The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1909-04-10
FRANZ 3. HOWE. Editor and Eubllshs'
"A MUCH ABUSED PRIVILEGE"


reform OF offsets in Vermont is an
old time issue that will not down.
The following is from Governor John
w. Stewards message to the Several
assembly when the legislature met in
October, 1870, thirty-eight years ago
last fall:
Our system for the assessment or
taxes is defective. The amount of
personal estate which escapes taxa
ton is enormous. Valuations are
unequal and the burden of taxation
bears unequally upon our citizens.
Real estate cannot escape, but per-
sonal property, through the much
abused privilege of Offset for debts,
and the various shifts of evasion and
concealment too commonly practiced,
is largely omitted from our annual
lists. AS a consequence real estate
is always appraised below its true
value in money, and not seldoms at
less than one third of such value.
1t is a serious question whether Off
sets for debts should not be much re-
stricted 1t may be well to inquire
whether the evils of the present sys-
TEN may not be at least alleviated by
well considered modification OF our
law"
In looking over an old file of the
Banner for the year 1870 we ran
across some comment on the leg
islature that will be of interest as
showing what some of the issues
were at that time. 1t seems that nor
NAL schools and the unexcused abb
sences of members we're troublesome
issues even then. The article is as
follows:
AS usual nearly all the most impor-
tant measures that have come up this
session are crowded into the last few
days and in the rush of business just
before adjournment some measures
will be pushed through that ought not
to pass, and others will be passed in a
crude form that might have been per-
fected had more time been given
them.
Less than a week remains in which
to settle the interest question. the
General Railroad law, and the Grand
List question, the Normal School bill,
the State Police bill and other impor-
tant measures. A limit has been fixed
to the Introduction of bills but large
number are still in the hands of the
committees, and dragging their slow
length through the round Of amend
ment to be finally acted upon, perhaps
the last night of the session.
bill has been introduced to re-
peal the charter OF the Northeastern
Mutual Life Insurance Association, To-
Gated at Brattleboro. This it will be
remembered is a cooperative life in.
surance company The repeal will be
very strongly resisted by the parties
interested
1t has been the custom of some gen.
tlemen elected 10 the Legislature to
come to Montpelier at the commence
ment of the session, and having been
sworn in, return home and appear oc-
casionally for day or so, aid in some
instances to remain at home until
within two days of the close of the
session, and then come up to the Cap
itol and receive pay for services not
rendered. The House is giving atten-
llOu W uDStHI ulelnDtIS. TtSOlullOHS
having been introduced relative to the
absence of the members from Glasten-
bury and SALISBURY in Bennington
county.
An amendment to the act establish
ing the Bennington Graded School
district has been introduced by Mr.
Graves. We understand that it pres
cribes the method for those living
outside of the present limits of the
district to become a part and parcel
thereof.
bill has been introduced and re-
ported favorably on by the committee,
to enable the treasurer of Remington
county to borrow money to complete
the erection of county bulldogs. 1t
seems that only about $4,000 of the
100000 authorized by the Legislature,
has been raised by the tax assessed.