The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-11-10
TAXATION WRONGS
WERE REHEARSED
At a Public Hearing in The State House
Last Eyening-Deputy Secretary
Of State Slayton Gave an
Example.

In the Representatives, hall in tn,
State House at Montpelier public
hearing on taxation problems was ned
Tho hall was filed and there was quite
an extended discussion. Senator Finn
presided. John II. Senter OF Montpelier
who was a member OF Governor Proc.
| tors special commission TO recommend
changes in the tax laws stated that or
general principles he was opposed "a
Commissions, but he was convinced in
Il is case Of the necessity since it had
hten found that some regulation Is nee
essary. For instance, only three out
OF every hundred inventories in the
state are correctly made out.
H. Il. Slayton, deputy secretary Of
state, talked interestingly for few
moments telling about some actual re.
vclations that had been made in some
towns which he visited. He said that
lie rather believed II was not all ignor-
ance that prompted listers TO turn in
some inventories. To show The abuses
Of the Offset privileges, he told about
one town in which there were 1000 in
yentories. One Of the listers was a
and another contractor and builder.
In examining the inventories Of q man
in the mercantile business Mr.. Slayton
found that he had goods appraised at
$4,000 and that he swore of 500 for
debts owing wholesale houses out Of
the state. lie said he went over TO the
bank and in looking over Bradstreet's
credit book found that the firm was
rated as nigh as any for the same
smount Of capital inevsted. Their
credit was good anywhere.
To show the ignorance OF some Of the
listers he said in one small town he had
found an inventory charged as follows;
"three polls S6" and that was the man.
ner in which an old man and his two
sons were assessed. This caused a
laugh and Chairman Finn in the dulcet
tones for which he is noted remarked
"Cheap enough"
Mr.. Slayton also called attention to
the tax on automobiles. He said a bill
was being prepared TO put a state tax
On automobiles, the proceeds Of which
we're to be used for the roads Of the
state. An inquiry was made to see how
much tax money would be taken from
the various towns in which there were
many machines by making the tax a
state one. He said that in place
where there were 100 machines less
than a third went into the list al ALL
To show the need of supervision he said
that in a town Of ] ZOO inventories but
two legal lists in every particular we're
found.
NJ J. Hapgood Of Peru, who was in
the legislature of 1904 and 1906, was
present and expressed his views in con-
else form He would abolish offsets for
debts owing, and tax only tangible
He said that by so doing in.
ventories, which have sent 30 many 20
purgatory would not be needed. He
went on to Illustrate the working of
his theory. He expressed the opinion
that the legislature would have a hard
time passing the bin rs it would be
strongly opposed by the savings banks
and trust companies.
Mr. Tilden Of Northfeld put an ex-
ample to Mr.. Hapgood to show what
the actual burden would be resting on
4 young man with a 81 900 investment |
on farm in his own town provided
that offsets were abolished.
A. d. V. Piper of Jamaica said that |
bis town enjoyed the distinction OF |
paying the highest tax raee in the |
state OF Vermont and that it had voted |
III to 81 to abolish Offsets lie said |
-hree times the grand list was set off !
IN offsets. He told the manipulatious
# companies to shake taxes. One com.
,any, a partnership. would Offset its
Iebts owing to the Individual partners
md the partners in turn would Offset |
heir debts by notes on the company in
ne Malone, N. ", banks. from which
hey would pretend to borrow money
,cfore the inventories were taken, send
ng checks to cover the amounts inn
after the tax Inventories
we're made lie said that another trick
vas to Offset the debts Of a Vermont
cmpany on practically the same COM
amy in another state with different
ame.
r. F. Smith Of Morrisville, represen-
ing the state grange, said that the or
he represented favored doing
way with offsets outside the state
nd offsets inside the state provided
ONE relief could be extended to the
farmer who was paying
1ore than he could carry.
BENJAMIN Strachan, of the Perley z.
rope Co. Of Montpelier, told about the
ystem in New Zealand where every
IAN made out his own inventory. If
e made il too small the city represen-
atives simply sat down and wrote
i'm check for the amount and the
roperty was theirs and there was no
ppeal in the matter.