Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-09-03

The tax commission, in its recent re-
port, recognizes the injustice of the pres
emit discrimination. 1t says:-
"There is no good reason why Offset, II
allowed at all, should not apply to all
taxable property, both real and per-
sonal.'
OF course there is none. But the report
makes the condition, "if allowed at all"
and goes on to say the offset ''can only be
justified upon the theory that the taxpay-
er should pay on his real worth, which is
ascertained by deducting the debts he
owes from the value OF his property"
Well, that's all the justification 1t
needs. Who is there that objects to the
principle of taxing people on their "resi
WORTH" To the principle, we say.
The commission, instead OF recon-
mending a general privilege OF Offset, pro-
poses to do away with it altogether on
the ground that it opens the way to grave
abuses, and that placing in the list the
personal property now extinguished by
offset would heavily increase the grand
list, reduce the tax rate and equaiize
taxation.
equaiized? Who would be benefited?
And who harmed?
The proposed plan would doubtless add
several millions to the grand list but not
nearly so many as the commission sup
poses, for the reason that much personal
property is now fully returned, since II
can be wiped out by Offset, which would
not be If subject to taxation. Now lets
follow this increase and see where
the advantage comes. We have three
classes OF taxpayers; the debtors, the
creditors and comparative few that are
neither. The creditors would certainly
that came wholly from the debtor class,
as this removal of the Offset would, for Ii
would mean q lower tax rate on their
same appraisal Those rho neither bor-
row nor lend would join them, as the
scheme would work to their advantage
in the same way. The only class likely
to protest would be the debtors, and
these are to be fooled with the argument
that increasing the grand list will de-
creasethe tax rate. But how can an in
crease in the list that comes wholly from
the debtors, as this does, spread out over
the whole tax paying public, benefit the
debtor as much as il impoverishes him.
He has to furnish the increase; every body
enjoys the decreased rate in common. He
gets no larger reduction in rate than the
man he owes, or who is out OF debt,
though he provides the capital fer it. Is
: it not clear that the removal OF the Offset
will be staggering blow to the debtor
class--the very class that ought to be
considered?
1 But the present law dinerentiates the
: debtors, and the proposed plan may bs
: made to appeal to one class OF them, tc
wit, the real estate holders, who now
realize little from the offset. They arr
told, "We mean to treat the merchant
and others just as we do you; no Offset,
to you, none to them; every debtor
alike" This would do nicely IL in treat
= ing all debtors alike they treated then
they do not. The mean to tax every body
for the actual property In their possession
. whether that property is owned clear, Of
whether the possessor owes for most o.
all OF it. Not only that, but to tax tn,
. creditor also on his credit. So that, in
- stead of abolishing double taxation from
;, the part of our system where it now pre-
y walls we are asked to extend it over tn
. whole, in order to .s'equalize'' it. Jus
think-the man who owes for his farm
his stock, his tools, who Is staggerin,
: under q fearful load of debt, is to b
taxed for the full valuation of the prop
V erty just rs though he owned it al
clearl The merchant who owes for near
" his whole stock of goods, or the Ia
borer who is trying to pay for what littl
he has, and is in debt for. must be take
to the same amount as their neighbo
E, who owes not q dollar! Not niue
N equality in that.
m True, the Offset privilege is abused
!, True, many taxpayers use it to dodg
their burden. But there has been littl
al effort to prevent its abuse, and almost n
N corrective legislation. 1t is quite poss
as BILE, we believe, to reduce the evils alon
r this line. And We hold that the offse
privilege, instead of being abolished
Of should be extended to real estate, to tn
er end that the grand list should fairly rel
'g resent the aggregate worth of the ia,
III payers.
Wouldn't Butt In.
rs That u,onater r,efitior that Ia hoiuO ri;