The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-01-20
BIG DEBATE
ON TAX BILL
Mr.. Hitchcock OF PittSford
Made a Strong Speech
AGAINST PROPOSED BILL
The Debate Was Not Closed When Ad.
iournment Was Taken for the
Noon Recess--Adjournment
Still in the Air.


State House, jan 20.
The chief business in the House thil
morning was the passage OF the bill TAX
ing the license fee money and turning
il into the general fund, and the debatI
ON the Bacon -Cushman tax commission
measure. There was strong opposition
to the passage Of the bill from many
sources. Mr.. Fletcher stated that he in
tended to vote for the bill, but he start
ed of to show its defects Strong
speeches were made by Mr.. Daniels Of
East Montpelier, Mr.. Hitchcock OF Pitts
ford, Mr.. Williams Of Newport, and
others. Mr.. Lokclin Of Richford, MIR
Jones of Sudbury and others favored
the bill. Just before noon Mr.. Kinsley
Of Rutland tried twice to shut OF debate
on the question by moving the preyiou.
question, withdrawing his motion only
to allow amendments, but Mr.. Daniels
OF East Montpelier, Mr.. Martin Of
Brookline and Others strongly opposed
this idea Of shutting the mouths of the
members on the most important ques-
tion before the legislature, until they
had finished what they had to say. A
motion to adjourn was made before the
vote on the previous question was taken,
Mr.. Hitcheock's Speech.
Mr.. Hitchcock, Prefacing his remarks
by the statement that he appeared in
opposition to the tax commission bill
simply az a sense OF duty, and that if
he favored his desires he would be in
bed, made one Of the great speeches
Of the session, concise, vigorous and
effective He said he was the first man
in the state who suggested the idea of
central tax commission and he did
that about year ago to the special
tax commission. 1t was never the in
tent Of the members to have a tax COM
mission stand alone.
He said that this tax commission bill
received support from three sources:
first, the gentlemen who desire no real
reform and want to sidetrack reform by
this measure; second, by gentlemen
moved by political influence and urging
that something be done, and If some
thing, almost anything, admitting fall
ure Of real reform, third. by those who
believed the passage of the hill would
so emphasizes the faults OF the present
law, or the proposed law, which Is worse,
that ii viii result in change of the
fundamental things that are wrong
about our tax system.
He said there were many faults in
the proposed law; be would mention
one or two. He said the owner OF tim
Der land could not live under this bill
unless the timber was cut down. He
predicted that it would result in the dis
appearance of practically all intangibles
owned by honest men,
Mr. Hitchcock said great reforms had
not come by patchwork or tinkering. 1t
was not patchwork when Pennsylvania
and Maryland changed their tax laws,
but radical reform. He said his opposi-
tion to the law was that IT was funda
in certain respects. The
principle was wrong. The present law
posed law did not remedy, but made
worse 1t allowed certain property that
ought to be taxed TO escape and it
reached certain classes that were over
burdened now, He said that the law
allowed certain exemptions of stock in
foreign corporations and he predicted
that the tax would be 80 burdensome on
domestic companies, under the proposed
law, II enforced, that the Vermont cor
would be driven out Of the
state, to incorporate in other states. He
believed there was nothing in this bill
TO keep the dishonest from going through
ha hAla ef Ia T. I'LL
believe it would lie possible to ret
that would dare to enforce
the law as it was written, because in
certain classes Of property 1t would
mean conilscation. Then the enforce.
nent would BE- discretionary. The whole
thing was indefinite and he hoped it
would not pass.
Mr.. Fletcher's Speech.
Mfr. Fletcher OF Cavendish said that
be was not satisfied with the bill in
good many respects, but that he intended
% vote for the measure on the ground |
hat he believed that Ii would result |
N reform that would be effective, later. |
IN one respect he said that he could /
zee no difference between an honest |
oifset registered 60 or 70 or so DAYS I
before April |, and the one registered |
three days before that time. He said |
he argument was used against the bill |
hat 1t would drive out infangibles. ut |
Won't need driving" said the speaker.
st will take wings He said 1t would |
'aise the valuation Of realty ana make /
t harder for the class that contended /
hat 1t was oyerburdened now. He had |
DIS doubts about the bill and tool story /
lis doubts about the bill and told a story /
would vote for it because the state
Fould be able to reach a solution of the I
AK question after the bill had been in
'peration two years.
Mr.. DanieIs's Speech.
Mr.. Daniels of East Montpelier said
he present Law was fundamentally
wrong and this bin made it worse for
he man oveYburdened, or the real estate
axpayer. He said that he would like
hose who opposition the abolition of
,ffsets and figured how much difference
{ would make in their taxes to figure
low much this tax commission law
sould make. He said the measure
Forked to the interest Of the lender and
lot the borrower. he referred to the
ection which gave merchants a right
o file their schedule Of debts owing
n the average menth for the year. It
ras accommodating the man who desired
0 be dishonest The whole principle of
he bill tended 10 place the burden en-