Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-10-15

cases this may work n hardship and
that in theory II Is Snot absolutely
correct. but l believe in practice that
1t will come nearer being Just ana
equitable 10 the whole body of taxpay
ers than the present law. This recon-
inendation Is in harmony with that of
| the commission on taxation who In
Nestigated the matter to the best Of
their ability and reached this conclu-
sion after the most thorough consid-
| Grafton.
One of the greatest evils Of the
] present system is the manner of Its
| administration. This Is shown by the
fact that upon invcstigation It was
ascorta!nod that only about three per
cent. of all the Inventories examined
by the commission wcrc found to be
legal! This results from several caus-
es. First. ignorance on tho part of the
listers. Our present inventory is some
what complicated and only those who
! have had experience are fully coinpe-
tent to understand just what Is re-
| CURED. Second. careslessness on their
| part. rs 1t was asccrtained that in
thousands Of cases no inventory had
been taken as required by law, and in
other cases unsigned and unverined
inventories had been taken, showing
such general laxity in administering
the law as should not be tolerated.
| Third. a lack Of uniformity In the APP
praisal of real estate. Upon investiga-
| ton II was shown that in some coun-
! Ties the average valuation was fifty
! per cent, while in others II was sew
! enty-hve per cent, and in still other
! cases IT was found to be even higher
or course, so far as the raising OF tax
es for town or county purposes is
concerned. this would make no differ
ence providing all the property In n
certain town or county was assessed
on the same basis. but in the collcc-
tion of the State school and highway
taxes which are uniform all over the
state. 1t would work manifest
wrong. because the county where the
valuation was only nifty per cent.
would not be paying in the same pro-
portion as that wherein the valuation
lister makes oath that he will appraise
all personal and rea! property at its
true value in money. and any varia-
laxity in tho enforcement of the law.
All this strongly suggests that there
should be created central body or
commission whose duty 1t shall be to
have In charge the administration of
the law. and act as board Of equal
zation, thus insuring the greatest pos
siblc uniformity. Such body should
hold meetings annually before April I,
which every lister should be compell-
ed to attend for the purpose of receive
ing instruction as to the administra-
tion OF the law Such n commission
might also be empowered to collect
such statistics and information es
would be OF benefit In further per-
fecting the law. I therefore, recon.
mend that such n commission be Great.
ed, TO consist OF three members of
which the commissioner Of State taxes
shall be the chairman. | also recon-
mend that the present law taxing in
tangible property such as stocks
bonds. and similar evidences of debt
except the stock OF national banks be
repealed and that a law be enacted
taxing this Kind Of property Mt uni
form low rate throughout the State
the tax to be collected as a state tax
| am well aware that this is another
case that theoretically may not seem
right, but I believe that, In practice.
1t will work out with much better re-
suits than does the present law. In
other States experience has shown
that n very large amount OF this class
Of property now pays taxes which
previous to the enactment OF such
a m
form Money which Is loaned at the
ordinary rate Of interest, say i've or
six per cent will not pay the taxes
assessed In most OF the towns In the
state, but Will In some way avoid
such payment Tho commission recon-
mends such tax, specifying Ave-
tenths OF one per cent. as fair rate.
1t Is impossible to say how much OF
the personal property now returned
for taxation Is OF this Intangible kind,
but It is safe to say It Is only a small
percentage. and therefore that the loss
to the town will be comparatively
small, which loss will be much more
than made UP by the increase result
ing from abolishing offsets. Let mo
also call your attention to the recon-
mendations OF the commission as to
the collection OF taxes on stock In
private corporations: to their recon-
mendatlon for the separate appraisal
OF buildings and land; publicity Of In
ventories; and appraisal OF exempt
real estate. These matters are all of
| Importance. and should have your con-
! sideration. In calling these matters to
| your attention, have not tried to
make any lengthy argument, because
! that 10 done SO very much better than