The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-05
TAX COMMISSION BILL.
Substance of an Important Bill Intro
duced To-day.

That the governor, before the close of
the present session of the legislature,
shall appoint one commissioner for two
years from December, 1908, another for
four years, and third for six years,
and that thereafter one commissioner
shall be appointed biennially for a term
Of six years. The commission shall be
non.partisan as far as possible and not
more than two members shall be affilat-
ed with the same political party. The
commissioners shall have an Office at the
State House and shall meet every day
except Sundays and holidays, devoting
their entire time to the business. Each
commissioner shall receive a salary OF
/ $4,000 year and provision is made for
a secretary and clerk, hire necessary,
provided the expenditure does not exceed
4 $4,000 per year. Expenses of the COM
missioners shall be paid by the state
when members are away from, the Office
on business connected with the commits.
sion. The duties of the tax commission
shall revert to this commission and one
of the members will be named by the
governor as chairman.
The duties Of the commissioners, in
brief shall be as follows:
J. To have and exercise general SUI
pervision and control of the administra-
tion of the taxation laws of the state,
and all assessments Hereunder, and over
all listers.
H. To confer with and advise with
listers and give necessary instructions
and to hold meetings in the various
county seats Of the listers in the various
towns.
Ill To direct proceedings and actions
for the enforcement of the laws against
corporations, their agents and individ.
uals for failure or negligence to comply
with the laws; also to direct prosecu-
tions against public officers for neglect
of duty.
4. To require individuals, companies
and corporations to furnish information
concerning their capital funded or cur
rent assets, liabilities, earnings, divi-
dends and operating expenses as well as
other statements required by law for
taxation purposes.
5. To summon witness to produce
books, records, etc, relating to taxation
matter which the commission may have
authority to investigate or determine.
g. To cause depositions Of witnesses
to be taken upon proper notice to inter-
ested parties, the same as the courts.
7. One or more commissioners to visit
every town in the state at least once
annually to ascertain whether the list
ers are faithfully performing their du-
ties.
8. To investigate laws Of other states
and countries and submit to the gover-
nor recommendations for legislation be-
fore August ! In each even year.
o. To consult and confer with the
governor upon subjects of taxation, the
progress of tine work Of the commission
and to furnish him with any desired in
in regard thereto
10. Before August in each even year
to transmit to the governor to be by
him presented to the legislature a re-
port Of said commission showing all the
taxable property in the state, and the
valuation Of the same, in tabulated form,
with such recommendations as the com
mission may deem proper.
IL. To require the listers of any town
to place in the list for taxation any
polls or real or personal property not
exempt that may have been omitted
from the grand list of said town.
II. To receive complaints and care
fully examine into all cases where it
IS alleged that property subject to taxa.
lion has not been assessed, or has been
or unequally assessed.
l3. To re-appraise any property in
my town on complaint Of any person,
.axpaycr in that town.
a. To see that the appraisal of prop
,rty in the various towns and counties
ire equal and equitable and that no town
,scapes its due proportion of the state,
highway. county and school taxes.
Is All the powers and duties con-
erred upon the secretary Of state by
ections $50 and 81 public statutes ara
lereby conferred and imposed upon said
l6. Section 5l7 Of the public statutes
s hereby amended SO as to read az
ollows;
Returns Of 0faeers.-The cashiers Of
.anbs organized under the laws Of this
tate or the United States, and executive
Ulcers. BY whatever names called. Of
teamboat and transportation companies,
and other corporations Except
Cauffussea an fourkh nara