and to give notice of all trans
fers of real estate made during the
year. II seems that from 184l mp to
this time the lists had been given to
the listers by the taxpayers only on
demand from the former.
In 1867 the maximum age at which
polls were listed was raised from six
" to seventy years. In 1874 for the
first time real estate owned by rail
roads was taxed. The act so proyid
ing gave the listers in each town
authority 10 list the real estate, own
ed or occupied by railroad companies
within their respective towns. exact
ly the same as other real estate; and
real estate was defined TO include the
road bed, tracks and all land used fol-
railroad purposes The main line
roadbed could not be valued at over
$4,000 per mile. and the real estate oil
railroads was exempted from taxation
for ten years from the time at which
regular trains began TO run.
! From the close OF the war up to
1880 there was growing discomfort
with property appraisals. Equalizing
boards were unable TO perform the
duty cast upon them. Each town
kept its list as low as possible anC
personal property steadily diminished
in assessed value, Notwithstanding
IL had increased In fact.
In 1866 II was assessed at $21, 435,
2Sl; in 1850 at $l5.037, 1862.
Perhaps the language of Hon. iona
than Ross the chairman OF the com
Imittee on taxes and expenditures, IN
a report to the Council OF Censors
made IN 1869, may be quoted with pro
INT. Public opinion seems to be NOR
lally depraved in regard 10 this mat
ter. II is hardly considered a stain
upon ones character to make any
statement, however false. in regarC
ITO the amount OF his property.
IL While the personal property is as
Isessed at from one-half to two-third:
It's true value in money, the deduc
tons for debts are for the full amount
and sometime double the amount: il
fact II is believed that fictitious debts
are frequently contracted for the ex
press purpose of obtaining these de
ductiOns."
In 1870 Governor Stewart, in hi.
message to the legislature said, THE
amount of personal estate which es
capes taxation Is enormous.
Real estate cannot escape, but person
al property, through the much abused
privilege Of Offset for debts, and tn,
various shifts of evasion end conceal
ment, too cmmonly practiced, is large
lly omitted from our annual list"
In 1876 Governor Fairbanks spoke
lCf the unsatisfactory results of tn,
then existing law in terms of denun
citation.
The chief complaints seem to hav,
been under the valuation of taxabl,
property unequal appraisals and III,
escape from taxation of larg'
amount of personal property by con
cealment, evasion and false Offset.
The dissatisfaction with and agita
tiCn concerning taxation already men
toned, led TO the enactment of tn,
tax law of 1880, which. as revised ant
Iamended in 1882, Is in substance ouI
lpresent law
We are aware that in this repor
there are some repetitions OF argu
Iments and conclusions, as well as o
facts found, but We believe that theil
pertinency and closeness Of relation
to the immediate subject under discus
sion will be deemed a sufficient excus,
therefor.
To be Continued