Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1909-05-06
pouNpINc eILL eARNuM.

IN the matter CT tuS pfopo1Su ttA re-
forms. Both newspapers seemed TO as
sumo that the questions involved we're
settled by the majority on basis of per-
sonaI selfshness, suspiciousness, igno-
rance and prejudice. They complained that
the measures did not receive the fair and I
broad treatment to which they we're enti- I
tied, but were viewed from narrow and I
bigotsd standpoint. They further COM
planned because the members of the as
semhIy whose vision and experience were
assumed to be limited showed no DISPOSE
ton to defer in judgment to certain men
assumed to be wiser in the knowledge
that applied to this question. To these
things thetwo contemporaries attributed
the failure of the session to enact So
called tax reforms.
II may be that these newspapers are
correct in their analysis to degree, but
even granting that, perhaps the condem-
nation is not fully merited. It takes all
kinds Of men to make up legislature,
in order TO have it truly representative.
And, honestly, we believe that the last as
sembly, in its action, or want OF action.
as to the tax measures, represented the
prevalent feeling Of the people. Had the
various reforms proposed by the commits
ted to the voters, separately or together,
they would have Jared worse than they
did 10 the halls of legislation. II seemed
to us that the members Of both houses
came to the questions with minds Is open
as could be naturally expected, and did
what they honestly thought was best for
the state as a whole, rather than lent
themselves to any small personal interest.
! 1t is quite es unfair to assume that Mr..
Bill Barnum OF Shady Nook rofed against
! aholishing offsets at the bshest OF Mr.
Jones, who runs a store ct Bunko Corn
ers, and for that reason alone, as 1t would
be to assume that 50 true and patriotic q
citizen as Mr.. Joseph A. DeBoer favors
: abolition because it means larger grand
: list, lower tax rate and less taxes for
: him-an no one would think Of suggest
: ing that.
tits probably true that each member
: did take the questions home 10 his own
town and tried to determine what the
effect there would be. We are not going
70 say be served his state falsely by 50 do
ing, for his first duty is to his constftu.
ents. Abolition Of offsets, fiat rate on in.
tangibles and g heavily salaried tax com,
mission appealed to members in different
ways. Although the so-called Leaders
: mostly favored the program, all Of then
, did not. and we're able to make their OBJ
iections known on the floor as forcibIy a.
the other side championed. For in
stance, when Mr.. Fletcher Of Cavendisl
finished his speech against a fat rate OF
:. intangihles. be had knocked from undei
it every prop that it stood upon. and has
shown, in the most clear and conyincinl
way, that such q system in Vernon
would work unfairly and oppressively
especially in towns where tax rates wer
high and grand lists small 1t needed
just such an exposition as Mr.. FIetche
gave 1t, and no member could be accuses
OF narrowness or personal selfishness o
woeful ignorance IL he promptly agrees
q with Mr.. Fletcher, rather than Mr.. De
Boer, or Mr.. Howe, or Mr.. Davis. A
to Offset abolition, IT appeared to man,
!. members a doubtful expedient, who's
only certain feature was that it would sc
:. riously cripple hundreds OF poor an
:. honest debtors. We honor their judp
!. ment, too, in this matter. We heliev
!. the majority acted wen in setting thei
feet upon ii, even with the prestige q
upport that IT enjoyed.
!. 1t is not altogether conclusive that Be
!. cause silent and ineonspicuous men TAX
!, q stand on great question like this the
II do it from unworthy motives. They ma,
81 be as valuable in their service As create
4. inteliects and noisier tongues that are ap
s. TO be visionary and impractical At an
q, rate, they are safely within their right
in voting as they please.
The disinclination TO follow any lead
d, lers consistently so noticeable in the lat
session may not have resulted more fror
the sheer ohstinacy Of those who wer
:. counted upon to be led, than from yer
q distinct feeling of petulance on the mar
of those counted upon to lead because m
M rank and nile did not promptly and q
s ways accept their dictum as a rule Of a.
- ton.
- II would be interesting to know IL o.
act tain prom. cts, who. ii was reported I
ect the tins. we're found playing poker i
Mt Tom Laior's Rutland joint. did not mat
re. rally contribute toward the payment
On. his fine last week in consideration III,
81. their identity should not be revealed.
ns -.